Found the source of the loud squeal/screech

[tillboy2001]

Those of you that had the noisy steering column know what I'm talking about. On our 4120, ever since it was new, at certain RPMs there would be an extremely loud and shrill squealing or high pitched screeching sound coming from around the steering column. Well, yesterday I finally found out what it causing it. I can't believe I didn't notice or find this sooner, but the source of the noise is the two plastic housing halves that screw to each side of the steering column. When it was making noise, I put my hands on each side of these plastic covers and squeezed them together and the noise stopped. I've since taken the screws loose and retightened them and the noise is gone. I hear a very slight squeal and if it comes back I'll do something else to fix it for good, but at least now I know what it is! I can't believe how much quieter the operator's position is now that that darn squeal is gone!!! I love it

 

[Dyer retired]

pz32g22,

Good job! I sure do like solving problems without spending money at the dealer. I have a BX 1800 and one day the engine sounded like it was spitting metal everywhere as it prepared to explode. I shut the motor off immediately and opened the hood to find a metal band (about 1/2" wide) that goes around the air filter had sheared off (just from normal vibration) where it bolted to an engine mount underneath the filter and the loose end was banging on the underneath of the hood. I thought to myself, "This is clearly not something that the dealer will have on hand, so it will be a week waiting for the order to come in." Then I looked at what a ridiculously over engineered hold down that was in the first place and how difficult a rig to attach because of the small space under there. I ended up taking the two (2 mind you...that filter must need an awful lot of holding down) 1/4" bolts out, removed what was left of that tie down band, and just ran two heavy duty plastic wire ties through the bolt holes and then around the air filter. That was 6 months ago and the plastic ties are fine. If they break, I'll spend $ .38 to replace them. My only complaint is that the ties I had were white, so they don't match the filter cover, so I might go all out and change them out for .38 cent black ties. Take care. Dyer, retired

 

[michiglenn]

My 4320 has the same squeal. It was silent until I brought it back to the dealer for warranty work. They apparently changed something on the steering column and when I got it back it was buzzing, almost "screaming" at certain RPM's. I took those housing halves off, too, and the noise was totally gone. If you can figure out a permanent solution, let us know, this is a problem quite a few have mentioned about their 4000 series. Thanks for the post, at least I know mine isn't the only one still buzzing!

 

[Nuru]

Good Work.