Old to Me, Steiner 230 questions

[txdon]

Did you put a new thermostat in also or a drag racing plate with a 5/8" hole?

 

[sandman2234]

I used a 525 Steiner for several years. It was a great mower, as long as you did not get up next to a fence, or ditch! With the center pivot anytime you got next to a wall, it was a severe pain to get away from it because you couldn't just turn away from it!
Mine had a leak in the return pressure hose and I called Steiner. They told me I did not need to fill the hose when I replaced it, just install it and it would prime itself. Well, it started squealing when I cranked it up, before it would move. It ended up messing the pump up. I shifted the transaxles to low range and ran it for a couple more years. I wonder if yours uses the same drive motors? Mine came with a couple extras. Mine was parked a couple years ago with a replacement the wife liked better. I have a blower, a couple decks, and a 10K generator that I bought for it.
David from jax

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Did you put a new thermostat in also or a drag racing plate with a 5/8" hole?

waiting 'til Tuesday for the new one to arrive....

I used a 525 Steiner for several years. It was a great mower, as long as you did not get up next to a fence, or ditch! With the center pivot anytime you got next to a wall, it was a severe pain to get away from it because you couldn't just turn away from it!
Mine had a leak in the return pressure hose and I called Steiner. They told me I did not need to fill the hose when I replaced it, just install it and it would prime itself. Well, it started squealing when I cranked it up, before it would move. It ended up messing the pump up. I shifted the transaxles to low range and ran it for a couple more years. I wonder if yours uses the same drive motors? Mine came with a couple extras. Mine was parked a couple years ago with a replacement the wife liked better. I have a blower, a couple decks, and a 10K generator that I bought for it.
David from jax

The 230 drives like a forklift, no center steering, but I can imagine it could take some getting used to also.

You must have lost more fluid than you realized. Can you still use it for an emergency generator?

 

[sandman2234]

No, it got parked out back. Most of the implements are under cover and the generator is in the garage taking up space. I have considered changing the mounting on the generator and making a pto for my tractor, as it would turn the generator all day at full power with no problems. I have a pulley that would overdrive it. However, I don't get a lot of time at home (OTR trucker) so most of my projects take years, and the Steiner isn't high on the list. The biggest reason it hasn't happened is because with me not home, the Wife isn't going to plug it up in case of a power outage, so why spend the time to rig it up.
David from Jax

 

[johara1]

I used a 525 Steiner for several years. It was a great mower, as long as you did not get up next to a fence, or ditch! With the center pivot anytime you got next to a wall, it was a severe pain to get away from it because you couldn't just turn away from it!
Mine had a leak in the return pressure hose and I called Steiner. They told me I did not need to fill the hose when I replaced it, just install it and it would prime itself. Well, it started squealing when I cranked it up, before it would move. It ended up messing the pump up. I shifted the transaxles to low range and ran it for a couple more years. I wonder if yours uses the same drive motors? Mine came with a couple extras. Mine was parked a couple years ago with a replacement the wife liked better. I have a blower, a couple decks, and a 10K generator that I bought for it.
David from jax

Actually they are the easiest to get away from a wall or get out of a ditch..... It's simple push down on the mower or what ever you have on the front till it lifts the wheels in the air and turn the steering wheel to as Far away as you can go and let it back down. Then pick up the mower deck and turn it away as far as you can and repeat as needed till you are out...... jim

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I used a 525 Steiner for several years. It was a great mower, as long as you did not get up next to a fence, or ditch! With the center pivot anytime you got next to a wall, it was a severe pain to get away from it because you couldn't just turn away from it!
Mine had a leak in the return pressure hose and I called Steiner. They told me I did not need to fill the hose when I replaced it, just install it and it would prime itself. Well, it started squealing when I cranked it up, before it would move. It ended up messing the pump up. I shifted the transaxles to low range and ran it for a couple more years. I wonder if yours uses the same drive motors? Mine came with a couple extras. Mine was parked a couple years ago with a replacement the wife liked better. I have a blower, a couple decks, and a 10K generator that I bought for it.
David from jax

There are a couple of Steiner/Ventrac facebook groups, where you could sell your implements if you want to.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Needed a new petcock protector, I
Bent one up.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Ok, it's been a while. Haven't done a whole lot. We actually had snow down here, which is very very rare.

So, while mowing previously, I found out the engine's temp would climb up to 220° F, and I'd stop mowing and lower revs for a bit, and it would come back down below 200° F. This was on a 50° day. Did some research, and it seems common on Kubota 3 cylinder engines. If you remember, I took off the radiator, there was no thermostat where there should have been....The radiator wasn't that fouled up with grass and debris, but I cleaned it out anyway. I believe I had already mentioned it, but I had tightened the fan belt twice, and it was at it's extents and still loose. So I found one at AutoZone.

Today, I put the thermostat in, and saw a dribble, so I took it back out and put a thin layer of permatex #2 on the gasket and both machined faces. Put the 165° thermostat back in and filled it with 50/50 and used DI de-ionized water. I figured the DI water might leach a bit more of the calcification out. Then I had the task of lining up all the panels, and the driveshaft protector. Put the muffler and air filter housing back on. I bought a lot of new hardware bolts and nuts, but still needed a few more, so I re-used some of the old bolts.

I've been straightening the flat panels that surround the engine, bead blasting and painting them. That was quite the chore. Also the air filter housing.

So to sum up the cooling system work, a new thermostat, new belt, cleaned radiator fins outside, boil internally with muriatic acid for about 15-20 minutes on a cool day....

It was time to start it. The beast needs 1 or 2 new glow plugs, so I have to run the glow plug cycle a couple/few times to get it started. Got glow plugs ordered today.

The Beast fired right up, and I had the radiator cap off, to watch/feel the coolant's action. Watching the temp gage, the temp went up to 160ish. I put the radiator cap on once I determined the thermostat had opened, and coolant was flowing, and took her out to mow. I mowed for about 1.5 hours, mowing about 4 acres of my pasture, which is about a foot deep in places. Today's temp got up to about 80F, and the temp gage never climbed over 165-170ish.

I'm a happy camper!!! No more overheating. Will have to wait until summer to see if it will stand up to 100F air temps.

I need new rear tail lights. I want to put some small LED rock lights in, that are white, so you can see to back up at night.
https://www.amazon.com/Lights-Waterproof-Underglow-Offroad-Underbody/dp/B07VMNJSWX/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=led+rock+lights&qid=1611334290&s=automotive&sr=1-5

The Beast needs a new front grill. A new one costs about $200. So, I have a sheet of perforated aluminum at work. I might bend one up, but the sheet I have is kind of thin, I wish I had a sheet a bit thicker.

 

[txdon]

Sounds like excellent progress. Any pics of the old and new front girl?

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Sweet! You're mechanical instincts have been right on, and the sky's the limit!:thumbsup:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

$5.00 QTY 2, 6204 bearings for the PTO pulley
$20.00 2 new Gates Belts, B33 and B41 for the PTO
$11.00 2 bearing caps (one for PTO arm, one for steering linkage underneath in rear).


Running total.
$185.

$24 new thermostat
$9 new fan belt
$8 new fasteners/hardware
$22. 2 cans rust-oleum primer, 2 cans of paint

Running total
$248

 

[Industrial Toys]

Owning a Steiner . . . Priceless

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

$24 new thermostat
$9 new fan belt
$8 new fasteners/hardware
$22. 2 cans rust-oleum primer, 2 cans of paint

Running total
$248

Situation Report.

After running for a couple of hours checking the temp, I turned it off, then I decided to wash it. I got out the pressure washer and then needed to move it to a better location. I had trouble getting it started, no click, no nothing, after multiple attempts, it turned over and started. I left it running, washed it, then pulled it into barn and parked it. It would not start again. Tried the next couple of days, after cleaning battery posts, still nothing. The electrical system is pretty corroded. It has 3 Buss circuit breakers instead of fuses. 2 20amp and 1 30 amp. They reset automatically, unless you really blow them hard, IIRC. The threaded posts were so rusted, they broke instead of coming off.

https://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-CBC-20HB-Circuit-Automotive-Terminals/dp/B001PT7X6Y

I replaced all 3, putting some dielectric grease on the posts, and cleaning the terminals. I also took out the keyed ignition switch, checked it, cleaned and re-tapped the holes where you attach the wires. Putting everything back together, I put the battery ground back on, and she fired right up. I also put in a new glow plug. The one closest to the radiator was bad.

So I'm still happy.

New running total:
$30 for the 3 new Bussman circuit breakers
$21 New NGK glowplug, correct for Kubota D905 https://www.amazon.com/NGK-YE01-Glow-Plug-Pack/dp/B001RLX9DQ
_________
$299 Oh my, almost up to $300 LOL.

I have to say, I love this thing. It still needs a hydraulic fluid/filter change. That's next.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I took it out a few days ago, on a 68F degree day. It ran great, temp stayed low at just a hair past 160F.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I finally got the hydraulic oil and filter changed. I had to take back the initial filter I bought, which had 1" threads, to get one with 3/4"-16 threads. I ended up with a carquest hydraulic/transmission filter, no bypass. Bought some #68 Hydraulic gear oil. No telling how old the old fluid was, when everything was warmed up and hot, it had trouble lifting the big 72" finish cutter. So I put the heavier 68 in it. It gets 100 degrees down here nearly everyday in the summer, so the thicker stuff should be fine. It took a while to get the oil down the skinny tube that has the dipstick. It is under the dash a bit, and I used a cheapie manual transfer pump. Still took longer, being careful not to overfill it.

Motor coolant Temp is still holding just a tad over 160 degrees. Ultimate test will be 100 degree days for that too.

Motor is starting and running fine. I fired it up during the big ice age we had here in Feb for 10 days.

I have noticed the forward/reverse pedal is getting real sensitive about "homing" out in neutral, so that you can start it. Must need some adjustment on the little switch under there.

Still need to order an A-180 belt for the 72" mower.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Situation Report.

After running for a couple of hours checking the temp, I turned it off, then I decided to wash it. I got out the pressure washer and then needed to move it to a better location. I had trouble getting it started, no click, no nothing, after multiple attempts, it turned over and started. I left it running, washed it, then pulled it into barn and parked it. It would not start again. Tried the next couple of days, after cleaning battery posts, still nothing. The electrical system is pretty corroded. It has 3 Buss circuit breakers instead of fuses. 2 20amp and 1 30 amp. They reset automatically, unless you really blow them hard, IIRC. The threaded posts were so rusted, they broke instead of coming off.

Amazon.com: Bussmann CBC-20HB Circuit Breaker (Type I Heavy Duty Automotive with Stud Terminals and Bracket - 20 A), 1 Pack: Car Electronics

I replaced all 3, putting some dielectric grease on the posts, and cleaning the terminals. I also took out the keyed ignition switch, checked it, cleaned and re-tapped the holes where you attach the wires. Putting everything back together, I put the battery ground back on, and she fired right up. I also put in a new glow plug. The one closest to the radiator was bad.

So I'm still happy.

New running total:
$30 for the 3 new Bussman circuit breakers
$21 New NGK glowplug, correct for Kubota D905 Amazon.com: NGK YE01 SPARK PLUG: Automotive
_________
$299 Oh my, almost up to $300 LOL.

I have to say, I love this thing. It still needs a hydraulic fluid/filter change. That's next.

$40.00 for 5 gallons hydraulic tractor gear oil (only needed 1.5 gallons)
$8.00 hydraulic filter
$10.00 ($7.99 + some shipping) New A180 belt for the 72" front mower deck...purchased from vbeltguys.com
____________
$357.00 running total.

I still want to give it a paint job, nothing special, just a rustoleum overhaul.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The Beast has a 72" front deck which has a large steel roller on the back side. It needs new 1" flange mount bearings on both ends. I was going to try and fit some popular one's, but the spacing is too big to fit, even if you want to drill new holes. So I found some online at thebigbearingstore. 2 of them cost me $36.
So that pushes the running total to$393.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

For the flange bearings, The spacing between bolt centerlines is 3"

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

So just a quick situation report. I still haven't painted the Beast, but I did finally get a new gas cap for three bucks. I mowed this past weekend maybe a couple of acres in between a lot of trees. It never even gets close to hot maybe it gets up to about 184 Fahrenheit. I have to say it really fits me well as far as comfort and ergonomics. I'm 5 ft 10 in and it just fits me like a glove. The overall experience is such that there's no vibration the front deck mower doesn't vibrate the engine doesn't vibrate everything seems relatively smooth but a wee bit noisy. I just wear my headphones to cancel out the noise.

 

[daugen]

sounds like it has a good engine, runs well and now all you have to do is make it pretty.
Great project.