b7500 tearing grass steering

[RoyBrooks]

I recently purchased a used b7500 hsd, it has the r4 tires on it. I notice that it tears the lawn up turning, I'm thinking the tie rod is bent? i'll take some pictures tomorrow but the rod has a definite bend in the middle of the tie rod of about 3/4" would this be enough to cause toe in and tearing the grass on turns? could someone measure the tie rod length between the ball joint threads? Does anyone else notice grass tearing on their r4 equipped tractors? I'll try to measure the distance between tire sidewalls on the front and rear of the axle.

thanks

 

[kevinj]

I recently purchased a used b7500 hsd, it has the r4 tires on it. I notice that it tears the lawn up turning, I'm thinking the tie rod is bent? i'll take some pictures tomorrow but the rod has a definite bend in the middle of the tie rod of about 3/4" would this be enough to cause toe in and tearing the grass on turns? could someone measure the tie rod length between the ball joint threads? Does anyone else notice grass tearing on their r4 equipped tractors? I'll try to measure the distance between tire sidewalls on the front and rear of the axle.

thanks

The tie rod is supossed to be bent on that model. Mine has 2 bends in it. You do not say if you are in 4WD or not.

 

[RoyBrooks]

This is with the tractor in 2wd and not in Differential lock. The tie rod as shown in this image mine seems to have a slight bend where the line form 020 and 030 indicate.
Kubota B7500HSD Parts Diagrams

 

[kevinj]

This is with the tractor in 2wd and not in Differential lock. The tie rod as shown in this image mine seems to have a slight bend where the line form 020 and 030 indicate.
Kubota B7500HSD Parts Diagrams

You have the drag link pictured. The tie rod is out front between the wheels and has 2 bends.

 

[bp fick]

I recently purchased a used b7500 hsd, it has the r4 tires on it. I notice that it tears the lawn up turning, I'm thinking the tie rod is bent? i'll take some pictures tomorrow but the rod has a definite bend in the middle of the tie rod of about 3/4" would this be enough to cause toe in and tearing the grass on turns? could someone measure the tie rod length between the ball joint threads? Does anyone else notice grass tearing on their r4 equipped tractors? I'll try to measure the distance between tire sidewalls on the front and rear of the axle.

thanks

Do you know how to do a "Driveway alignment"? It is the same way a quick alignment is done in the pits of NASCAR. Yup, I think you probably do. It isn't 100% accurate to the millimeter, but it sure shows it something is really out of whack.

 

[RoyBrooks]

I had the tie rod picture up but when i posted the link it defaulted to the drag link image, I will take a few measurements and pictures tomorrow. I thought there would be some sort of adjustment in the tie rod similar to a truck but its just a bar with 2 balljoints mounted on the end. when you steer there wheels are definitely on different angles as compared to the frame. The outside wheels in a turn are the ones that are tearing the grass and they are on about a 10 degree sharper angle.

 

[bp fick]

I had the tie rod picture up but when i posted the link it defaulted to the drag link image, I will take a few measurements and pictures tomorrow. I thought there would be some sort of adjustment in the tie rod similar to a truck but its just a bar with 2 balljoints mounted on the end. when you steer there wheels are definitely on different angles as compared to the frame. The outside wheels in a turn are the ones that are tearing the grass and they are on about a 10 degree sharper angle.

Roy, you can check your "eye" easily enough. Drive the tractor onto a hard surface, driveway, garage floor, anything smooth and paved.

Try to make the steering wheel as neutral or centered as possible the last 10 feet of run out.

Measure the distance from outside shoulder to outside shoulder in front of the tires, at the apex of the curve. Then measure behind/the backs of the front tires. Again, at the apex of the back curve, outside shoulder to outside shoulder.

If you have more than an inch difference on your tape, you have an issue of splay for sure. Less than inch can easily be dismissed as merely not holding the tape level, or what have you.

This is a driveway alignment check and it is used even by Kubota in some of their manuals. Best Wishes

 

[RoyBrooks]

I did a quick measurement today, between the front wheels against the sidewall at the front was 24 3/4" behind the front wheels measured at the same area shows 26 1/2" seems to me that 1 3/4" toe -in seems a little much. i guess the only way to take a little bit of the toe-in out is to decrease the bends in the tie rod abit. The wife won't be happy if the new tractor tears the lawn everytime I cut the grass.

 

[bp fick]

Yeah, that is way too much differential. She's pigeon toed for sure.

Have you got it figured which tie rod is bent? I don't honestly know if you can return the shape to original because, in the end, the length needs to match, but the curves and bends need to be similar. If it were my tractor, I'd mark it up to the good, reduced price I got on it, and get me a new tie rod (or two).

Seriously, good thoughts heading your way in your attempting to re-form it.

 

[jnjpream]

Aren't there threads on the tie rod end, or some other way to adjust it to correct the toe-in with out re-forming the tie rod?

 

[RoyBrooks]

There is no thread adjustment on the tie rod, so I have a couple of options as I see it.
- try to staighten afew of the bends slightly but will be hard to get it accurate
- cut the tie rod in half and add a theaded rod and weld it in and weld a nut on the other side
- buy a new tie rod and see what the alignment would be like.

I will have to look at it tomorrow.

 

[kevinj]

There is no thread adjustment on the tie rod, so I have a couple of options as I see it.
- try to staighten afew of the bends slightly but will be hard to get it accurate
- cut the tie rod in half and add a theaded rod and weld it in and weld a nut on the other side
- buy a new tie rod and see what the alignment would be like.

I will have to look at it tomorrow.

Those tie rods bend easy. Mine bent twice and then we added some steel to it. Straighten it out a bit. Mine bent between the 2 factory bends so it was as easy as making the center straight again and doing a bit of welding.

 

[RoyBrooks]

What did you use to straighten it? I dont have a press at home , maybe I'll use my mobile anchor point (aka the trucks trailer hitch ) and a big piece of pipe to straighten it if they bend that easy.

Thanks

 

[kevinj]

What did you use to straighten it? I dont have a press at home , maybe I'll use my mobile anchor point (aka the trucks trailer hitch ) and a big piece of pipe to straighten it if they bend that easy.

Thanks

Standard BFH and an anvil.

 

[kevinj]

Maybe these will help.

 

[RoyBrooks]

I straightened the tie rod today using a piece of 2 1/2" square tube it was bent right were you reinforced yours. I remeasured and got 25 3/4" on both the front of the tires and the rear. I spend the rest of the day trying to mount a newly acquired rck60-24b and gc60-24b ( with no mounting instruction I might add) Hopefully will get everything finished tomorrow to try it out on the turf.

 

[kevinj]

I straightened the tie rod today using a piece of 2 1/2" square tube it was bent right were you reinforced yours. I remeasured and got 25 3/4" on both the front of the tires and the rear. I spend the rest of the day trying to mount a newly acquired rck60-24b and gc60-24b ( with no mounting instruction I might add) Hopefully will get everything finished tomorrow to try it out on the turf.

Thats good. Mine also has a toe in of zero by the way. You may still find some tearing if you turn short with those tires.

 

[RoyBrooks]

Tried tractor this morning everything worked great, only slight tearing on grass on the tightest turns. Looks like there was far too much toe in, seems I'll have to keep an eye on the alignment.

Thanks all