Power Steering Problem Not Solved

[Bird]

Greg, your "stuttering" sounds like what I experienced, but only twice, and mine, too, was after the 50 hour service, but before the next oil and filter change, front end loader was off and I was mowing with the brush hog (running full PTO speed) in 90+ weather both times.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks Bird. I have read (and re-read) the many posts related to this issue. In one you stated you had changed to Amsoil. Others (Alan) said they changed to SuperUDT at the first change. I also changed to SuperUDT at the first change. My next change is due. Maybe UDT this time???

greg

 

[Bird]

Greg, I honestly have no idea whether the different hydraulic oils make a difference or not. Of course I don't know what came in the tractor. At the 50 hour service, I used UDT (the two dealers I talked to don't even stock Super UDT - only order it if a customer wants it). And then I changed to the Amsoil at the next change.

Bird

 

[kubmech]

So far:

Fluid type does'nt make a difference.

Replacing steering unit no change/or worse. (one case)

Replacing PS pump w/noticeable improvement and no reported problems (one case/one season old).


Implements, tires, 2x4/4x4, no difference.

Old filter set-up, new filter set-up no change.

Steering trouble left only, right only and both directions, w/buzzing.

Always with outside air temp 80-100 degree range and hyd. fluid hot.

All after the 50 hour service was done. (not sure about this, can anybody help with this one ?)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well I don't know what they have tried to do to fix the problem. But I do have a few things to try. (A) find out the fluild that they put in, if it was Kubota Super UDT or Kubota Udt Or what ever. If they have used just one then try the other. But if they are not using the Factory Fluid (some places buy bulk brands) Then I would drain and install some of the Kubota Super Udt. The other Is if you have extra weight on the frt. end ie. loader, wheel weight or fluid in the tires I would remove it and see if the problem still happens. If not you also might try when the problem happens to jack the frt. end up and see if the problem still there. If it isn't with the weight off, you might try adding weight to the frt. end so the problem might be easier to find or make it happen a lot more or cause the part to fail!

Just to be fair We have sold Auto's and tractors for 50 years I have even had a Cheve truck back int the eightys that had a Diesel engine in it that would every once in a while not start I happen to me one time I was 3 hrs from home and by the time someone got there to help me it would start. It Did it a couple of more times to me before we sold the unit, But by then I learned to let it sit for the time it needed to restart. then about 5 or 6 years later we traded back for the truck and then engine hade been changed to a gas unit and the truck Still did the same thing!!! Never did the problem get fixed Becuse it woudl start after a bit and the Chevy Dealers never was able to get the truck to do it. I DO UNDERSTND YOUR FURSTRATION I had it with that Chevy. But I did understand where the Dealer and company was coming from.

I have had those type of problems in the past where we have replaced every part new and it still acted the same, Some times I have seen that something unrelated to the piece be the problem. Like if you have a Loader on it might be in the loader valve or the hose's Or a remote Some times it is something floating in the fluid and even though you change it, It beight heaver than the fluid will stick to the side some place and not come out. But if it i s a Real bad problem that you don't wnat to live with then hit the Company Rep. Hard that is the ones that have the Final say, And they will listen to YOU more than the Dealer. And dont be afaid to go as high up as you need to go. I have Seen John Deere, Kubota, Encore, Woods, Etc. Stand behind Tractors and Units that Either that Had Problems that they could not fix or Helped after they were out of warranty to fix. But they have to be prodded to get it done and the only person that can get it done is YOU. And Phone Calls are Easy, But Letters get more done as a rule as they can be shown to others.

 

[ronjhall]

Kubmech
Started having problem at 40 hours. <font color=orange> Kubota </font color=orange>suggested that oil and filters be changed. Dealer did it at just over 40 hours. That was last October. Did not have problem again until temperature got above 80 degrees in June.
Used rotary cutter yesterday for 1½ hour. Temperature was 74 degrees. Did not have feeling of no power steering. But steering was heavy. At idle (1000 rpm's) steering was hard and made noises.

 

[Alan L.]

My problem started after the 50 hour service. I took out whatever the factory put in (UDT I think) and put super UDT. Then the problem started. At 58 hours the dealer changed the fluids again (they said they put super UDT back in) and the problem went away for a while, but it was not as hot then either. Mr problem ranges from a grabbing of the steering wheel to complete lack of power steering. When the power steering goes completely out the steering wheel has a little quivver as though its trying to do something but can't.

Alan L., TX

 

[geneP]

Sounds like pump cavitation

 

[MChalkley]

Alan L.,

I saw your message in the "L4310 enhancements" topic, and thought I'd take a look at all the messages relating to your power steering problem. I don't normally get involved in discussions specific to the B-series tractors, because I don't know anything about them. However, I do have a suggestion. Perhaps someone else already said this, but I didn't see it (but I didn't carefully read all of them). Anyway, it certainly seems to be related to the hydraulic fluid, to me, even though I saw some comments that dispute that. Still, changing the fluid is a lot cheaper than an hour of an attorney's time. May I suggest you try Amsoil ATH? Not because I'm a dealer - if you lived near me, I'd gladly give you enough to do the switch just to see if my suspicions are confirmed. If you remember reading the early messages in my "L4310 enhancements" topic (you don't have to admit to it), you'll remember that I found the Amsoil ATH to make significant differences to the fluid temperature in the HST transmission. It's definitely better stuff than either UDT or Super UDT - it just might be enough better to do the trick. If viscosity thinning due to high temperatures is the culprit, I bet it will fix it. There! I've tried... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC

 

[Alan L.]

Thanks Mark. Actually after I learned that Bird is using Amsoil in his 2710 and it hasn't blown up on him I decided that I would do that as a last resort. I'm still hoping to get Kubota to witness my problem and all it will take is some hot weather. We just got a blue norther here in Texas and its only going to get to 90 tomorrow. I want complete failure when I get the guy out here. My tractor ought not have the steering problem when using the oil that Kubota recommends. If I can get them to fix it, then put the Amsoil in there it seems like I'll be that much better off. If they won't fix it or won't come to my place and witness a failure then I will put the Amsoil in there as a last resort. Is that stuff more expensive than Super UDT?

Alan L., TX