Centering Steering Wheel

[Boeing]

Would someone please tell me how to center the steering wheel on my Kubota L3010? It doesn't APPEAR to have a center hub cap hiding a bolt, there is no setscrew on the side??? It's way out of alignment, when it is straight forward the wheel is turned to the 5 o'clock position. Drives straight so maybe I should leave well enough alone.....

 

[SARG]

It is a hydraulic steering system and the "center" as you describe it is constantly changing .......... meaning if you did line it up at say 12 o'clock ........ the next time you used the machine it would move to another position.

Someone with more knowledge will provide a better explanation of why.

 

[Johnbro]

It is a hydraulic steering system and the "center" as you describe it is constantly changing .......... meaning if you did line it up at say 12 o'clock ........ the next time you used the machine it would move to another position.

Someone with more knowledge will provide a better explanation of why.

??? I've got power steering on my cars adn trucks and the wheel centers.:confused2:

 

[kennyd]

It is "hydrostatic" steering to be accurate. There is no mechanical connection between the tie rod and the steering wheel. Do to the very slight leakage (bypass) of the orbital valves used, the steering wheel is always off-center.

 

[kennyd]

??? I've got power steering on my cars adn trucks and the wheel centers.:confused2:

It is technically "power assisted" steering...there is still a mechanical connection via a "steering box" or "rack"

 

[kennyd]

Would someone please tell me how to center the steering wheel on my Kubota L3010? It doesn't APPEAR to have a center hub cab hiding a bolt, there is no setscrew on the side??? It's way out of alignment, when it is straight forward the wheel is turned to the 5 o'clock position. Drives straight so maybe I should leave well enough alone.....

It's normal...and one of the main reasons I don't have a spinner on my wheel.

 

[psvines]

Ah, now it makes sense. I got a spinner as a gift recently and noticed that it "keeps moving around the wheel". Not really, but it is no longer in the ideal location.

 

[Ductape]

Ah, now it makes sense. I got a spinner as a gift recently and noticed that it "keeps moving around the wheel". Not really, but it is no longer in the ideal location.

Eventually, it will be back in the 'ideal' position again.

 

[RickB]

Eventually, it will be back in the 'ideal' position again.

Like a broken clock, it's correct two times per day.

 

[thavil]

This is why I have two spinners installed opposite of each other.

 

[RickB]

This is why I have two spinners installed opposite of each other.

Do they always stay 180 degrees apart?

 

[SARG]

That is funny .......... if they're screwd down at 180 apart I bet they do stay that way ......... even with the wheel a spinnin.:laughing:

 

[Boeing]

Thank you guys......I never cease to be amazed by the amount of KNOWLEDGE out there. I really appreciate all of your inputs to my ignorant and occasionally plain dumb questions:2cents:

 

[kuboman]

Thank you guys......I never cease to be amazed by the amount of KNOWLEDGE out there. I really appreciate all of your inputs to my ignorant and occasionally plain dumb questions:2cents:

No question is dumb because only a few of us claim to know it all,:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Thank you guys......I never cease to be amazed by the amount of KNOWLEDGE out there. I really appreciate all of your inputs to my ignorant and occasionally plain dumb questions:2cents:

Ah, but there is no such thing as a dumb question; agree on the knowledge as it sure has helped me.

 

[SARG]

Thank you guys......I never cease to be amazed by the amount of KNOWLEDGE out there. I really appreciate all of your inputs to my ignorant and occasionally plain dumb questions:2cents:

AND...... recognize that most of us asked the same questions at some point in time .........

 

[thavil]

That is funny .......... if they're screwd down at 180 apart I bet they do stay that way ......... even with the wheel a spinnin.:laughing:

Good call SARG! Since they are both screwed down, they stay 180 degrees apart. They will vary in position but with having two, one should be in a fairly comfortable position.

Thank you guys......I never cease to be amazed by the amount of KNOWLEDGE out there. I really appreciate all of your inputs to my ignorant and occasionally plain dumb questions:2cents:

As others have already mentioned, there is no dumb question. I asked this same question two years ago and this is why I have two spinners.

 

[Tollster]

Nothing to really do with centering the wheel, but it never hurts to adjust the toe in on the front wheels. Mine was out after 200 hours. Its been a while since I did it but got it within 1/8", meaning hey are sligthly toed in at the front. It was fairly easy using the remainlng rubber casting remains that are typically found running circumferentially in the center of each tire as a zero reference measuring point. Take that distance measured from the back of each tire, then check it on the front of the tire, measuring right side to left side 180 out. Wouldn't hurt to have a helper. Also make sure the front is unloaded, (bucket down).

 

[Grrrr]

While probably not technically the best thing to do, you can adjust where the steering wheel is in relation to the wheels.

Put the wheels straight, and see which way you want the spinner to move. If the spinner is too far to the bottom right, you you need to turn the wheel clockwise.

Turn it all the way clockwise, and it will come to it's stop. But then just hold it there, and you will feel it creep further around very slowly.

Spin it back to centre, and see if your adjustment has worked.

I only bother to do this when I am going to be going in lots of straight lines and I want to be able to put my feet up a bit

It will tend to stay in the right position until you start swinging the wheel around wildly again (like during loader work) - mainly when you hit the stops, but there is an element of drift, which is worse on some tractors than others.

My experience is of mainly bigger ag tractors - but it works on the little Kubota lawnmower too