L3800 power steering problem

[roadracer86]

Appreciate the come back roadracer. Thanks for the information about the pressure adjustment on the pump. I know you can shim the relief pressure with shims, don't know if that would do the same thing. A pressure guage isn't hard or expensive to make. I have been intendinf to order the components but haven't done it yet. I get involved in woodworking and forget that I need to work on my tractor. I think about it seriously when I need to spend the time in the seat instead of the shop. :laughing:
Smilinjak

Yeah I read about increasing the relief pressure on this tractor on the main hydro pump but I would try the relief valve on the pump itself first. I'd hate to damage the HST unit or trans trying to compensate for the weak steering by increasing the overall pressure on the whole system. Yours just might be a slight adjustment on the steering box and you will be good to go. If you have a dealer close by they can send a tech and he probably have it resolved in less than an hour would be my guess.

 

[Fallon]

Yeah I read about increasing the relief pressure on this tractor on the main hydro pump but I would try the relief valve on the pump itself first. I'd hate to damage the HST unit or trans trying to compensate for the weak steering by increasing the overall pressure on the whole system.

The HST is a separate hydraulic system from everything else. It shares a common sump though. Hydraulics have their own filter & the HST has its own dedicated filter too.

 

[roadracer86]

The HST is a separate hydraulic system from everything else. It shares a common sump though. Hydraulics have their own filter & the HST has its own dedicated filter too.

Yes, correct. I wasn't thinking about that but I'd be a bit gun shy to boost pressure on the overall hydraulics for fear of blowing something else out. The steering box would be my choice if I had to increase psi somewhere in the system to address a weak steering issue.

 

[smilinjak]

Any pressure adjustments I make will be according to factory specs and checked with an accurate pressure guage. I have seen the results of doing it "by guess and by gosh". That method cost a lot more than the original problem would have cost if done by the dealer shop.
Smilinjak

 

[roadracer86]

Any pressure adjustments I make will be according to factory specs and checked with an accurate pressure guage. I have seen the results of doing it "by guess and by gosh". That method cost a lot more than the original problem would have cost if done by the dealer shop.
Smilinjak

Yes, the manual specifies a range; I myself wouldn't do it willy nilly; the steering boxes are freaking expensive. My suggestion is to start there and see if it is out of spec. If you do get a chance to check the pressure let me know where you sourced the test equipment so I can test mine even if I install a new box.

 

[smilinjak]

Yes, the manual specifies a range; I myself wouldn't do it willy nilly; the steering boxes are freaking expensive. My suggestion is to start there and see if it is out of spec. If you do get a chance to check the pressure let me know where you sourced the test equipment so I can test mine even if I install a new box.

Northern Tool has liquid filled 5000 psi pressure guages and the necessary hose and connectors to make up a test guage. Many other sources as well. You can make the test setup for under $30.00. There is a thread on the forum somewhere that gives all the details.
Smilinjak

 

[roadracer86]

Northern Tool has liquid filled 5000 psi pressure guages and the necessary hose and connectors to make up a test guage. Many other sources as well. You can make the test setup for under $30.00. There is a thread on the forum somewhere that gives all the details.
Smilinjak

Awesome thanks, probably not a bad set up to have in the tool box.

 

[ultrarunner]

My BX pressure was just under the minimum when I checked at 300 hours... one shim bumped it up to just under the high limit and very noticeable improved loader lift capacity.

Also following this thread because are L3800 has 160 hours and so far so good...

 

[roadracer86]

One of my complaints for my L3800 is lack of backhoe and front end loader hydraulic power. I expected more out of this machine when I bought it new. Maybe my hydraulic pump is set low s well? I do know that some people had sizable gains out of their machines and Kubota sets them on the very conservative side pressure wise. I'll have to investigate this more once I get my steering box straightened out. So far nobody from Kubota has made an effort to contact me after I spoke with the warranty administrator at my dealership. I'll give them a week and keep pestering them until I get a response.

What gets me and is very troublesome is that I work for a large auto manufacturer and we have a customer support line you can call; Kubota has nothing. Sort of tells me they are not concerned with speaking to their customers and THAT I think is disrespectful.

 

[Navasot]

Cylinders can go bad without leaking any fluid and just bypass internally. If it infact has also gotten week compared to when it was new it may need to be rebuilt