I've got a 2008 B7800 with less than 100 hours. I'm the second owner. I think that I may have a proiblem with the power steering. When I have a load in the bucket (even a pretty small one) and am on the driveway, it seems as if there is no power steering. I have to be moving in order to turn the wheel. The dealer says this is "normal" and that the tractor doesn't have "real power steering." My waranty runs out in a few months, so I am anxious. Help! I just got done fighting with them over pitted rams in the lift and curl cylinders and don't want to have to fight again if I am in the wrong.
Kubota B7800 Power steering problem?
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RoyJackson
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First thing to do is put more pressure in those front tires. I'd wager the low pressure we normally keep in the tires is allowing the sidewalls to collapse. That makes steering tough and you can actually roll the tires off the rims.
Let us know how increasing the pressure works. Go to close to the maximum pressure allowed (this will be marked on the sidewalls of the tires).
Let us know how increasing the pressure works. Go to close to the maximum pressure allowed (this will be marked on the sidewalls of the tires).
Does theload in the bucket do anything from a hydraulic standpoint to decrease the "quality" of the power steering? It seems to make little sense to have PS that essentially does not work when there is a load in the bucket. Isn't that what it is there to help with in the first place? If I am moving along, things are generally fine. Is the dealer trying to push things off until the warranty runs out this March?
MikeInEburg
Veteran Member
The hydraulic pump in your tractor has dedicated output for steering, so other hydraulic uses should not affect it.
Mike
Mike
RoyJackson
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If the load compresses the front tires (as it will do if the tires are ran at the lower pressures we normally operate at), the sidewalls collapse. It's like steering with two flat tires...that's essentially what you've got. Power steering won't help with that kind of friction.
So, the dealer probably isn't trying to push anything off.
School_Farmer
New member
I have a 2008 7800 with loader and have never noticed the steering ever get difficult, not counting the one time I had a wheel up against a rock and tried to turn into it.
FYI, my dealer set the front tires up with 32 pounds of pressure at delivery time with the loader on (and 12 lbs in the rears) and it's always been fine.
In general, the steering on my tractor is pretty effortless, unless the engine is off.
FYI, my dealer set the front tires up with 32 pounds of pressure at delivery time with the loader on (and 12 lbs in the rears) and it's always been fine.
In general, the steering on my tractor is pretty effortless, unless the engine is off.
red4now
Silver Member
If the tires are up to par as indicated in above posts and you still have problems - something else must be wrong? The B3200 I had was effortless in its steering regardless of the load on the FEL and it is essentially a B7800 with a new suit on so no real difference and it worked just fine. Low on hydraulic fluid maybe? Let us know how what you find out.
Don't mean to hijack your thread but this might help as well. On my B7800 you can turn it easily with one finger low tire pressure and bucket loaded.
I changed my filters last summer and had a tough time bleeding the air out of the Power steering but finely lifting the front end up with the bucket and turning the wheels to the left and right it started working correctly. Now in this freezing weather I have to do this every time if I want to move it before the tractor gets good and warm. When it's not working it is almost impossible to turn.
Just read in another post this could be caused by a hydraulic filter sucking air, Hmmm, those things should be changed at 50 hours too.
I changed my filters last summer and had a tough time bleeding the air out of the Power steering but finely lifting the front end up with the bucket and turning the wheels to the left and right it started working correctly. Now in this freezing weather I have to do this every time if I want to move it before the tractor gets good and warm. When it's not working it is almost impossible to turn.
Just read in another post this could be caused by a hydraulic filter sucking air, Hmmm, those things should be changed at 50 hours too.
Last edited:
lennyb99
New member
The hydraulic filter on my b2710 should be changed every 300 hours according to the manual. I just changed it and the fluid, and with the tough economic times presently i just couldn't afford to use kubota fluids. I got a five gallon bucket of Warren Tractor oil for $29, and five quarts of 90w gear oil for $25. She seems to be moving around real nice, especially the steering and the FEL. Peace to all!!
With better air pressure in the front it seems somewhat better. Almost effortless between 10-2 O'clock positions, but it gets more difficult as turn further out to the extremes. Could this be an air issue? Tractor only has 120 hrs. fluids are all ok as far as I can tell. Thanks for all the replies. ANy way to get a "complaint" on file with Kubota now (since my warantee runs out in a few weeks) and then continue to diagnose the problem with their techs?
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