Do BXes ever NOT break? Steering hoses AGAIN

[Jay4200]

The same year I bought my used BX2200, I had the classic 600 hour rear steering hose leak (at 630 hours). I changed the two rear hoses. It's been about another 30 hours and two years, and I just blew steering hoses again. I'm pretty sure that it's the fronts this time, at least based on the hydraulic oil that is spewed all over the front of the machine. What's with these lines and why do they fail? The circuit isn't even a high-pressure circuit. I've never seen or heard of such a thing. At least it appears that the front hoses will be easy to change, unlike the rear ones which was a PITA.

 

[diesel85]

I've had my BX2200 since 2002 and never once had an issue with the steering hoses. Maybe you got a bad batch, twice?

 

[BAP]

Are the hoses you used from Kubota or ones a dealer made up? If they were made up by a dealer or hose shop, could be they used the wrong hose.

 

[George the Beagle]

The tractor is a minimum of fifteen years old. They're very good tractors, but they don't last forever.

 

[diesel85]

On a side note, not related to the power steering hoses, I did have one of my return lines on the loader start leaking two years ago.

I went through, took all the lines off, and went down to my local hydraulic shop for them to make new lines. Used double walled lines too.

If and when my PS lines fail, if they ever do, I will do the same as I did for the loader lines.

Yes, it costs a little bit, but you know... my little BX is worth it. That tractor is amazing and it has done a ton of work for me AND my family over the past years.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

1500 hours, 8 years, and still have never had a BX hydraulic leak. It has never been garaged. Knock on Wood, probably have a failure tomorrow. In fact I have never had any major failures that was not an exterior cause, always simple things (to me anyway).

Ron

 

[Jay4200]

Are the hoses you used from Kubota or ones a dealer made up? If they were made up by a dealer or hose shop, could be they used the wrong hose.

Lines are all factory Kubota, including the two I just ordered yesterday. MANY people on this forum have talked about the PS lines blowing at 600 hours. I thought it was just the rear lines though (since they are so hard to change), but now I've lost both sets within 30-50 hours of each other.

 

[JWR]

Lines are all factory Kubota, including the two I just ordered yesterday. MANY people on this forum have talked about the PS lines blowing at 600 hours. I thought it was just the rear lines though (since they are so hard to change), but now I've lost both sets within 30-50 hours of each other.

If you mean the lines failed again after only 30-50 hrs I'd complain to the installer. That's not right.

However, my BX2200 went through a set of PS hoses at roughly 500hrs when I had had the machine nearly 10 years. The back ones are very nasty to get in to so I had a dealer do the replacements (and changed both even though only one was bad.) I had two dealers (with LONG Kubota experience) tell me that the original factory hoses never last as long as the replacements in their experience. The replacements I had put on are NOT Kubota. Obviously it matters a lot what kind/quality/number of layers etc. they are using for replacements. And I do not have info on the nature of the replacements. I do know I have around 300 more hours in 5 or 6 years since the replacements with no trouble.

One thing is for sure -- the BX series has a very high incidence of blowing power steering hoses -- just going by many posts on TBN over the last few years. I say "blowing" but mine became noticeable as a wet sheath that the hoses are wrapped in, then it got worse, then it began to drip, etc. ; not a real "blowout" per se.

 

[Jay4200]

If you mean the lines failed again after only 30-50 hrs I'd complain to the installer. That's not right.

However, my BX2200 went through a set of PS hoses at roughly 500hrs when I had had the machine nearly 10 years. The back ones are very nasty to get in to so I had a dealer do the replacements (and changed both even though only one was bad.) I had two dealers (with LONG Kubota experience) tell me that the original factory hoses never last as long as the replacements in their experience. The replacements I had put on are NOT Kubota. Obviously it matters a lot what kind/quality/number of layers etc. they are using for replacements. And I do not have info on the nature of the replacements. I do know I have around 300 more hours in 5 or 6 years since the replacements with no trouble.

One thing is for sure -- the BX series has a very high incidence of blowing power steering hoses -- just going by many posts on TBN over the last few years. I say "blowing" but mine became noticeable as a wet sheath that the hoses are wrapped in, then it got worse, then it began to drip, etc. ; not a real "blowout" per se.

My rear hoses blew shortly after me getting the machine two years ago at a little over 600 hours. I replaced just the rears (which WAS a PITA). It appears that one of the front lines blew this time. They look relatively simple to replace. Better be the fronts...

Incidentally - ordered from Messicks in PA on Monday afternoon - delivered yesterday (Thursday) in NH. Local shop could've made them on the spot, but my machine is at my camp that I only visit on weekends, so it would've been inconvenient to get them off then get a set made.

 

[Jay4200]

Epilog: Changed the front lines without incident, and they were the leaky ones (whew). Wasn't too bad of a job, although I had to take the steering piston off because I couldn't get wrenches in to loosen/tighten the lines at the piston - too tight in there. The loader was really in the way, but couldn't move it... It took a couple of hours start to finish, but was cake compared to the rear lines. If there was a little more room above the steering piston, it would've been a <30 minute job. Also, it turns out I lost almost all of my tranny fluid before shutting down - I used 2/3 of a 5-gallon bucket to refill the transaxle, and there's only 3 gallons in there to start.