Standard steering greasing

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2002

Does anyone know how to grease the steering box? It says in my manual to grease it... I dont see a plug on it anywhere and it does not say how to grease it.... Dan

roger_scotty · May 8, 2002

Glen, that's a great question. I don't think I've ever seen instructions for lubing the steering box either. I figure when you know it needs lube, but the makers are silent, then you get to decide for yourself how to do it.

On my YM165D - similar to a 1300D, thru 1500D - , the steering box looks to be held downt by bolts at each corner. The extra bolt that is centered just forward of the steering wheel shaft is actually a filler plug. I fill mine with 90 weight. If it runs out of the pitman arm shaft then it needs a new seal. Lube in the box is important because rain water can run down the steering wheel tube, infiltrate the steering box, and rust out the steering box bearings. When we were the old club at Yahoo we had a rash of steering boxes that needed new bearings. So it might be a good idea to withdraw the existing fluid and replace it.

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2002

Interesting Roger, You use 90w in your steering box.. It says in my manual to use grease but does not say how the get the grease inside. Does it say in your manual to use the 90w? If 90w would work in my box I would use it. Do you have to remove the dash and firewall and housing to get to the steering box in your tractor? Thanks Dan

roger_scotty · May 8, 2002

I forget what I had to remove; its not a job I do a lot. I do remember that the four hold down bolts were loose, and the steering sure got a lot better after I tightened them down. And also that those were about the hardest bolts to get a wrench on that I ever did see. There must be instructions somewhere on what lube to use, but I don't know them. Yes, I use the 90wt because it was easier to get it into the hole with a big syringe and a plastic tube. My own opinion is that oil is always a better lubricant than grease - if the oil can be made to stay put. I only use grease when the joint is difficult to seal against leakage. I wouldn't have a problem with either one in a steering box. Better yet might be a mixture of the two....that is a mixture I use a lot on low speed gear boxes when the seals are questionable.

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2002

Roger I will check mine and see if I have the same comfiguration on my box as you do on yours. I will try to get some 90W in there and fill it full to the fill plug and see if it come's out the pitman arm. I do have some liquid greese # EP 000 that you can pour or squirt in. It would be nice if they would tell in the service manual what kind of grease or oil to use. I am sure anything is better than nothing. So it there is a fill plug there might be a drain plug too. I Will look for that! If there is I will remove it and see if anything comes out! Thanks Roger!

normde2001 · May 8, 2002

Dan, you didn't say which tractor you have, but my YM2000 uses 90# gear oil, however the fill/check plug is directly under the fuel tank. Looks like it has to be removed to check the lube.

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2002

Norm, I have a ym2202D, Great tractor!

wrinkled · May 9, 2002

Hello

I've got a YM-2000 with a leaky steering box. Can someone confim that it is not rebuildable, and has to be replaced as a whole unit?

Dave

pennwalk · May 10, 2002

I checked the 186 Yanmar service manual and the 186 steering box is rebuildable. I don't know about parts availability on your tractor. In addition the manual specifies refilling with multi purpose grease which probably wouldn't leak out of the old seals.

Chris

normde2001 · May 10, 2002

I have a YM240 parts manual for my YM2000, which everyone says is identicle except for PTO gears and throttle linkage. It gives a parts breakdown for the steering box, so I would assume it is rebuildable. One of these dealers could tell you for sure and assist with parts.