L6060 Power Steering Issue

[Hilbilly]

Recently I noticed that when driving in a straight line, with a slight cross slope, I am constantly correcting to the left. In a fairly short distance I end up with the steering wheel 1/2 a turn to the left. So I tried the steering with the tractor at a standstill and this is what i found. When the steering goes to full right side lock the steering wheel stops moving but when it goes to full left lock I can continue to turn the steering wheel to the left, for as long as I want. Obviously something is not right. The tractor is under warranty and I will be calling the dealer on Monday. Might as well ask him about the HST recall again too.

I love this tractor but I'm starting to have my doubts about the build quality.

 

[Fallon]

Recently I noticed that when driving in a straight line, with a slight cross slope, I am constantly correcting to the left. In a fairly short distance I end up with the steering wheel 1/2 a turn to the left. So I tried the steering with the tractor at a standstill and this is what i found. When the steering goes to full right side lock the steering wheel stops moving but when it goes to full left lock I can continue to turn the steering wheel to the left, for as long as I want. Obviously something is not right. The tractor is under warranty and I will be calling the dealer on Monday. Might as well ask him about the HST recall again too.

I love this tractor but I'm starting to have my doubts about the build quality.

All machines will slide downhill when you drive sideways across a slope.

All machines with HST steering I've used will let you keep turning the wheel once you hit the stops. It just gets really hard at the end. HST steering isn't solid & does have some leakage. I have a suicide spinner on my L4060 & it migrates where it sits when driving straight. All other HST steering machines I've driven exhibit similar behavior.

Not sure if you are describing reasonably normal behavior or something else.

 

[Hilbilly]

Thanks for the reply. The slight cross slope I was referring to is, the crown on a gravel road. Probably around 2% ..... which is not much. I wasn't aware that this is normal behavior for HST machines and still not sure if mine is acting normally, based on your description. On my tractor the steering wheel stops at the right hand limit but if I try hard enough I can get the steering wheel to move a little but at the left stop the steering wheel continues to turn easily. I took a video and will send it to the dealer tomorrow. Not sure if there is an easy way to post a video on this site. The only ones I have done before were on Youtube and were time consuming to upload.

 

[kthompson]

Hillbilly, agree the turning easy to the left is not correct. I agree HST steering often allows some continuing of turning on some and others it does not. BUT it should be the same each direction at least very near the exact same.

 

[Hilbilly]

Hillbilly, agree the turning easy to the left is not correct. I agree HST steering often allows some continuing of turning on some and others it does not. BUT it should be the same each direction at least very near the exact same.

Thanks. It appears mine is not right and I will contact the dealer tomorrow to discuss.

 

[sandyc]

Look at your toe in toe out. Believe your manual will have the specs

 

[Hilbilly]

Look at your toe in toe out. Believe your manual will have the specs

I could see where that would affect how the tractor steers or wonders but not how it would affect the steering wheel continuing to turn in one direction but not the other. I could certainly be wrong about this though. I have sent an email to the dealer service manager, complete with video of the steering and a couple of other minor issues that need to be addressed. I will likely call him later to discuss. I will post his response after talking to him.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Either the center seal in the cylinder is bad or the steering valve is bad reverse hoses and see if it changes sides.

 

[Hilbilly]

Either the center seal in the cylinder is bad or the steering valve is bad reverse hoses and see if it changes sides.

This is a new machine and still under warranty. So I would prefer to let the dealer do the work.

I contacted the dealer and was told he checked out one of the other new L6060 HST's on the lot and they did exactly the same thing. Hard to the right and continue turning to the left. He said he also contacted Kubota and was told this is normal. Still doesn't make sense to me. In my opinion it should be the same both ways and I don't think it should continue to turn easily after reaching the stops. When I told him I had to keep adjusting the steering wheel while traveling he said that did not sound right and would check that out with Kubota.

Just because the manufacturer says it's normal doesn't mean it's right. As others have stated they've had problems with the rear remotes leaking down and had them replaced several times before getting close to working properly. My rear remotes leak down too and I was told this is also normal. I am skeptical about what the manufacturer or dealer say is normal.

Why is HST steering different than other tractors? I've never experienced this on other tractors, vehicles but have never owned an HST tractor before this one.

 

[Fallon]

Just a FYI geared, GST & other tractors can have HST steering. HST is usually in reference to the transmission, but can be about the steering. HST basically just means hydraulically coupled rather than coupled with a (steering or drive) shaft. For HST steering there is a valve connected to the steering wheel directly or indirectly. The valve then has hoses to the steering. No shafts & gearbox of some sort the whole way like on a car.

The HST transmission is more or less the same way with a pump driving a motor instead of a clutch & gears.

I'll try & spin the wheel on my L4060 later today to see if it behaves differently right to left at the stops.