BX2200 Power Steering Hoses

Barneyhunts · May 20, 2015

My 2002 BX2200 developed a power steering hose leak...either the supply to the steering unit or the return to the hydraulic unit. The two hoses run together through a soft sleeve under the floor pan from the hydraulic unit to the steering column. I'm looking for input from those who may have dealt with these hoses and may have suggestions and "watch outs" that would help me. Since I have to remove so much tractor to get at them I'm planning on changing both. Any help would be appreciated.
Barney

Jay4200 · May 20, 2015

I can't help since mine haven't gone yet, but evidently they ALL do - yet another BX design flaw.

davesl708 · May 20, 2015

Jay4200 said:
I can't help since mine haven't gone yet, but evidently they ALL do - yet another BX design flaw.

My 03 BX2200 is 12 yrs. old now and the hoses are still fine. Would not call that design flaw.

As to replacing them taking the floor board up makes it fairly straight forward.

David_Kb7uns · May 20, 2015

Jay4200 said:
I can't help since mine haven't gone yet, but evidently they ALL do - yet another BX design flaw.

If you check your maintenance schedule it is on there for inspecting and replacement my Grand L even has them listed to do at 2 years. There is no surprise that hoses do wear out.

David

gwdixon · May 21, 2015

Get new hoses that are fabbed up at a hydraulic shop. Some NAPA parts stores make them.

Take the old ones in to get the right fit. The new aftermarket ones may be a bit thicker and routing may be more of a pain but they last a very long time.

There is a lot of disassembly to get to the hoses and the connections under the dash take some (a lot) of patience. Be sure to mark which hose goes where on both at the pump and the dash.

Barneyhunts · May 21, 2015

gwdixon said:
Get new hoses that are fabbed up at a hydraulic shop. Some NAPA parts stores make them.

Take the old ones in to get the right fit. The new aftermarket ones may be a bit thicker and routing may be more of a pain but they last a very long time.

There is a lot of disassembly to get to the hoses and the connections under the dash take some (a lot) of patience. Be sure to mark which hose goes where on both at the pump and the dash.

Thanks! I've already ordered hoses from my Kubota dealer. I'm OK with them as the originals lasted 13 years. You're right there is a lot of disassembly. I'm wondering if there is a procedure for purging the new hoses? I have a shop manual for the tractor and it is not helpful in respect to this task. My intent right now is to purge the supply hose at the steering controller (right under the steering wheel) and do nothing with the return hose thinking that air in that hose will be purged at the sump.
Barney.

gwdixon · May 21, 2015

Barneyhunts said:
Thanks! I've already ordered hoses from my Kubota dealer. I'm OK with them as the originals lasted 13 years. You're right there is a lot of disassembly. I'm wondering if there is a procedure for purging the new hoses? I have a shop manual for the tractor and it is not helpful in respect to this task. My intent right now is to purge the supply hose at the steering controller (right under the steering wheel) and do nothing with the return hose thinking that air in that hose will be purged at the sump.
Barney.

You don't need to purge any of the hoses. They will expel the air as the pump is cycled.

If you want, you could lift the front end and rotate the steering wheel back and forth a few times. Again, not necessary if you choose not to do it.

Texas Fella · May 22, 2015

Jay4200 said:
I can't help since mine haven't gone yet, but evidently they ALL do - yet another BX design flaw.

Man, according to your explanation, everything has a design flaw. EVERYTHING will EVENTUALLY fail, this does not make it a flaw. Kubota had some bad hoses on the BX back in the day, but they fixed the error during production (and helped many customers by campaigning the failures). I think it would be hard to argue that a steering hose that lasted over 10 years (on a tractor anyway) was a "design flaw." Sounds like someone took a few to many negativity pills morning.

Barneyhunts · May 23, 2015

gwdixon said:
You don't need to purge any of the hoses. They will expel the air as the pump is cycled.

If you want, you could lift the front end and rotate the steering wheel back and forth a few times. Again, not necessary if you choose not to do it.

gwdixon, Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I finished the job today..two new hoses and a new sleeve, and, I think reassembly was easier than taking it apart. I did not purge the hoses and had no problems with the steering and so far no leaks! Thanks to all who looked at my post and best wishes with your machines.
Barney

gwdixon · May 23, 2015

Barneyhunts said:
gwdixon, Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I finished the job today..two new hoses and a new sleeve, and, I think reassembly was easier than taking it apart. I did not purge the hoses and had no problems with the steering and so far no leaks! Thanks to all who looked at my post and best wishes with your machines.
Barney

Ahhh...the sweet smell of success!

Thanks for reporting back. It is nice to have an OP follow up on how an issue turned out.