BX2200 Steering - The Boat

[cynthiana_jones]

I've had great luck with the BX2200 for a little over 2 years now -- 4 months beyond the warranty period. But, both my wife and I noticed that cutting with it yesterday was like trying to steer a boat. That is, the tightness of the steering has disappeared. Its as though it has a mind of its own. Either I can make a Stephan King movie with it or search for solutions.
There was no reference to steeing adjustments in the owners manual. Any help would be appreaciated.

 

[Woodsman_Pete]

Have you checked the power steering lines? I just blew one on my BX2200 about two weeks ago, there is no steering linkage only a valve box under the steering wheel and 4 power steering lines that attach to that box. Two head to the transmission (pressure and return I would assume...(thats dangerous)) and two head to the steering cylinder at the front axle(left and right). Kubota has the lines paired and encased in a Nylon/kevlar looking sheath for protection. My line had a pin hole worn in it where they pass thru the radiator support. The sheath more or less soaked up the oil and once saturated then directed the oil to the sheaths lowest point over top of the mower deck. This let the leaking hydraulic oil run all over the BRAND NEW belt I had just intalled on the mower deck /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The good that came of it was it was time for the 300 hour service on the hydraulic system anyhow, man was that suction screen contaminated with shavings...

 

[Will_C]

I know that there was a run of bad steering sylinder pistons that happened on BX's of about your vintage. this has been discussed here on TBN before.
Will

 

[botalvr]

Yep, sounds like mine, need to replace the steering cylinder. Luckily my dealer replaced it under warranty even though it was a little past the warranty period.
There is a list of intial defects of the BX here on this board. Best to go through them all and get them fixed. I was suprised a tractor of this price range had so many defects and that Kubota did not issue a recall/advisory warning to get them all fixed. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[upgw]

If it goes where you want when you steer quickly, but doesn't when you steer slowly, then it sounds like the (relatively common) internal steering cylinder leakage problem. Kubota should replace this under warranty even if you are out.

- Patrick

 

[brinet]

Just replaced my steering cylinder for the second time. After disassembly, it appears that the replacement cylinder had the same problem as the original cylinder.

The problem was that there was rust inside the cylinder. This allowed fluid to pass between the two ends of the cylinder bypassing the center seal. The rust was also damaging the center seal. I almost rammed a tree because my steering became so bad so quickly, that I was able to turn the wheel several complete turns before it responded. Getting it onto the trailer to take to the dealer is another story!

Two weeks ago, I took the cylinder to my Kubota dealer and showed them the rust on the inside of the cylinder (it was also leaking on one end). The parts person was unaware of any problems with the steering cylinder and rust, even though they had previously repaired my cylinder. A phone call to Kubota cleared this up.

FYI, it should be repaired by Kubota, but you may have to get your dealer to call Kubota for more information. You can also get a new cylinder from tractorsmart.com for about $210. It takes about 15 minutes to remove the old cylinder and a little longer to reinstall the new. Have some trans/hyd fluid available to top off with as this will remove the amount of fluid in the old cylinder and lines.

Calculate the hassle factor of toting to the dealer only to have the dealer to give you the line of "we can't be gettin' to it until a few of them thar weeks" and determine whether or not to do it yourself on your dime. The second time, I fixed it myself....

 

[eno]

I just have this problem today, how can I tell what hose is the one is leaking, is there an easy test. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Woodsman_Pete]

Eno,

The first clue was the Hydro oil all over my mower deck and brand new deck belt ($50 down the drain), after I pulled the deck I saw that the lines were paired and that only one of the Nylon/Kevlar looking sheaths were satruated in oil. From there I removed those lines from the tractor and the sheath entirely and cleaned up the lines with at rag. I inspected the lines and could not find any damage other than a couple of minor dents in the rubber coating nothing that would indicate a leak though. The hoses that I had leaking went from the valve box at the steering wheel to the transmission and were long enough to reconnect by routing them around the floor pan (on the out side of the tractor) and reconnecting them underneath. I then restarted the tractor and with out the sheath on it took no time at all to show where the pin hole was (you may have to turn the wheel to pressurize the lines). The one that I had a pin hole in connected under the left rear fender(sitting on the seat) and was $27 from tractorsmart. The other hose in that pair connects underneath by the drive shaft and was $18. I just replaced them both while I had it apart.