B8200 Power Steering Issues

[DEVIPER]

I recently purchased my first Kubota. It is a B8200 HSTD with a BF300-A FEL and a K-600 BH. The B8200 has power steering, but it is erratic. The diverter valve does not have the pins, but adjusting it makes no difference in the operation of the power steering. The hydraulic lines are not like what I have seen on other B8200s. The line that feeds the power steering actually runs to the top of the transmission below the seat. It has a T that feeds the power steering. after the T the line that goes to transmission has a flow control valve. With the valve is fully open allowing fluid to the transmission there is no power steering. With the valve fully closed the power steering is so strong, that as soon as you turn a little, it rips the wheel out of your hands and steers full left or full right. The only way to get steering back is to open the valve at least half way. Adjusting the valve in between it has some power steering, but it is erratic. I have experience with hydraulics, but not power steering. Maybe the issue is in power steering valves? I appreciate any advice.

 

[Russell King]

I think all of that copper piping is NOT rated for hydraulic pressure and was installed by someone trying to make it work. As far as I understand it there needs to be a priority flow divider involved to provide the correct flow to the power steering regardless of whatever other hydraulics are being used.

You might gain some insight in this thread

B7200 hydraulic steering

I'm in the process of purchasing some hydraulic steering bits from a BX from Daryl at Mossy Creek Outdoors @Mountainman - planning to attempt to fit it to my B7200 HSTD 4WD hydrostatic. I found the plumbing diagram below on another thread - I think it was done by @North Idaho Wolfman -...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That is some of the worst hydraulic plumbing I've seen in a while.
That make hard core horror slasher movies look like a Disney flick.

They have it set up wrong, and yes most likely the valve that should control the steering is bad.
most of these units are not rebuildable because parts have long been obsoleted.

The best thing you could do is change it to Hydrostatic steering and clean up all the hydraulic plumbing.