L3240 Loose steering

kub0 · Apr 17, 2017

Does anybody have a problem with loose steering on an L3240? When traveling on the road it wanders all over the road. It isn't noticeable when working in the field but it is almost suicide when traveling on a hard surface at maximum speed. I haven't tried it without the loader.

ericm979 · Apr 17, 2017

The owner's manual should have specs for toe-in and steering play. Toe is adjustable on nearly every tractor/car/truck and steering play is often adjustable on Kubotas. My B7100 had instructions for that in the owner's manual. Wandering could be caused by incorrect toe-in or play in the steering if you're not used to driving a vehicle with loose steering. Or that's just how those tires are on that surface.

jeff9366 · Apr 17, 2017

When was the last time you checked tire pressures on all four wheels?

If rear tires are filled with liquid, are they about equally filled?

dstig1 · Apr 18, 2017

Are you in 4wd drive mode? That is a no no on the road that can cause instability

David_Kb7uns · Apr 18, 2017

Hours on Tractor?
Providing that the toe in, tire inflation and wheels are all in order may be bad steering valve or center seal in the steering cylinder.

Spin steering wheel to one side all the way and keep slight tension on the steering wheel, then spin it to the opposite side and see if either side has a little creep in the rotation of the steering wheel, it is possible that the center seal in the steering cylinder is leaking or leakage in steering valve is a possibility also. May also check the steering shaft going to control valve think I heard of a case where the ujoint came apart.(valve should be between frame rails in front of engine)

David

kub0 · Apr 18, 2017

The tire pressure is equal and the rear tires are both filled to the top of the wheel so as to leave room for air and expansion. By the way fluid filled tires really take a lot of power at higher speed. You can also feel the fluid slopping around in the tires when speeding up on the road. I am just curious if it is normal to have that much play since the steering wheel obviously just controls a hydraulic valve and doesn't have any direct connection to the steering mechanism itself.

jeff9366 · Apr 18, 2017

Correct. Grand Ls have 100% hydraulic steering.

You should have a Kubota dealer test play in your steering. Just a LITTLE play is normal. Nothing that should require more than instinctive correction. Yours is obviously much worse.

dodge man · Apr 18, 2017

I don't know if L's are the same as BX's in any way or not, but its common and O-ring and seal go bad in the steering cylinders on BX's. I fixed mine last years and its a lot better, but mine was so bad when it was cold out the steering seemed like it wasn't working at all, then it would be fine for a while, and then do it again. In my case you would turn the wheel and nothing would happen, then if you turned it fast enough, the steering would work.

Adiredneck · Apr 19, 2017

Is the steering difficult when moving slowly? If your hydraulic suction line has a crack in it, you could be getting air in the lines.

kub0 · Apr 19, 2017

I checked with the dealer and he said it was normal. Normal is good enough when working in a field but when on the road a little play can get you in serious trouble at 15 MPH.