M series steering joint often overlooked

[sandman2234]

Thanks for the information, i will have to look at mine also!!
David from jax

 

[oosik]

OK I have a 2009 Kubota M6040. So.... yesterday I take my flashlight and go out and check for this "mysterious" steering column grease joint. Looked from the right side - looked from the left side. I could see NO steering column joint. Today I will check from the underside.

If there is a grease-able steering joint - - it darn well better be from the underside. The engine, etc, etc is jammed so tight up against the firewall - I could not get a flexible grease-gun hose anywhere near it anyhow.

BTW - my OP Manual shows no steering column grease joint. May-haps this is only on the cabbed models.

AND - mine has gone ten years now, without greasing, and no steering problems.

 

[Tx Jim]

From viewing parts catalogs for both M6040, M7040 & M9000 I think """only cab model""" have the grease fitting Dave referred to. M5640SUD doesn't have this grease fitting. I think grease fitting is related to if tractor has the tilt steering option.

 

[Dave M7040]

The opinion I have is that the cab model has the steering wheel and column connected to the cab which can move a little bit..

The joint which requires greasing is a slip joint..... a spline and spined socket.

This joint absorbs any movement between the cab and the tractor frame where the steering valve is mounted.

The tilt feature, if only on cab models, could also be part of the decision to include a slip joint

Open station tractors would have the steering wheel and column secured to the tractor frame and thus no relative movement requiring a slip joint.

The U joints in the steering shaft do NOT have grease fittings.

With the hood open, you can see the slip joint by looking between the end of the hood and the cab.

Depending upon the rotation of the steering wheel the grease fitting may be pointed in any direction.

Dave M7040

 

[5030]

The opinion I have is that the cab model has the steering wheel and column connected to the cab which can move a little bit..

The joint which requires greasing is a slip joint..... a spline and spined socket.

This joint absorbs any movement between the cab and the tractor frame where the steering valve is mounted.

The tilt feature, if only on cab models, could also be part of the decision to include a slip joint

Open station tractors would have the steering wheel and column secured to the tractor frame and thus no relative movement requiring a slip joint.

The U joints in the steering shaft do NOT have grease fittings.

With the hood open, you can see the slip joint by looking between the end of the hood and the cab.

Depending upon the rotation of the steering wheel the grease fitting may be pointed in any direction.

Dave M7040

Any direction is still hard to access. Especially on my 'vintage' M's.

I have both a cabin and open station and both have the fitting even though the steering column linkage on the OS is rigid mounted and all the power steering hydrostat pumps on all the units are solid mounted which leads me to believe the joint and zerk are just put on all models as an assembly line part.

 

[5030]

From viewing parts catalogs for both M6040, M7040 & M9000 I think """only cab model""" have the grease fitting Dave referred to. M5640SUD doesn't have this grease fitting. I think grease fitting is related to if tractor has the tilt steering option.

Both my OS and Cab M9's have it. Kind of wish the U joints had push in fittings so you could use a grease needle to lube them but are better than the 'rag' joints used in domestic cars today.

 

[Tx Jim]

5030
Kubota must have overlooked showing grease fitting in PC on steering shaft on a M9000HD. Does your M9000 open station tractor have rigid or tilt steering shaft?
Thanks,Jim

 

[rScotty]

I don't believe that the M59 has this grease point. The M59 steering setup is pretty straightforward simple & rugged..... and I don't see any grease zerks
near the steering column.
rScotty

 

[Dave M7040]

Any direction is still hard to access. Especially on my 'vintage' M's.

I have both a cabin and open station and both have the fitting even though the steering column linkage on the OS is rigid mounted and all the power steering hydrostat pumps on all the units are solid mounted which leads me to believe the joint and zerk are just put on all models as an assembly line part.

From looking on Messicks there are models which have a different style of steering column and no slip joint.

Dave M7040

 

[oosik]

Well - I got the word. My 2009 Kubota M6040 Open Station DOES NOT have a slip joint on the steering shaft. I do have tilt steering wheel also.