Steering linkage boot

[RaydaKub]

I'm starting to wonder if buying used is such a good idea. You don't really know what it should have looked like before.

Last night I was working on my mower. I noticed a very fine wire snap ring dangling off the power steering cylinder end. I then noticed the other side had part of a rubber boot hanging on the back side. Obviously there is supposed to be a boot around the ball and socket joint on each end of the cylinder shaft. I bought a parts cd when I got the tractor and I don't think this wire is the one that sits between the cylinder and the bracket that attaches it to the front axle. I am wondering if the boot has wire on one end of it. This boot seems like it would be part number 50 in the diagram and the ball and socket joint is all contained inside of that.

Anyway, it would appear that I need to replace both sides in order to get have this joint be protected. I don't notice any problems yet so the wear isn't significant. Maybe I could stretch a piece of bike innertube around it and let it go for a while. Thoughts?

 

[TripleR]

My son in law has run his BX2200 without boots for three years. The boots on my L5030 need to be replaced; maybe I will get around to it one of these days.

There have been several threads on this with some innovative fixes and substitutes including inner-tubes.

 

[RaydaKub]

I can't imagine there is a lot of flexing on these joints. Every turn of the steering wheel will do some, but the travel can't be all that far. I guess I'll try some innertube and see what happens. But your s-i-l's 2200 running for 3 years w/o them is quite reassuring. :thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

We were told that on the BX, the whole assembly had to be replaced as the boot could not be bought separately unlike on the bigger tractors. My SIL figured if he was going to wait until he had problems and is still waiting.

I had them replaced on our BX2660, but will do the inner-tube thing if it happens again.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/119055-torn-bx24-tie-rod-boot.html

 

[RaydaKub]

Ouch, and I bet they aren't cheap either. I had never realized they were supposed to be there at all since they were both gone (ok, a piece of one is still there) when I got my rig. Thanks for the advice!

 

[TripleR]

Yeah, they were pretty expensive as I was having some health issues and had to spring for parts and labor.

 

[ford farm boy]

That boot was bad on my new mx5100 and they came to my house and changed it . It was about a 10 min. job.

 

[TripleR]

That boot was bad on my new mx5100 and they came to my house and changed it . It was about a 10 min. job.

Yeah, the boot on the bigger tractors is a pretty easy fix, but on the BX, you have to replace the rods as well which isn't all that big a deal, just expensive.

 

[mozark]

I vaguely remember a post on here where someone found a replacement boot at an auto parts store that would work. You might search to see if you can find that post.