BX2200 Steering Issue

[No Spark Just Black Smoke]

Hello all having an issue with the steering on my bx2200 I noticed while mowing at different times the steering wheel can be turned maybe half a turn and the front tires never move? Like there was air in the system or something? The manual says about fluid in the tranny may be low and it was about half a quart but that made no difference after I topped it off... Any ideas??? Thanks in advance Love this site

 

[wild bill]

Common problem with the BXs. Lots of other threads including this one http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/339436-bx-steering-issue.html?highlight=bx+steering

 

[SPYDERLK]

Hello all having an issue with the steering on my bx2200 I noticed while mowing at different times the steering wheel can be turned maybe half a turn and the front tires never move? Like there was air in the system or something? The manual says about fluid in the tranny may be low and it was about half a quart but that made no difference after I topped it off... Any ideas??? Thanks in advance Love this site

Wild Bill has it. It is the oring on the rod piston. You can nurse it for awhile. You will find turning the steering wheel quickly initially will cause it to seal and steer fine for a short period. Also hyd oil viscosity affects it. The problem may disappear overwinter. Itll be baaaack. ... I have a bunch of the orings and will send you one if yould like. Good gamble its the same size.
,,,larry

 

[JWR]

Common problem with the BXs. Lots of other threads including this one http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/339436-bx-steering-issue.html?highlight=bx+steering

Wild Bill is right. These little machines seem to have the steering cylinder seals go after a few hundred hours. I took one to my kids in La. and it got the disease around 840hrs. Dealer in Shreveport area rebuilds them in-house and has seen the problem before. My BX2200 here in MD has around 650 hrs and has not yet had the disease. It did leak last winter when I jerked the wheel around too much immediately after starting in 20 degree weather. That stopped after warm up. I'd just go ahead and have the steering cylinder rebuilt before it causes you worse grief. Expect a couple hours labor and the cost of the seals kit.

 

[dodge man]

Mine has started doing the same thing also. The other thread says it happens around 600 hours, mines at 550 hours. Is there a thread with any pics showing how to fix it. I didn't see any.

 

[JWR]

Mine has started doing the same thing also. The other thread says it happens around 600 hours, mines at 550 hours. Is there a thread with any pics showing how to fix it. I didn't see any.

Looking up under the front of the tractor there are just a few bolts to pull the steering cylinder off. The steering rod ends have to come loose of course. Then once it is loose enough to lower a bit from the tractor you should be able to get access to the hoses and unscrew them from the cylinder. That part most of us can do. The rest of the job is taking the steering cylinder apart and replacing the seals. In my case I'd farm that part out to people who do it all the time. Most people in my area cart them off or UPS to a rebuild shop around 40 miles away that has 48hr turnaround. Down in La. the Kubota dealer rebuilds them in house & if it's mine I'd just let them do the whole job. Couple hrs labor plus the seals kit seems pretty reasonable.

 

[RaydaKub]

Is there any difference between the BX 2200 and the 2230 in this regard? I have a 2230 with 850 hours. Feels like I'm living on borrowed time.

 

[JWR]

Is there any difference between the BX 2200 and the 2230 in this regard? I have a 2230 with 850 hours. Feels like I'm living on borrowed time.

I think they are the same in this regard. We have two BX2200's in my own family & I am sure about them & able to lay hands on one of the two at any moment. I bought a BX2230 for transfer to a stepson who has it about 2hrs from here. I know he has a minor leak in the power steering cylinder on his 2230 and his description of the cylinder was just like mine. So far as I know the 2230 is just a newer version of the 2200 and I'd bet they have identical steering parts. His has NOT developed the steering "slop" that this thread was about. His had 535hrs when bought last year and maybe 550 now. Especially if you bought yours new and treated it with care I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter's unit in La. was fairly badly mistreated by a prior owner who traded it in to a dealer. That dealer did a lot of work on it before I got it. And it did not develop the "steering cylinder disease" until it had over 800 hrs on it. My own "mistreatment" was jerking the steering hard when in a hurry on a very cold morning last winter with no warm up (which I feel caused mine to leak a little.) All 3 of them in our family were bought used in various conditions. One GREAT, and A, one B+ and one a D.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think they are the same in this regard. We have two BX2200's in my own family & I am sure about them & able to lay hands on one of the two at any moment. I bought a BX2230 for transfer to a stepson who has it about 2hrs from here. I know he has a minor leak in the power steering cylinder on his 2230 and his description of the cylinder was just like mine. So far as I know the 2230 is just a newer version of the 2200 and I'd bet they have identical steering parts. His has NOT developed the steering "slop" that this thread was about. His had 535hrs when bought last year and maybe 550 now. Especially if you bought yours new and treated it with care I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter's unit in La. was fairly badly mistreated by a prior owner who traded it in to a dealer. That dealer did a lot of work on it before I got it. And it did not develop the "steering cylinder disease" until it had over 800 hrs on it. My own "mistreatment" was jerking the steering hard when in a hurry on a very cold morning last winter with no warm up (which I feel caused mine to leak a little.) All 3 of them in our family were bought used in various conditions. One GREAT, and A, one B+ and one a D.

There is a relief valve. No way that you damaged it. Wear is from # of steering cycles in combination with the pressure required to steer the wheels. Heavy front loading would cause steering pressure to be higher.

 

[davesl708]

My BX 2200 started leaking by at 1100hrs. It is a simple rebuild in your own shop if you do your own work. Cost a lot less too.
Life of the orings depends on how polished the cylinder bore is. Some manufacturers bore their cylinders "machine smooth" as opposed to the better polished smooth. The smoother the bore the longer the orings will last.