Steering feels a little jerky

[Kenneth in Texas]

when sitting still idling at normal rpm, turning the steering wheel left or right I can feel and even see in the tires a little jerkiness instead of the smooth steering feel it has always had. Fluids are good, no leaks from any front end area. Just started this yesterday, not real bad BUT bad enough for me to notice it and not like it. Any ideas what to look for?

 

[RobertN]

I would say use the steering brakes, but Kubota never figured those out(insert hahahahaha here) My old Kubota had Armstorng steering(fwiw, I still see old tractor even 5 years later; B8200 is still going strong!).

Have you checked color of fluid against new fluid? Maybe it is getting old, possibly contaminated. Fluid is cheap, might be worth draining and putting in new fluid. Cheap and easy starting point. What does manual say for PS fluid change interval?

 

[chim]

Are the screen and radiator fins clean? The B7500 I had acted like that when the hydro fluid got hot.

 

[Bird]

That was an occasional, and annoying, feature of my 1999 B2710. Mine was a early one with a single hydraulic fluid filter. The later ones came with 2 hydraulic fluid filters.

 

[bullbreaker]

Check your suction return hose under your R front foot pedal for leaks and or cracks . Pretty common to L2800/L3400 Botas.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

thanks for the replies, when i get back home i will check those things but the fluids were changed 3 months ago and have only done 30 or so hours since then. Far as that hose you are talking about that large one that looks more like a tube by my right foot correct?

 

[bullbreaker]

thanks for the replies, when i get back home i will check those things but the fluids were changed 3 months ago and have only done 30 or so hours since then. Far as that hose you are talking about that large one that looks more like a tube by my right foot correct?

YES !

 

[k0ua]

The suction hose is a known problem. Pinch it and look for cracks. It sucks air into the hydraulic pump.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Carefully looked over that hose/tube, looks as good as the day I bought the tractor, no cracks, no splits, no nothing, however did notice that my hydraulic oil filter has a small dent in it, not a large one but a dent nevertheless, wonder if that could be it? Or any other ideas why my steering has suddenly become jerky while sitting still? Seem fine while there is forward motion.

 

[PILOON]

You did say at idle. Could your idle setting be too low? check that as at low RPMs the flow is minimal and on some pumps you actually feel the pulsations.

 

[teg]

Carefully looked over that hose/tube, looks as good as the day I bought the tractor, no cracks, no splits, no nothing...

If you have not replaced it... I bet that's it. It's the 1.5 in tube by your right foot (near the brakes). About a foot long, bent 90* - you have to pinch it sometimes to show the cracks.

Some photos here:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/122787-l3400-hydraulic-leak.html

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

UPDATE: after replacing the bent oil filter it was the same, took a second EXTENDED look at that hose coming up by the brake pedals, sure enough, on the inside by the floor area it was cracked, Actually had to look with a mirror behind the hose to actually see it, couldnt hardly even feel it since kubota had painted thick pain on it but it was there, which im glad to know since im assuming thats why my hydraulics have changed in the last week, steering is jerky and the FEL is much slower than normal.

Now onto the next question, I know its probably best to replace this with an OEM hose but at $30 plus shipping if i go that route, is there any other type same size hose that would work or does it have to have that EXACT bend in it? Seems to me that entire area should be metal pipe just like this rubber hose connects to or at the very least just a much cheaper reinforced rubber hose but then again it wouldnt have that excat bend in it. Anyone ever went back with something besides the kubota hose?

 

[k0ua]

I have never heard of anyone using anything but the OEM hose. I had one, (as a spare, ) but I shipped it to one of our members after I traded off my L3400.

 

[teg]

OEM is all I've heard... let us know if you find something else that works... No dealers nearby? I used duck tape for a temporary fix, until I could buy a new one.

 

[yamrpt]

Sounds similar to what my hydro 3540 does, I compare it to steering wheel lock like on a car for a split second when I'm stopped and have to turn, like when using the loader. I'm leery letting a dealer look at it cuz they don't know if they'll have to take the cab off or not

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

new hose fixed mine, amazing. This hose affected my FEL by making is slow compared to what is normal, my steering was jerky and my 3 pt was slow. One small 1/2" crack along where the clamp was did all that. I went back with the OEM hose but sure looks like a heater hose would have done the same thing.

 

[/pine]

...but at $30 plus shipping...

For a k_ubota OEM part that's a bargain IMO...even more so if it resolves your issue...

 

[Cooter88]

If the hydraulics work good at idle the problem will not be in the suction. The main pump and the steering pump use the same suction tube, and the steering pump uses much less oil. I would say check the king pin bearings on the axles for binding, and if there is no problem there the problem most likely lies in the steering pump itself.