Steering cylinder

[GeoHorn]

The steering cylinder on my M4700DT is dripping out the left end so I called the dealer and scheduled it in for re-sealing.

They said the “seal kit” was $350.

…and the labor might be up to 4.5 hrs…. and ordering a new cylinder would cost $1400.

Seems like an expensive seal “kit”.

Lasted 26 years tho’…..

 

[D2Cat]

How difficult is it for YOU to remove the cylinder? If that is not too much of a challenge to take it off and go to a hyd repair shop. As you know, cylinder kits are not complicated..... but the price does not reflect that.

Sometimes the hours quoted are also unreasonable. I needed a starter replace on a Polaris Ranger 700XP. Called an independent shop and he quoted 5-6 hours to remove and replace, I buy the starter I wanted (and bendix), he does labor..... final number $400-$500.

I removed and cleaned the bendix in 45 minutes (after my hand got better).

 

[Henro]

Amen to what D2Cat advised!

 

[GeoHorn]

How difficult is it for YOU to remove the cylinder? If that is not too much of a challenge to take it off and go to a hyd repair shop. As you know, cylinder kits are not complicated..... but the price does not reflect that.

Sometimes the hours quoted are also unreasonable. I needed a starter replace on a Polaris Ranger 700XP. Called an independent shop and he quoted 5-6 hours to remove and replace, I buy the starter I wanted (and bendix), he does labor..... final number $400-$500.

I removed and cleaned the bendix in 45 minutes (after my hand got better).

I first thought that might be the solution…but then it occurred to me that any hyd shop I might take it to (and one guy who makes service-calls) …will not likely have ever done a Kubota steering cylinder and the dealer likely has…. also if I removed it, then took it to a hyd shop and waited for them to get the parts and install them and then go retrieve it and reinstall it….. would likely kill 3 days minimum… While the dealer has me scheduled for Friday morning and out shortly after lunch.

The seal kit would be the same either way (except the dealer won’t charge me freight), and the only labor I’d save would be the R&R…. unless I’m missing something…??

Also…Another way I think of things … if I order the seal kit and he messes it up… it’s my parts that are damaged.
I don’t want to take my eggs to the restaurant and ask them to fry them for me.

 

[D2Cat]

When I take a cyl to a repair shop they use their seals. The are responsible to provide a working cylinder. I am not taking seals to the hyd shop for them to install, they provide the eggs and cook them.

Not sure how you figure the seal kit would be the same cost. Last time I needed seal for the cylinders on a Bobcat SS the dealer did not have them in stock and they cost $45 a set. Hyd. shop installed their seal on the cylinders while I waited and cost $11 and some change each. Their work is guaranteed. They do all the rebuild of cylinders for World's of Fun. They have to make sure they are correct!!

 

[BigG]

Last week we just did the steer cylinder on my NH TL80A. New it was $600, reman it was near $400, rebuilt by a local shop $154. I dropped it off one day, rebuilt on day 2 and reinstalled on day three.

 

[GeoHorn]

When I take a cyl to a repair shop they use their seals. The are responsible to provide a working cylinder. I am not taking seals to the hyd shop for them to install, they provide the eggs and cook them.

Not sure how you figure the seal kit would be the same cost. Last time I needed seal for the cylinders on a Bobcat SS the dealer did not have them in stock and they cost $45 a set. Hyd. shop installed their seal on the cylinders while I waited and cost $11 and some change each. Their work is guaranteed. They do all the rebuild of cylinders for World's of Fun. They have to make sure they are correct!!

The steering cyl on my tractor is not ordinary O-rings, they are are shaped/formed seals. A local hyd guy is unlikely to have them and will have to order the “kit”. I looked into this and it turns out the dealer is the simplest answer.

 

[Henro]

The steering cyl on my tractor is not ordinary O-rings, they are are shaped/formed seals. A local hyd guy is unlikely to have them and will have to order the “kit”. I looked into this and it turns out the dealer is the simplest answer.

Might be just me, but that sounds like an assumption. I would think that more cylinders using O rings like that are out there, in addition to Kubota cylinders, and that a competent hydraulic repair shop would know how to order them.

Could be wrong though. Since you do know the specifics of the O Ring type used, you could probably know for sure by making a phone call and asking a repair shop if such O rings are a problem for them to source.

Might save some bucks if they can. Your call naturally. I know what I would do...

 

[TheOldHokie]

Might be just me, but that sounds like an assumption. I would think that more cylinders using O rings like that are out there, in addition to Kubota cylinders, and that a competent hydraulic repair shop would know how to order them.

Could be wrong though. Since you do know the specifics of the O Ring type used, you could probably know for sure by making a phone call and asking a repair shop if such O rings are a problem for them to source.

Might save some bucks if they can. Your call naturally. I know what I would do...

Kubota did not make the cylinders and the "formed" seals are likely standard commodity parts made by one of the many companies that provide that sort of thing to the OEMs that manufacture cylinders. And the guy in the hydraulic shop will have serviced many more steering cylinders than a Kubota tech. Odds are good the hydrauluc shop will provide better work atva lower cost.

Dan

 

[GeoHorn]

There are only 3 common O-rings in this M4700DT (old style) cylinder….and SIX special seals which average $65 each. The “kit” reduces the complete re-seal parts cost to $350.…so the parts will cost me the same whether I use a hyd-shop or the dealer and may equal what the labor will be to remove, reseal, install the cylinder.
An hour to two to remove / reinstall and an hour to disassemble, clean and re-seal doesn’t sound excessive to me and I want to support the local Kubota dealer.
I may need them again some day.

I truly appreciate the incoming comments… I mean that… If this were a common cylinder from the loader I’d certainly remove it myself and use an independent shop…probably for about $150 each cyl.

As to who may have more experience with resealing Kubota steering cylinders… it makes little difference…. it will work or it will leak… and the Kubota dealer will have to do it again on his own dime… while if I removed it myself and took it in to a hyd shop and had it done…. I’d have to do all the R&R labor again myself…(and scheduling with the dealer certainly was simple…tomorrow morning they will take it off my trailer and after lunch re-load it on the trailer and I’ll be on my way home.)

I like the turn-key scenario on this particular repair.

 

[D2Cat]

There are only 3 common O-rings in this M4700DT (old style) cylinder….and SIX special seals which average $65 each. The “kit” reduces the complete re-seal parts cost to $350.…so the parts will cost me the same whether I use a hyd-shop or the dealer and may equal what the labor will be to remove, reseal, install the cylinder.
An hour to two to remove / reinstall and an hour to disassemble, clean and re-seal doesn’t sound excessive to me and I want to support the local Kubota dealer.
I may need them again some day.

I truly appreciate the incoming comments… I mean that… If this were a common cylinder from the loader I’d certainly remove it myself and use an independent shop…probably for about $150 each cyl.

As to who may have more experience with resealing Kubota steering cylinders… it makes little difference…. it will work or it will leak… and the Kubota dealer will have to do it again on his own dime… while if I removed it myself and took it in to a hyd shop and had it done…. I’d have to do all the R&R labor again myself…(and scheduling with the dealer certainly was simple…tomorrow morning they will take it off my trailer and after lunch re-load it on the trailer and I’ll be on my way home.)

I like the turn-key scenario on this particular repair.

Geo, you have it figured out! Just eat your lunch slowly.

 

[DustyRusty]

The steering cylinder on my M4700DT is dripping out the left end so I called the dealer and scheduled it in for re-sealing.

They said the “seal kit” was $350.

…and the labor might be up to 4.5 hrs…. and ordering a new cylinder would cost $1400.

Seems like an expensive seal “kit”.

Lasted 26 years tho’…..

Seems that you have changed your mind as to the seal kit being expensive

 

[GeoHorn]

Seems that you have changed your mind as to the seal kit being expensive

I don’t “get” your meaning…. but the way I’m thinking about it is: I am more than surprised (shocked perhaps is closer) that the kit is so damn expensive. So….. Since it IS not cheap… I’m wanting to take the least chances that a re-seal job will go wrong ….or will not be warrantied …. so I’m doing it at a Kubota Dealer rather than a generic shop.

 

[GeoHorn]

Well…the Saga continues…. I delivered the tractor to them promptly at 8AM and went for breakfast-migas… then an oil change for the truck …. and at 10AM they called to tell me another example of how the previous-owner boogered something up… (I think he tried to use this tractor as a bulldozer to clear land as the steering tie rod boots were totally shredded when I bought it from him and the tie-rod guards were all bent-up, which I straightened those problems out.) But the PO was completely quiet about what he’d done to this tractor (wiring alterations improperly accomplished, hid alternator charging problems and water temperature indicator disconnected and wires removed. after I bought it I discovered and made those repairs as they should have been done.)

It seems the cylinder has been monkeyed with before…and one end is old-style and the end that is leaking is new-style …which means in addition to the old kit ($350) they want to order a new kit ($450) because both types will be req’d (they claim) to complete the repair.

I told them that would mean it’s been ”repaired previously” and is leaking again…. AND, I’ll be paying $800 for seal kits of which I can only benefit half of the parts…. and the labor to create what I’ll still have as a bastardized steering cylinder and will have about $1200 in the repair.

A New “new style” cylinder is $1350 so I told them to forget the seal kits and the labor to make the repair and order a new replacement cylinder. At least it carries a warranty.

 

[whitetiger]

Depending on which steering cylinder your tractor currently has, after they install the new one, you will get a call informing you that the threaded shafts on the tie rod ends are a different size. Fear not though, more money will purchase the correct size.

 

[DustyRusty]

Sometimes buying a used tractor isn't the bargain that you bargained for and costs you dearly in the end.

 

[lynnmor]

Sometimes buying a used tractor isn't the bargain that you bargained for and costs you dearly in the end.

Sometimes buying a new tractor isn't the bargain that you bargained for and costs you dearly in the end.

 

[GeoHorn]

Depending on which steering cylinder your tractor currently has, after they install the new one, you will get a call informing you that the threaded shafts on the tie rod ends are a different size. Fear not though, more money will purchase the correct size.

..in which case they will be told to remove the new cylinder and re-install the old-style original after converting it back to its’ proper configuration. If they’ve tried to convince me to convert to a new cylinder that does not properly fit without other mods…which they failed to fore-warn me…..then they’ll have to eat it.

Thanks for the “heads-up”.

 

[GeoHorn]

It seems the cylinder has been monkeyed with before…and one end is old-style and the end that is leaking is new-style …

Is this actually possible? Anyone with experience with these steering cylinders…. can an “old style” cylinder be modified to accept “new style” parts at one end and not the other…?

If so… then I’m wondering why it wasn’t suggested to simply purchase the seal-kit for the new-style and modify the cylinder completely. (IE, if they are telling me the truth… that they’ve discovered someone has made a previous repair using new-style on one end…and therefore they’ll need both old AND and new style seal kits …(planning to use half of each kit)…. WHY can’t a new style kit be ordered and convert the ENTIRE old-style cylinder to new-style at both ends?

Why would I need to spend $800 for two different kits… or alternatively replace the cylinder entirely with a New Cylinder costing over $1300…?

 

[DustyRusty]

It is only money, spend it and get it done properly by the dealer. I doubt that Kubota sells only half a cylinder, and the old-style cylinder is no longer offered as a replacement.