I have a B7100 that kept trashing the lower thrust bearing that supports the steering shaft. The ballnut would then get tour up. Its ball bearings would end up in the housing. This happened a couple of times and I would just replace the thrust bearing and piece the ballnut back together and it would be good for a while.
Well the last time it happened it actually chipped the steering shaft’s spiral gear. I went to my local Kubota dealer and almost hit the floor when they told me the steering shaft and ballnut assembly cost $450!! I then went on a search for a used or aftermarket alternative. I found a source selling a new assembly, reliableaftermarketparts.com, for a much more reasonable $50 with free shipping to boot. Their part number matched the “old part number” given to me at the Kubota dealer so I ordered it. When it arrived it was about 1” shorter than the original shaft. I called the Kubota dealer to confirm the part number. He said there was also a “new part number”. I called the seller back and explained the difference in the parts and asked if they had anything under the new part number. They said “no”. So the Kubota parts dealer suggested I cut the support shaft down to make the $50 part work. I did and it went together smoothly with just one issue. Now when I turn the steering wheel left the wheels go right and when I turn the steering wheel right the wheels go left. Normal travel, just completely backwards. Apparently the spiral cut was also reversed on the new steering shaft from the original.
Has anyone else here experienced this? Any suggestions on how I can correct it without spending a small fortune?
For reference the old part number is 66811-41200. The new part number is H6680-41204
Well the last time it happened it actually chipped the steering shaft’s spiral gear. I went to my local Kubota dealer and almost hit the floor when they told me the steering shaft and ballnut assembly cost $450!! I then went on a search for a used or aftermarket alternative. I found a source selling a new assembly, reliableaftermarketparts.com, for a much more reasonable $50 with free shipping to boot. Their part number matched the “old part number” given to me at the Kubota dealer so I ordered it. When it arrived it was about 1” shorter than the original shaft. I called the Kubota dealer to confirm the part number. He said there was also a “new part number”. I called the seller back and explained the difference in the parts and asked if they had anything under the new part number. They said “no”. So the Kubota parts dealer suggested I cut the support shaft down to make the $50 part work. I did and it went together smoothly with just one issue. Now when I turn the steering wheel left the wheels go right and when I turn the steering wheel right the wheels go left. Normal travel, just completely backwards. Apparently the spiral cut was also reversed on the new steering shaft from the original.
Has anyone else here experienced this? Any suggestions on how I can correct it without spending a small fortune?
For reference the old part number is 66811-41200. The new part number is H6680-41204
