Worn Steering Linkage

[Jeff Lary]

Hi all I have a 1995 L-2950 I bought used back in 2008 I think. Anyway I had a front tire I kept putting air in it but it finally got on my nerves enough that today I had the tube patched.
When I put the tire back on I noticed the sloppy linkage connection in the photo. The tie rod end has a ball on the far right end it and that goes into a socket affair that is attached to the hydraulic steering cylinder.
When I got this tractor there was the remnants of a rubber boot there. I took it upon myself to wrap the joint in a piece of inner tube and I tie wrapped it there. I think because of that the water that got into the joint had no way out and it caused it to go bad even sooner maybe? In any case I will have to get some replacement parts I guess.
My question is will I have to remove the ball joint end at the ]far left end of its connection point to replace the "ball end" of this rod,.. and the "socket" end where it attaches to the hydraulic cylinder? I know how confusing this must sound but with out the correct nomenclature its the best I could do. Thanks for your input and advice, Jeff

 

[Spanner]

Yes you will.
When you receive the new ball-joint (It should come with rubber sleeve clipped on - if it doesn't, you have to order that too.) it will be obvious to you which parts need to be undone.
The lock-nut at the end of the threads on the left and the lock-nut on the end of the ram on the right of your photo.
:wrench:

 

[Jeff Lary]

Thanks,.. what would you guess these parts will cost if you have any idea ?

 

[Spanner]

Sorry, no idea from here. I'm in the other hemisphere. :drink:

Rubber boot shows at Messicks as $35 so allow a couple of hundred for the lot maybe? :confused3:

:wrench:

 

[Jeff Lary]

Thanks I did not see your location,.. oh I am sure it will be ungodly expensive

 

[Mikefromcny]

Can't be as bad as a cat telehandler. I think $450. Boot isn't available separately, so I just let the boot joint fail and then replace the whole thing.

 

[Jeff Lary]

I will go to the dealership today and see what they say.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Well the dealer in Bangor wants $ 312.00 for the entire assembly which is including ball joint to the socket on the end of the hydraulic cylinder. So from the hub casting to cylinder is $312.00. I said I think my ball joint is fine, he said "well it may be but you need to remove it to change the other parts and by the time you get it out it will be destroyed."
I have never changed a ball joint I am aware that they make a " forked" ball joint tool to separate the joint from the housing . If I buy a fork tool can I get the joint out without destroying it? If so there is a sub assembly with all the parts I need except for the ball joint for $ 120.00.

I asked if it would be worth while to try to source parts form someone other than Kubota he well you can try you might have some luck? I asked him if he ordered the sub assembly for me but in the meantime I was able to source the parts elsewhere would that be an issue for him ,he said no probably not.

If I am able to get this apart without destroying the ball joint.... where would be a good bet to find the parts I need for less money than the dealership? Would the regular car parts places be able to help like Motor Supply or Car Quest?

 

[Spanner]

He's sort-of correct, the seperation of the ball-joint tends to damage the rubber boot when you use the Fork tool. You can buy just the rubber boot I think.

If you're not in a hurry... Dismantle the rod-end etc. See what parts you actually need and then order them then.

You may not need a Ball-Joint and you may not need a Rubber Boot. Then again, you might.

$312 isn't too bad for all of it, in my opinion. Buy the genuine parts. You know they will fit correctly.

:wrench:

 

[Jeff Lary]

actually all I really need is the ball and socket as I have called them in the photo. Not sure what they are really called. Wouldn't think those 2 parts would be too expensive if (a) I knew the correct part names and (b) could buy just them.

 

[Spanner]

I don't know what the Kubota people call it.

Ball/socket Joint?
Steering Ram End Ball Joint?
Tie Rod?

But send a pic to your dealer so he can order the correct items. Or take in the worn parts when you get them off.

Replace both sides if you have the time/inclination/money.

Remember that you need to measure the Toe-in before you dismantle so you can reset afterwards as the parts you are replacing are all adjustable and affect wheel alignment.

Good Luck.
:wrench:

 

[Jeff Lary]

I printed a photo and went in today I did not check to see the part names though .I am hoping someone here will look at the picture and tell me the correct names. There are vendors here that may have a better price.

 

[Spanner]

Seriously Jeff. Steering and Brakes - Two areas where you want top quality. Price is not an issue surely? On a maximum spend of $312 according to you earlier. ??
On the $120 kit how much are you looking to reduce your cost by - $10 or $50 ?
For $10 I wouldn't bother.
For $50 I wouldn't have confidence in the joint going downhill with a load in the bucket.

:wrench:

 

[CalG]

If it were a BX series, the units are cheap!
Kubota BX inner and outer tie rod boots - All BX series BX15 to BX25

 

[Jeff Lary]

Don't tell me that!!! I just e-mailed Messicks, or how ever you say it the photo in this post. I asked them if I could buy just the ball and the socket pieces. So now just wait and see I guess

 

[CalG]

here is a picture that has the Kubota description of a similar part. I'm not saying the part number is correct for you tractor, but the words should be the same.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...cover-replacement-advice-cover-1296-x-972-jpg

 

[Spanner]

If it were a BX series, the units are cheap!
Kubota BX inner and outer tie rod boots - All BX series BX15 to BX25

According to the OP we're dealing with an L2950.
So that's not very helpful.
:wrench:

 

[Spanner]

here is a picture that has the Kubota description of a similar part. I'm not saying the part number is correct for you tractor, but the words should be the same.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...cover-replacement-advice-cover-1296-x-972-jpg

Axial Ball Joint.
Sounds right
:wrench:

 

[CalG]

According to the OP we're dealing with an L2950.
So that's helpful... not.
:wrench:

Part of the OP's question was "what are they called", the BX part helped provide a reference in that way.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Thanks Cal
Axial Ball joint sounds good. I wrote to Messicks last evening but I have not heard back from them yet?


I just went out and got my serial number and called Messicks. Got a very nice lady on the phone and she helped me find out if I could buy just the ball and socket end of this assembly. Evidently the E-MAIL tab on their site goes to spam or something she said?

She was on the phone with me so she gave me her business e-mail so we could share the info back and forth. The answer is no you can get the entire assembly outer ball joint to steering cylinder or a smaller (i.e.) sub assembly tie rod and inner ball and socket connector ( that is what it is called). The sub is what I ordered in Bangor yesterday for $120.00+ tax they (Messicks ) have it for $127.00 but there would also be shipping. So seeing as how I already have it ordered I will keep with that I guess.

I will say though that lady called me back a few minutes later to be sure I understood that $127.00 was the price all in there would be no tax. But there still would have been shipping.

She walked me through getting an illustrated parts diagram saved so I can find my tractor parts easier next time and showed me how to look at different systems on that list like electrical, cooling ,brakes ect.... My tractor is a L-2950 DT on my tractor it also has a "7" after the DT.

Not to offend any business advertising here but they seem to be a very easy to deal with company . I am sure I will be back sometime just not too soon I hope!