Water in YM1500 steering box

[KidYanmar]

I went to use my 1500D this winter to move some snow, the steering wheel would not move.The front axle was checked and one side rebuilt last year so I ruled out a problem there,if you see the post for that,tractor had alot of water problems.After heating the steering box with a heat gun and the steering is working.
I pulled it in garage,removed fuel tank and plug for steering box.Light brown fluid came pouring out,looks like 90w gear oil mixed with water.
Pulled the steering wheel off and could see the a seal under the steering wheel is alittle worn.It looks like one peice and is held in place with rubber plugs on two sides of the steering collum.
How can I replace this seal?

 

[winston1]

Don't really have a good answer for you, but this drawing might help you. I can't see any rubber plugs in the drawing. Looks like #3 would have to be pulled out and then #6 which is called a bushing but looks more like a seal to me. Yanmar Tractor Parts: STEERING_EXTERNAL

 

[KidYanmar]

Thanks for your reply winston1,I have that diagram in the Japanese parts list that I have.What is #3 on my tractor seems to be one peice of rubber part is on top of collum with steel washer on top, seal built in center,part inside collum held in place with two plugs that go thru two holes on the side of collum.Seems very difficult to remove and even more difficult to find a replacement.

 

[Gary Sweat]

Thanks for your reply winston1,I have that diagram in the Japanese parts list that I have.What is #3 on my tractor seems to be one peice of rubber part is on top of collum with steel washer on top, seal built in center,part inside collum held in place with two plugs that go thru two holes on the side of collum.Seems very difficult to remove and even more difficult to find a replacement.

The two little rubber parts are actually made into the bushing. They will pop into the holes when you replace the bushing and seal assembly. To get it out you have to push like crazy on both of them until they clear the steering column. Usually tears them up getting them out.

I've had to take my steering apart twice now to remove the water that settles into the bottom of the worm gear housing. Poor design IMO. No way for condensation or rain water that gets in to get out.

The latest solution I have read is to remove the water and then pack the entire gear housing with grease when you get it put back together. It's a bit of a pain to take it apart and get everything lined back up. You will have the most trouble getting the bottom of the steering shaft to slide into the lower bearing correctly or it will bind the bearing and you will be able to tell as the steering wheel will be hard to turn.

 

[normde2001]

Unless you have excessive play in your steering column shaft I wouldn't worry about replacing those bushings. NOTHING, other that covering the steering wheel, will keep water out of your steering box if you store your tractor outdoors.

 

[KidYanmar]

Thanks for your replies, they are a big help.I put a small lenght of tubing on the tip of a jug of 80-90w gear oil and filled the steering gear box slowly with oil from the bottom,forcing the old oil out the top.The bushing/seal at the top of the collum must be as difficult to take out as I was thinking,If I got it out it would not be useable.The seal on the bushing/seal has some places where it is split but very small.I could see how water could get in if stored outdoors.I will put everything back with the new oil in the gear box.I will try and find the part before I go further and store it out if the weather.

 

[KidYanmar]

The steering worked after I put everything back untill it got cold again.It froze up solid again.I removed all the same things as before and the dash.I removed the steering box and could see why the quick fix did not work.The steering box is not flat on bottom but has a pan under it like an oil pan on an engine that was full of water.I have it upside down now with the water draining out the fill hole.

 

[Gary Sweat]

The steering worked after I put everything back untill it got cold again.It froze up solid again.I removed all the same things as before and the dash.I removed the steering box and could see why the quick fix did not work.The steering box is not flat on bottom but has a pan under it like an oil pan on an engine that was full of water.I have it upside down now with the water draining out the fill hole.

I can always tell when mine is starting to fill with water. Oil will start seeping out around the top of the bolts at the box. This time when I drain it, I'm going to see if I can drill a small hole and install a valve. Then I can just drain the water out and the oil should settle back down into the bowl. The other option is to pack the whole box with grease.

 

[MJPetersen]

That is the way that mine is and has been since I bought it 4 years ago--Full of grease. I think that there is a bit of water in there too, but I try not to let it sit in the weather much. I do not have a nice heated place for it, but I do have a roof.

Mike

 

[KidYanmar]

I was wanting to drill a hole to drain water on the bottom of the steering box but the bottom sits inside the housing between engine and tractor.The housing is cut out if you look in there the steering box is above the throw out bearing for the clutch and drive shaft.I would not want any oil to get in there,there would be no way to get at plug anyway.If a plug was installed on the upper part of the steering box,water would not drain from the lower part.When I removed the stering box/steering collum and turned it upside down alot of water came out.