What's the clunk tell me what's-a-happening -- BX2230 Steering Sys.

[Dave c.]

Well any help would be greatly appreciated. Here you go. When sitting still and a load on the bucket, I cant help but notice a distinctive clunk while turning the steering right to left. It almost sounds like a bad inner tie rod end or a bad steering rack. When I put my hand on the front axle housing I can feel the noise but it seems to be in the hydraulics almost like a stick and sudden release.
There doesn't seem to be any looseness, the noise is not always present and the steering system is working properly, except for this noise. I have about five hundred hours on the machine and not really hard hours. Has anyone ever experienced a similar situation? Its got me.

 

[k0ua]

Did you check all the wheel lug nuts?

 

[Grandad4]

Both of my Kubotas have an occasional "hiccup" in the power steering when turning while the bucket is heavily loaded. From what I've read here on TBN, it's caused when the hydraulics are in heavy use and there is a momentary drop in hydraulic fluid pressure to the power steering. The steering seems to "catch" for an instant and then returns to normal. I don't actually hear any "clunk" when this happens, it's just in the feel of the steering, but is that anything like what you're experiencing? If so, it's apparently pretty normal and nothing to worry about. An actual noise from the steering may be something else.

 

[hawkeye08]

Thanks for reminding me, I need to check the torque on the loader mount bolts and wheel lugs.

 

[ibnxe]

Have you checked your front axle pivot bolt? At just over 450 hours on my BX23, I began hearing the same thing. Lifted the front axle off the ground and could feel a little looseness when tugging on the axle housing. Tightened the front axle pivot bolt and cured the clunk. The service interval is every 400 hours and the torque requirement is 15 ft.lbs.

 

[ultrarunner]

One of my tie rod ends was very loose... noticed at 210 hours.

 

[PhysAssist]

Well any help would be greatly appreciated. Here you go. When sitting still and a load on the bucket, I cant help but notice a distinctive clunk while turning the steering right to left. It almost sounds like a bad inner tie rod end or a bad steering rack. When I put my hand on the front axle housing I can feel the noise but it seems to be in the hydraulics almost like a stick and sudden release.
There doesn't seem to be any looseness, the noise is not always present and the steering system is working properly, except for this noise. I have about five hundred hours on the machine and not really hard hours. Has anyone ever experienced a similar situation? Its got me.

Hi Dave,

I note that you are listed as a new member despite a membership date of '09, so welcome to active posting status on TBN! Sorry it required a problem for you to post here.

Awesome title for your post, way to grab our attention, make us smile, and get your point across all in a single phrase!

My first impression was to tell you one of the first things my da taught me about operating cars, and my uncle taught me about operating heavy equipment, including tractors, which is: Do Not turn the steering wheel(s) when the machinery is stationary (the wheels aren't rolling along the ground) and in my uncle's case, "especially if you have a loaded bucket goshdarned it" (Expletives delete)

Their reasoning is that it causes significantly increased wear and loading on all of the steering components because there is so much resistance to steering movements with the wheels not moving. In the case of a loader bucket being full, the increased axle loading magnifies the effect.

I know that this doesn't answer your concern, but as you did not say that the same thing happens when you are driving along in the tractor, so it may be involved.

All of the other suggestions have merit, and have reminded me to check all my front end components for proper torque, lube, and fit.

Happy and safe tractoring,
Thomas