Grading Steering Box Lubrication/Maintenance

[Tom_Veatch]

What lubricant should be used in the steering box on these tractors (YM2220D with a little over 600 hrs on the tach)? Nothing in the operator's manual about maintenance schedule, lubricant, or capacity of the box. So if you have any ideas, opinions, or even facts, I'd like to hear them.

Some past threads talk about 90wt gear oil, but a screwdriver dipstick brings back stuff that's a lot thicker than 90wt oil, It actually looks a lot like the "cup grease" I packed in my bicycle coaster brake, lo, so many years ago.

Difficult, if not downright impossible to get to the filler plug without significant disassembly, so, while I've got the tank out and have good access, I'd like to take care of any recommended maintenance on the box. I'm tempted to plumb a line (1/8" black pipe?) in to the filler hole if adding lubricant needs to be done more often than about once every 10 or 15 years.

With that in mind, does anybody know the thread size on the filler plug. It looks about like 1/8" NPT but ...

 

[Gizmo36]

That is the first thing I do to one. Take the tank out and put 90wt in it.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

"Take the tank out and put 90wt in it."

Well, Gizmo, if it should be filled with 90wt, then I probably ought to pull the box, disassemble it, clean out the grease or crud or whatever, and refill with clean 90wt????

What do you think about the idea of plumbing a "remote fill" tube?

 

[Gizmo36]

Eventually all of the gear oil will have leaked out or turned to a toothpaste like goo. Yanmar Tractor Steering Shaft Fix

 

[Gizmo36]

What do you think about the idea of plumbing a "remote fill" tube?
I did not see this , I think I will look next time mine is low and see if I can.If it will work sounds good.

 

[spyder2]

What do you think about the idea of plumbing a "remote fill" tube?

Although it will probably make your life easier to add oil you need to ask yourself how often you will be required to add oil. A couple of years from now you will need to clean it out again before adding new oil. To some extent it also depends on what environment you use and store your tractor in. To my thinking a filler tube is another potential point for dirt/water to enter. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

... A couple of years from now you will need to clean it out again before adding new oil.
...

I expect you're right. Now, if there were a drain plug, it might be different. As it is, without a "drain and change", the only time oil needs to be added on a regular basis is if there's a leak. Since that requires pulling the box for repair anyway, it doesn't look like a remote fill tube offers any real advantage.

 

[normde2001]

I haven't tried it, but you may be able to remove the adjusting bolt and squirt 90/140wt in with a "Plews" squirt can, (available at Sears).

 

[Tom_Veatch]

I haven't tried it, but you may be able to remove the adjusting bolt and squirt 90/140wt in with a "Plews" squirt can, (available at Sears).

Well, there's sure got to be a better, easier way to service that box than the amount of disassembly now necessary to get to it. Pull the steering wheel, power-shift lever and panel. Disconnect about a zillion electrical connectors and the ignition switch, tach cable, and decompression cable. Remove the rear shroud and fuel tank. Now I can finally see the steering box... (and understand why design engineers are frequently the target of vile curses).

I'm planning on pulling the box today, cleaning it out and refilling it. While I've got it out and open, I'll take a look at whether an in place removal of the adjusting screw can be done without danger of messing something up. That at least might offer the ability to drain the oil before it turns to gunk. Another option might be to drill and tap a port in the bottom of the box. Then, with a remote fill tube, the oil could easily be changed, oh, say annually.

I'm assuming that everyone agrees the proper lubricant is 90wt gear oil rather than some kind of heavier grease.

 

[normde2001]

If you keep the water out and prevent leaks, it should never need servicing, (at least, I suspect that was the design consideration).

 

[Tractors4u]

I think the main cause of water getting down in there is kind of a 2 part problem. No center cap on the steering wheel or one that is not sealed properly and being left out in the rain. Like Norm said, keep the water out and prevent leaks and you should have no problems.

 

[pruntyc]

There was someone, one time, a long time ago, that did the little pipe into it. If I remember right he was a dealer. He said he always did that. But I don't remember who he was, but it was a while ago that he posted that. So I can tell you, it has been done before, and yes he said it worked good. How he checked the level in it, I have no idea.

 

[Cord]

I believe that everybody should adjust the sector shaft when they first get their tractor. It makes a amazing difference in how well the tractor steers at high speeds. Look on the side of the box. You will see an allen screw with a jam nut. Jack up the front of the tractor so the wheels are off the ground. Now loosen the jam nut and start turning in the screw. Keep turning it in until you start to feel resitance in the wheel when it's being turned. Back off the screw so the resistance is gone. Tighten the jam nut, but DON'T allow the allen screw to turn. If the screw turns when you tighten the nut you'll loose the adjustment. This screw adjusts the gear spacing and accounts for their wear. Over the years things will loosen up and the result is a tractor that tends to wander all over the road.