3054 steering wheel

[Jim_in_Omaha]

I noticed that my steering wheel seems to float around now like its mounted in rubber. So I took it off and removed the dust seal on top of the steering tube. There looks like there is a rubber type material bushing in there. But whats odd is I did not notice this much movement in the beginning. Does anybody elses do this? I must be loosing my mind.. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jim

 

[radar54]

Other than a little free steer the wheel feels solid. Spent 6 hours in the seat today discing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Jim, I saw this problem on another Kioti tractor just before I bought my CK20. As I understand it, and I think Ken Sweet or Jon DePratt mentioned that there is a nut in there that may need to be replaced. On the tractor I saw, the wheel worked, but could be "wobbled" on the shaft. Not a BIG deal, but not the way it should have been. I think this was a common problem on earlier models, and may still be for all I know. I'll deal with it when it happens to mine if it does. I think I heard that repair was about $75. John

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

I have the service manual and it shows very little as far as the steering shaft. It goes through the column assembly (tube) and has a spring pin that attaches to what appears to be the worm shaft that goes into the steering box. This tractor is a 2002 model.

The manual only shows that there is a "column bush" at the top of the column tube. I'm guessing that is what's causing the wobble. If anyone has some drawings from the parts manual it would be greatly appreciated. After 35 hours of hard use my tractor is falling apart. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

thanks
Jim

 

[depratt_equip]

Jim

Here is a breakdown of it. It’s not the best in the world. Im trying to get a better one, this one is folded in the middle a bit. As far as the wobble goes most of that is usually in that rubber bushing, reason they don't put a bearing or something is to keep vibration down. We have thought about putting in a harder poly bushing in some but haven't yet. The shaft on that column isn't solid, it’s a 2 piece shaft that is held together by a pin and is allowing some movement side to side, so that may be some of your movement too. I’m not sure about the nut deal, maybe Ken knows. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Come to think of it, I believe it was Wallace (another dealer) who mentioned this problem. It was in a thread related to warranty issues, or the lack thereof for Kioti Tractors. The person was saying that this was one of the only warranty issues he had had to deal with as there weren't many others. John

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

Thanks for the graphic Jon,

Whats happening is that the top steering shaft (#400) is floating around in the bushing (#200) in the graphic. It would appear that this is normal perhaps? It might be that me getting on and off the tractor a billion times when I was moving rather large trees might have helped break in that top bushing and I'm now just figuring it out that it floats anyway. It has about 1/4" side to side movement..
thx
Jim

 

[depratt_equip]

I have found it to be normal to have some play in these columns. I wouldn't worry about it unless it just really bad. What year tractor is yours again? And how many hours?

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

Its a 2002 according to the serial number.
thanks
Jim

 

[KiotiJohn]

I have 180 hours on my CK20 and no wobble at all. Maybe you're right about the on and off the tractor, using the wheel to pull yourself up, but maybe it wasn't a good bushing in the beginning. The tractor I mentioned in my earlier post drove just fine, but the wobble was very noticeable. I wouldn't worry about unless it starts messing up the steering. John