Kubota Bx1500 steering issues

[Bigbear4x4]

Hello people ! I'm hoping to pick someone's brain with this one. My 2006 Bx1500 power steering has been irritating me since I bought it in 2009 at 240 hours. Today has about 775 hours on it . Absolutely no difference in the steering since then but I had put a steering ball on the wheel at 7 o'clock and after the first time I mowed, that ball never stays put. sometimes at any position all around the steering wheel with the front wheels straight. Today , with tractor off, i turn the steering wheel , which turns hard obviously, but it seem to "skip" or little jumps while gently forcing the wheel to turn. In my car, turned off, when I gently force the wheel to turn , it does with much difficulty because the oil isn't being pumped but there is NO "skipping / jumping "Tractor has no leaks. Any ideas ? Driving me nuts !!! Thanks for any advise you have to offer.... Dana

 

[javatandem]

yep that's normal

 

[timswi]

Mine has the same behavior with the tractor off. May be a defense mechanism of some sort---Dunno but I don't make a habit of doing that.

 

[MOPAULY]

If it shares the same issue as the BX24, the steering cylinder o-rings may need to be replaced. Just did this last night on mine at 750 hours. Center o-ring wears out and lets fluid pass through, requiring you to jerk the steering wheel to get the wheels to turn.

 

[RaydaKub]

That behavior is annoying. Our JD 55 combine did it, the 6600 combine did it after that and I recently drove an X485 mower that did it. Seems if it is all hydraulic, there is a chance of that happening. The combines would fully rotate the steering wheel about every 10 minutes. The Deere logo on the hub was always on the move.

 

[Pepsiboy]

Hello people ! I'm hoping to pick someone's brain with this one. My 2006 Bx1500 power steering has been irritating me since I bought it in 2009 at 240 hours. Today has about 775 hours on it . Absolutely no difference in the steering since then but I had put a steering ball on the wheel at 7 o'clock and after the first time I mowed, that ball never stays put. sometimes at any position all around the steering wheel with the front wheels straight. Today , with tractor off, i turn the steering wheel , which turns hard obviously, but it seem to "skip" or little jumps while gently forcing the wheel to turn. In my car, turned off, when I gently force the wheel to turn , it does with much difficulty because the oil isn't being pumped but there is NO "skipping / jumping "Tractor has no leaks. Any ideas ? Driving me nuts !!! Thanks for any advise you have to offer.... Dana

Bigbear,

Just try to deal with it. This is typical of ALL hydraulic steering systems. The BX series does NOT have power steering, it is Hydraulic steering. It runs off of the hydraulic system and is not an independent system like the power steering on a car or truck.

I was frustrated, like you, at first when I put on a steering spinner. I just took it off, as I am able to turn the steering wheel with 1 finger with no problems. In fact, my 6 year old Granddaughter can turn it with 1 finger also when I hold her in my lap. I just did this sitting still as a test. She DOES NOT get to be on the tractor alone unless it is turned OFF and the key removed.

It took me a while to get used to the steering wheel changing position, but I just deal with it.

Dave

 

[lindnova]

Sounds normal.

I replaced my o-rings at around 1200 hrs. I was so bad I couldn't drive a straight line. Turn the wheel to either side and see how hard it is to keep turning after the stop. It will turn but should have a lot of resistance. If it turns easy at the stop or Won't keep a straight line mowing it is time for new o-rings.