B3030 power steering trouble, advice fast

[John White]

I am going to look at a Kubota b3030 this week. It is a estate sale and they cant tell much about the tractor, except it is very hard to steer. It has 450 hrs. on it and they don't know if the fluids have ever been changed. (probably not) I know it cant be diagnosed on here with out further information. What is the most likely problem. Plugged filter? Bad relief valve? or pump? Worse case, if pump is bad, what would be the cost of repair. Need you to take a wild guess as that will determine price I will offer them.

 

[RickB]

Could be anything from 5 gallons of oil to a $800 steering motor. Good luck.

 

[John White]

What is involved if the steering motor has to be replaced?. Where is it located at? Can it be rebuilt? I am figuring all filters and oil will have to be changed. (would do that anyway to avoid future problems)

 

[RickB]

The steering motor is at the base of the steering column. Typically if they need much beyond a seal kit they are replaced.

 

[number two]

B3030 has hydrostatic steering assist,not the conventional power steering pump.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Workshop Manual Chapter 7 steering

https://www.kubota.cz/data/soubor/WSM_B1830_2230_2530_3030_EN.pdf

David

 

[kthompson]

Think that model has one pump so if would think if lift works would not be the pump...then I have never touched that model either but know my "B" has only one pump.

 

[moship]

Think that model has one pump so if would think if lift works would not be the pump...then I have never touched that model either but know my "B" has only one pump.

Not certain this is a true statement judging by the hydraulic specs being split for PTO and Steering.
3P: 19.7 L/min
(5.2 gals/min)
Power steering:
14.8 L/min (3.9 gals/min)

In any case the manual referenced in Post #6 will have the detail needed to determine root cause and a successful repair.

 

[kthompson]

Not certain this is a true statement judging by the hydraulic specs being split for PTO and Steering.
3P: 19.7 L/min
(5.2 gals/min)
Power steering:
14.8 L/min (3.9 gals/min)

In any case the manual referenced in Post #6 will have the detail needed to determine root cause and a successful repair.

More than one way to have different flow than just separate pumps. But you may be totally right. I have been wrong before but did say i "think" and had never touched that model before.

 

[TMGT]

It's a dual pump, the only Kubota that I know of with a single pump is the BX, the B's have dual pumps for quite a while now.

 

[John White]

Well the deal went through. It is a 2008 or 09 with 480 hours. They couldn't tell me a thing about other than what you could see. I could see that it has not been taken care of at all and abused. Of course the lights and grill broken and steering problem. Headlight and grill $650. Its on the way. But the steering problem I need some help on. I looked on the internet and very little info on diagnosing steering problems. First I changed the fluid and all filters. Used Kubota filters. The steering wheel turns freely, no resistance at all, like it has no hyd. preassure (if you lower the bucket you can turn wheels. That's how I got it loaded on trailer). I went to my Kubota dealer to talk to the mechanic. I wanted to load it on a trailer and take it buy and have him attach a gauge on the steering hoses to the steering cylinder. He said he didn't know anything about a Kubota b3030 and did not have a gauge. He said I needed to purchase a hydraulic gauge (it's on the way) remove either hose from the steering cyl and attach it. Blocking it off from the cylinder and turn the wheel slowly and it should read around 1,700 PSI. If it does, then it is in the cylinder and if it doesn't its somewhere else, probably steering controller. From the info about the manual, if I understand it right it has two pumps, one for the hst and another for the pto drive, loader, and steering. Is that right? The loader seems to have plenty of power but I cant tell about the pto because I would have to put a brush hog or something on it. I have another Kubota b3030 and every thing in the hydraulics works fine (with engine off it has a lot of resistance when trying to turn the wheel and when running, if you turn it to the extreme right or left you can hear the pressure relief valve open up) The Kubota mechanic suggestion was to take the steering controller and switch them. (is this what Kubota mechanics do, not goanna happen, too much work) There should be some one out there that can walk me through this. This is a ongoing project, might take me awhile to sort every thing out and I will try and keep those who are interested posted so if they run on to it they will have some idea as how to diagnose it. I wouldn't think that with only 480 hours that the steering controller isn't bad. I don't want to spend $1,000 and find out that is not the problem.

 

[TMGT]

There is one pump for the tractor hyd. such as the loader and 3pt and another pump for the steering, the HST has its own charge pump built in.
I can't remember if the pto clutch uses the hst charge pump or one of the other pumps for activation.

A quick way to see if the seals are bad in the steering cylinder is to turn the wheels all the way in one direction, take the hose off the steering cylinder on the opposite side (if you turn right take off the left hose). Put something to catch any oil that might come out and try to continue steering in the same direction. If fluid pumps out the open fitting of the cylinder the seal is bad.

You don't have to turn the wheel all the way in one direction first, it just makes it less messy, also helps to have the engine running when doing the test (not running while diconnectin the hose) so pu more pressure on the seal in case it's just weak.

 

[John White]

Thanks for the info. I have a pressure gauge coming and I will check it as you suggested also.

 

[Frogger]

John, check your message inbox please.

 

[John White]

Received gauge, checked pressure, 1,800 psi, tore cyl down, yes, seal blowed, will order parts soon, thanks for the help