Manual steering box repair issues........

[Randyj]

I guess it's my turn for steering problems.

Removed my steering box assembly, and dismantled on bench. What I found, was the steering shaft and "worm gear shaft" are two seperate pieces, held together by a pin.

Well, guess where it broke at ? Yep, right where the two are, ( or were ) mated. The weakest area. A very poorly designed area, I believe.

I've been looking all over the internet, for replacement parts. What I have
discovered, is very confusing to me. All the "other" Kubota steering shaft assemblies are "one piece". That is, the steering shaft & steering "worm"
shaft are all one piece.

I'm very seriously considering welding the two back together. I can't for the life of me, figure out why my steering shaft assembly is made up of two seperate parts, machined in such a way that there is very little metal left
to mate the two together.

Anybody reading this that knows what I mean, and can offer advice, or help,
please do so.

My digital camera died, so all I've got to take images right now is my cell phone. So, I'll attach an image of the area I'm refering to.

Oh yeah, everything else looks to be ok. The bearings are bad, but thats all.
the worm assembly is fine. Works very smooth. I just need bearings & seals.

If I can find the exact replacement shaft assembly ( like at Messick's ) for
$180.00, I'll still have a two piece assembly that's weak. My tractor has manual steering.

 

[Wildfire]

Man I wish you were here this evening. I could fix that where it wouldn't break again. That was designed to fail. I'd weld it if I were you. Nothing to loose. I know it's disappointing to see that happen but I feel it's very repairable. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Greg]

I agree with wildfire. Welded, you will have a stronger than new part.

But be sure to:
a. Make the two pieces perfectly concentric.
b. Make them perfectly colinear.
With inflation I'll call this my nickel.

 

[Randyj]

I ordered new bearings yesterday. Looks like I'll have to have the bearing in place (between the coupler & worm shaft) when I weld it back together. It's going to be real tight, as there's not much room. I made a couple "spatter" shims from brass shim stock, to keep weld spatter out of the bearing.

I think I'm going to be looking for a used one piece shaft for a replacement, just in case.

Hey, Greg..............

Is the bottom end of that drive shaft you made a race puller out of in good shape ? If it is, would you consider selling it ?

 

[Randyj]

Figured I'd do a follow-up on my steering box feasco. It took forever to get the parts I needed, paint, etc. But when everything was here, I caught a horrible head cold. Worst I can ever remember having. Anyway, didn't feel
like doing anything in the shop for a couple weeks.

Finally got it back together the other day, painted, and installed. I ended up
making a special set of heavy brass shims to fit around the shaft where I
welded, cause I had to weld it back together with the bearing in place! The bearing wouldn't slide over the coupler.

I also made a nylon bushing out of a product called "nyoil". Great stuff.
Nylon impregnated with oil. I turned it so's it was a press fit into the top of
the tube. Held in place with two sheet metal screws. I bored the hole for the
shaft to a .006" clearance. Then, when it went together, I tapped in a seal
at the top ( the type with a spring in the rubber to keep tension on the seal
area. This was non-Kubota.

Ok. Maybe a image or two will help.