L4701 steering question

[Elbon]

First I want to say hello. Viewed the forum over the years but never participated. Hope someone can give me a little direction regarding a L4701 steering issue. Tractor is 6 years old 300 hours. I’m the only owner. Have a grapple on the front, using it to clean up downed trees from storm damage. Had a fairly heavy load and tried to turn wheel without moving. Nothing, wouldn’t turn until I started to move. Have had much heavier loads before, this hasn’t been a problem. Thinking something broke had dealer pickup. They communicate they duplicated the issue and start repairs. After weeks of repairs and parts they finally say that’s how the tractor operates. Any load on the front you have to be moving for it to turn???? I’m still waiting on a resolution with the dealer for reimbursement or fix. Out several thousand dollars for a fix that they now say is normal operation.
I understand that a heavy load could limit the static steering and movement may be necessary to help but this was never an issue before. Is the dealer just giving me a line because they can’t figure out a fix or is this how it operates.
Thanks, Elbon.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

After weeks of repairs and parts they finally say that’s how the tractor operates.

You have hydrostatic steering.
It can go into relief / bypass if the back pressure is to high.
It can also can have the same reaction when the steering cylinder has a bad center seal.

Proper and simple testing is required to know which is happening.

 

[Elbon]

Dealer started with the controller , then a new pump, and finally new seals for the cylinder. Supposedly under direction from kubota support. Pump passed the flow test, seal was not leaking but they replaced all . None of the repairs were authorized by me, they just kept throwing parts at it. When my original issue was not resolved I was told that’s how the tractor operates. Over 2 months dealing with this issue. Waiting on hearing from some regional guy first of the week.

 

[Caden]

Evening,
Not to discount your issue in any way, but in general you shouldn't be steering without moving in the first place, especially with a load on the front axle. Not a good practice to do frequently.

 

[NCL4701]

I have a lot more hours on older loader tractors without power steering than I do on my L. Without power steering and with a moderate to heavy load you are not turning the wheels without moving. So I got in the habit of never turning the front wheels without moving. It’s hard on the tires and you can push one off a rim doing that, so it’s not a good thing to do even if you can.

I’ve had the loader on mine maxed out lifting various things to transport height, but too heavy to lift any higher, more times than I can remember. I’ve never exactly had the front wheels refuse to turn, but I have had a couple times it made a hydraulic relief sort of whiny sound that reminds me I should be moving when turning with a heavy load on the front end, particularly when on pavement or hard ground. Once I get that reminder, I get it moving before trying to get it to turn so I don’t know if it’s normal to just flat refuse to turn or not; never pushed it that far.

Sorry I can’t answer your question more definitively.

 

[Elbon]

I don’t make a habit of trying to turn while not moving. I get into some tight areas on occasion cleaning up brush where I have had to turn before moving. Had not experienced the issue before which is why I thought something was wrong. More frustrating is the dealer said they could duplicate the problem.
Thanks, Elbon.

 

[NCL4701]

Dealer alleges to replicate the problem, can’t diagnose the cause of the problem, fires a parts cannon at it with zero change, then tries to convince you there was never a problem to begin with; but here’s your four figure bill for nothing. Sounds like your dealer’s service department sucks.