BX torn boots, another solution.

[milkman]

I'm thinking this might work and at $8 and change for the hose, seems cheap enough to me, added two hose clamps and about fourty minutes work. The first pic is of the grossly wrong WHITE wire tie that had to removed and placed into the bottom of the trash barrel UNDER the rest of the garbage before I could even begin. Looks like I might have another project on the horizon, leaking O-ring on the steering will need to be replaced.

 

[Tom_H]

The ability to improvise, a strength of the American character. Nice work!

 

[offcamber]

I like the radiator hose idea...simple easy and doesn't take a master fabricator to well fabricate....

 

[lp333]

...I'm thinking this might work and at $8 and change for the hose, seems cheap enough to me, added two hose clamps and about fourty minutes work...

The best ideas are often the simplest; thanks for sharing it with us.
Great work MilkMan!

 

[mpowrd]

Nice job, milkman.

I was think of doing something exactly like this after patching one of my boots the other day. Is that hose a generic flexible hose? What is the ID of the solid ends?

Did you check the steering at full lock in both directions? When I looked at mine, it looked like there wouldn't be much room to clamp the hose on the inside of the large diameter section because it gets real close to the steering rack.

Can you take a pic with the steering full over so the inner tie rod joint section is as close to the rack as it gets?

Thanks!

 

[SPYDERLK]

My boots have been gone for years. Idly worrying about it has been effective so far. A thousand hrs later the joints are still tight.
larry

 

[milkman]

mpowrd, just got in, been tilling most of the day, I'll run out in the mornin' and get some more pics with the wheels turned. I went to Advance Auto Parts and bought the shortest piece of 1-3/4" radiator hose that they had and placed the clamp around the hose where it is over the large nut on the end of the steering cylinder and I haven't noticed a problem with turning yet.

 

[mpowrd]

Thanks! I'll look forward to the pics.

Next time I'm by the auto parts store I'm going to get a hose to chop up. Got more brush to move and don't want to tear up those boots.

 

[milkman]

Here's two pics of the right front turned hard left.

 

[milkman]

Here's two of the left, nothing interfering anywhere.

 

[lp333]

... nothing interfering anywhere...

Thanks mate!

 

[fiddler kelly]

I stand to be corrected but isn't that boot suppose to be a sealed system like a boot on a cv joint.

 

[Hootie]

He has put the radiator hose over the his sealed boot. The hose is protecting the boot.

 

[milkman]

I stand to be corrected but isn't that boot suppose to be a sealed system like a boot on a cv joint.

Here is the sealed boot, the piece of radiator hose is clamped over the sealed boot to keep sticks and things from tearing that $40+ item, as Kubota doesn't sell just the rubber piece.

 

[mpowrd]

Thanks, milkman. Great pics.

I'm gonna have to get a piece of radiator hose and install the tie rod boot armor!

 

[fiddler kelly]

Yeah sounds like a price I paid for boots for a quad one time, they got tore up.
I will have to size mine up and do something about that .I spend some time in on cut overs and barrens up in the woods up around the cabin.

 

[cityfarma]

Here is the sealed boot, the piece of radiator hose is clamped over the sealed boot to keep sticks and things from tearing that $40+ item, as Kubota doesn't sell just the rubber piece.

I have just booked my L4400 in for its 50hr service and replacement of the boot. I will also be trying this. If it is $40 for you, it will be far more in Australia

Cityfarma

 

[ray66v]

I am not familiar with the problem.

Assuming the cause is brush, do they need some type of guard to protect them?

 

[Ob1kubota]

Here is the sealed boot, the piece of radiator hose is clamped over the sealed boot to keep sticks and things from tearing that $40+ item, as Kubota doesn't sell just the rubber piece.

Yep excellent idea and will protect the factory boot for years to come. Kubota Parts needs to wise up and supply just the boot for good joints.

 

[Ob1kubota]

I am not familiar with the problem.

Assuming the cause is brush, do they need some type of guard to protect them?

My M Series has a metal plate shielding to steering links on the front drive axle housing for joint protection from tall crops and brush. I'd say Kubota didn't design for this harsh applicaton on the BX series due to it size. The radiator hose installation is a really good idea if you are in heavy brush or clearing small roots with a FEL. It will save you some bucks!