Kubota M5140 Steering wheel Shaft has a little play

[KubotaL185DT]

Noticed today that my Kubota M5140HD (serial # 50629A) has a little slop in steering wheel shaft it only has 660 hrs on it. I just bought it in Sept, seems to early to have worn that much. Slop is about 1/4 inch side to side movement. Tomorrow I will measure it exactly. I this much movement normal for a kubota M series ??

Thanks Bill

 

[Dave_eng]

Noticed today that my Kubota M5140HD (serial # 50629A) has a little slop in steering wheel shaft it only has 660 hrs on it. I just bought it in Sept, seems to early to have worn that much. Slop is about 1/4 inch side to side movement. Tomorrow I will measure it exactly. I this much movement normal for a kubota M series ??

Thanks Bill

Have no worries as all is normal.

The design feature you need to appreciate in most larger tractors is that there is no direct mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels.

It is completely different than cars and trucks that operate at highway speeds.

It is called Hydro-static steering. At the base of the steering column is a rotary valve. This valve is sent high pressure hydraulic fluid and depending upon the rotation you give to the steering wheel, the valve directs pressure to the hydraulic cylinder steering the front wheels.

Dave

p.s. here is material from the WSM

 

[KubotaL185DT]

Dave Thanks, I am aware of the hydraulic steering as my 82 Case Backhoe was similar, Yet it to this day has no slop between the upper steering wheel top bushings. First thing I did was look up the parts list for it from https://apps.kubotausa.com/illustrated-parts/ looking for a lube point that might have been overlooked by the previous owner. Decided to ask other M Series owners if this was normal for Kubota, If not I will order new bushings. Thanks again for your comments. bill

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Dave Thanks, I am aware of the hydraulic steering as my 82 Case Backhoe was similar, Yet it to this day has no slop between the upper steering wheel top bushings. First thing I did was look up the parts list for it from https://apps.kubotausa.com/illustrated-parts/ looking for a lube point that might have been overlooked by the previous owner. Decided to ask other M Series owners if this was normal for Kubota, If not I will order new bushings. Thanks again for your comments. bill

If your slop is in the rotation of the steering wheel, it will probably have more to do with the hydrostatic valve or a shaft coupling issue than a bushing issue.

 

[KubotaL185DT]

If your slop is in the rotation of the steering wheel, it will probably have more to do with the hydrostatic valve or a shaft coupling issue than a bushing issue.

Sorry I didn't do a good job explaining my issue. if I hold the steering wheel near the bottom and push it up, there is aprox 1/4 movement up. My older L245H has a grease fitting where the steering shaft passes through the upper support bushing and it has minimum movement. Thanks for responding bill

 

[KubotaL185DT]

This must be a rare problem and not many replys I do thank those that replied

 

[Dave_eng]

This must be a rare problem and not many replys I do thank those that replied

Could you plse look over these exploded parts illustrations from Messicks.com On the most relevant parts diagram and add an arrow showing the direction and location of the movement you are noticing.

I think that we are all puzzled a bit by your problem and this approach may bring more comments.

Dave

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The M5140HD has a different column then the M5140HDC

There are 2 bushings in this column, there does not appear to be any grease, i do believe they are dry bushings.

M5140HD column:

 

[D2Cat]

If you have excess play moving the shaft up and down the problem has to be in the lower end. The U-joint or connections must be loose. The bushings on top will not effect the up and down play, only lateral play.

 

[KubotaL185DT]

The M5140HD has a different column then the M5140HDC

There are 2 bushings in this column, there does not appear to be any grease, i do believe they are dry bushings.

M5140HD column:

Yes, thats the bushing in the yellow highlite. The movement back and forth movement the steering wheel shaft move forward and back towards the seat also would move side to side. I imagine the clearance between the bushing is a bit more than it should be tractor has 680 hrs on it seems this is way to soon for this kind of movement. It has no place to lube the bushing that I can see. Not bad enough to trouble with replacing the bushing yet. Again seems way to soon for this annoyance. Thanks Sorry I had so much trouble explaining the movement