B7100 Steering box rebuild problem

[FerndaleWAB7100]

Last week I rebuilt the steering box on my B7100, not sure of the year. I used all new bearings, seals and parts from Messick including the sector shaft. The only part not from Messick was the steering shaft and ass nut which I bought new off e-bay from Member id "reliableaftermarketpartsinc".

My problem is that after a couple of hours use the steering had some slop in it. I adjusted the sector shaft screw and went back to work. A couple of hours later I again had slop in the steering and the wheel would only turn to the left a quarter of a turn and was binding. I quit working and tore the steering box back apart. A half dozen of the bearings in the ass nut had fallen out of their tubes. It looks like the tubes blew open, they come in halves, and dropped the bearings. I don't understand what I did wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions. I didn't think I over torqued the sector shaft adjustment screw either time. Just enough to take out any slop in the steering. I need to order another steering shaft/ass nut but don't want to rebuild again until I understand what I did wrong. Thanks for any help.

B7100-64664
D750-A

 

[hodge]

Ferndale, welcome to OTT. Sorry this is happening, but I don't have an answer for you. Don't get impatient, though, because someone will know. There are great folks here, with an amazing amount of knowledge and wisdom.

 

[B7100]

Is there any info that can help?look the top of OTT page for "Articles" scroll down the boxes on left side of page and look for "Servicing, Repair & Maintenance", where you will find 2 articles on rebuilding a steering box.
dave

 

[Profnohair]

Is there any info that can help?look the top of OTT page for "Articles" scroll down the boxes on left side of page and look for "Servicing, Repair & Maintenance", where you will find 2 articles on rebuilding a steering box.
dave

Here are the direct links:
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2010/01/how-to-repair-a-steering-box-part-1/
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2010/01/how-to-repair-a-steering-box-part-2/

 

[300zx]

Dave, I am in the middle of repairing a the steering box on a B6200HST-E. The teeth failed on the ball nut is the reason for the repair. It has the same type ball nut and steering shaft (the B7100 shaft is actually 3/4" longer). I also just ordered the aftermarket steering shaft and ball nut, but I got mine from Sam's Tractor Parts down in MS. As you probably already know, the OEM shaft and ball nut are no longer available from Kubota.

Did the balls come out of the split tube on the back of the ball nut or out of the end of the nut, ie, between the steering shaft race and nut? I am suspicious that the aftermarket split tubes (where the balls roll around the back of the nut) may be made of softer material and under load are letting the balls escape. If that is the case, you can reassemble the new ball nut with the split tubes from your original ball nut. It takes patience, but it can be done. Let me know how you do, my new steering shaft and ball nut are due in today. If those split tubes are weak, I will need a set from some where!

Is anyone else using these aftermarket shafts and ball nuts and are you having any problems? The last two pictures in the link show the ball nut and what I call the spit tubes that carry the balls on the back side of the nut:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/KubotaB6200?authkey=Gv1sRgCPubmsvH9rHmKw#

John

 

[B7100]

Here are the direct links:
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2010/01/how-to-repair-a-steering-box-part-1/
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2010/01/how-to-repair-a-steering-box-part-2/

Yeh! I was also going to post the direct link but thought the OP being a new member may benfit from learnig their way around the forum a little
dave

 

[300zx]

Vic, thanks for the information. I am sure FerndaleWAB7100 and I will need it as we reassemble the steering box. My shipment from Sam's Tractor Parts came in Friday and when I opened it the shaft wasn't in it. It had a hole in the side of the box and must have come out somewhere in shipment. I am waiting for another one and it will take at least another week before I will be reassembling the box.

BTW, how do you know how many shims to put between the top of the box and the cover? I assume you just put back the same number that came off of it. Mine was apart when I got it and has about 4 shims in the box of parts.

John

 

[FerndaleWAB7100]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

I thought I had timed everything OK, but apparently did not. I had not made any reference marks. I will do so next time. How do you make sure the ass nut is mid point on the steering shaft before installing it?

I'm confused as to actually how the bearings fell out, I did find some that are chipped so they bound up, the tubes while bent out are not so far as to allow the bearings to pass through the split.

It looks like I'm going to have to start over again and buy a new steering shaft and ass nut. After going through all the bearings I found two that had been broken and the shaft is scored. I noticed that the shaft itself had been a little longer between bearing surfaces requiring the addition of extra shims when I installed it originally and the threads for the steering wheel nut were a little off and required re threading. Now upon further inspection I see the threaded hole through the ass nut is not centered. It's been machined from left to center, see pic.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=5EF6299D6CA36476!348&authkey=!ABwKZkVzupFkRM0
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=5EF6299D6CA36476!347&authkey=!AJqxPhBsV8SaiCU

Where is the best place to purchase a new shaft? Messick show's it in their parts list but not in inventory.

Thanks, John

 

[300zx]

Thanks Vic. I will check the play in the shaft when I put it back together. I will start with the 4 shims that came in the loose parts.

John

 

[FerndaleWAB7100]

Vic,
The off center ass nut is the new one. I had to install the additional shims so as not to be bound up tight when tightening the steering shaft casting to the steering box.

Where is the best place to get a new steering shaft and ass nut?

John

 

[300zx]

Where is the best place to get a new steering shaft and ass nut?

John

I don't know whether to recommend Sam's Tractor Parts or not since I don't have the part yet, but here is his website:

http://store.telepak.net/samstractors/page52.html

My guess is that all of the aftermarket steering and ball nuts are being made in one place and distributed by several retailers.

John in VA

 

[300zx]

2) When the sector gear has reached it's maximum range of directional rotation before the ball nut has travelled to either it's upper or lower most range of travel, any further turning of the steering wheel will push the balls out of the bearing tubes (a convienient measure of safety) since the sector shaft can no longer rotate by design.

Vic, I am going back together today. I think I finally figured out what you are saying. The ball nut should "bottom out" on the teeth of the sector gear which is before the sector gear gets to either end of its travel in the steering box. I marked each end of the travel as you suggested and when I got the ball nut timed with the sector gear, it travels both directions the same amount with out quite getting to the maximum limits I marked, either left or right.

Thanks,
John

 

[BVSRetired]

This post has been a great help to my steering box rebuild. I purchased my new shaft from Sam's and got it within 3 working days.

I have one question of Vic, I have installed all new parts including shaft and nut. There was only one shim when I took it apart but when I put it back together with that one shim. When tightened up it bound up so I added all of the shims I purchased (5 total including the original) and it still binds up. I suspect that the bottom thrust bearing may not be seated all the way down. Could this be my problem. Although, the bottom bearing race seems to be fully seated but the race is sticking out of the case a tiny bit.

Should the bearing race be seated even with the case (bottom of the case) or should it sit up a little bit?

Thanks,
BVSRetired.