Steering Wheel

BuckeyeStateOfMind

New member

Equipment
B2601 with LA435 loader, 60" QA bucket, and 60" Land pride box blade
Jul 15, 2020
21
6
3
Columbus, Ohio
Hey everyone, curious question. Does your tractor drive straight with the steering wheel in perfect centered position?

I seem to need the wheel to be upside down for the tractor to drive straight. Should I care about this?

20201222_075507.jpg
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Perfectly normal with hydrostatic power steering. There is no mechanical linkage between the wheels and the steering assembly so the steering wheel can be anywhere and usually is every time you shut it down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

BigG

Well-known member

Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Sep 14, 2018
1,951
770
113
West Central,FL
The steering is done with hydraulics not done mechanically. The steering wheel will not remain centered, it will vary. Sit on the tractor and turn the wheel and it will hit the stops on the axle but the steering wheel will keep moving. This normal for a hydraulic steer machine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
The steering is done with hydraulics not done mechanically. The steering wheel will not remain centered, it will vary. Sit on the tractor and turn the wheel and it will hit the stops on the axle but the steering wheel will keep moving. This normal for a hydrostatic steer machine.
Fixed it for you. Kubota's have hydrostatic steering. Cars with power assist steering are hydraulic, least the older ones are. New ones aren't.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex., Beer fridge
May 24, 2019
5,781
2,965
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
Fixed it for you. Kubota's have hydrostatic steering. Cars with power assist steering are hydraulic, least the older ones are. New ones aren't.
Asking because I do not know.

I would have guessed the tractor steering would be called hydraulic, rather than hydrostatic. What makes the operation of the steering cylinder different than any other cylinder, so that it would be called hydrostatic rather than hydraulic steering?

Not disputing this, just curious...

Edit: I suppose it could be because of the way the control valve connected to the steering wheel works?
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
The steering operates with an orbital pump to direct the flow, much like a hydrostatic transmission in the Kubota's, just much smaller. Why the steering wheel never returns to the spot it was when you shut the engine off.

Been playing with your Mini-Ex at all?
 

OrangeKrush

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2680, LA344 with Piranha tooth bar, LP PF 1242, LP Rear Blade, KK 60" BB
Nov 15, 2020
1,047
515
113
Indy
So when I put my new steering knob on I’m going to position it lower left bottom. Is there a way to keep the steering wheel in this position while straight?
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,197
6,369
113
Sandpoint, ID
So when I put my new steering knob on I’m going to position it lower left bottom. Is there a way to keep the steering wheel in this position while straight?
Nope... it won't stay put ever, It's going to travel all over the place.
You can force it back into position by bottoming out the cylinder and turning the wheel, but that's hard on the system and damage something if done repeatedly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

BA76

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX5400 Tractor, RB3784 Rear Blade, RCF2072 Brush Mower, FDR1672 Finish Mower
Dec 21, 2020
85
105
33
Illinois
Nope... it won't stay put ever, It's going to travel all over the place.
You can force it back into position by bottoming out the cylinder and turning the wheel, but that's hard on the system and damage something if done repeatedly.
That explains my recent dilemma. I put a steering knob on my MX5400 the day I bought it and have had to move it three times! Lol! I thought I was loosing my mind.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

smittydog27

New member

Equipment
L3901DT, MX5200DT, Case 450, 1450 dozers, Case 530 const. king backhoe/loader
Dec 11, 2018
22
5
3
Huntington
So, on my MX5200, the steering does as you stated (it is in a different place every time I use it), but on my L3901, I have my suicide knob is at the 6 o’clock position every time.

Just my observations from mowing my 24 acre field. I had a lot of time on my hands to discover this. LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users

OrangeKrush

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2680, LA344 with Piranha tooth bar, LP PF 1242, LP Rear Blade, KK 60" BB
Nov 15, 2020
1,047
515
113
Indy
Nope... it won't stay put ever, It's going to travel all over the place.
You can force it back into position by bottoming out the cylinder and turning the wheel, but that's hard on the system and damage something if done repeatedly.
Nope... it won't stay put ever, It's going to travel all over the place.
You can force it back into position by bottoming out the cylinder and turning the wheel, but that's hard on the system and damage something if done repeatedly.
Thanks Wolfman.. I kind of figured what the answer would be after reading previous post above but was hoping not!
 

Mak65

Active member

Equipment
L2501 HST
Apr 25, 2019
122
90
28
TX
I have a L2501. I know the steering wheel location can “float”. Like smittydog27, my suicide knob is almost always at or near the 7o’clock position - where I placed it
 

Fordtech86

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
Aug 7, 2018
4,976
5,917
113
Pineville,LA
I have a L2501. I know the steering wheel location can “float”. Like smittydog27, my suicide knob is almost always at or near the 7o’clock position - where I placed it
The basic L series tractors have a steering gear not the hydraulic steering that is on most (all?) other Kubotas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,197
6,369
113
Sandpoint, ID
So, on my MX5200, the steering does as you stated (it is in a different place every time I use it), but on my L3901, I have my suicide knob is at the 6 o’clock position every time.

Just my observations from mowing my 24 acre field. I had a lot of time on my hands to discover this. LOL
That's because your l3901 is not hydrostatic steering, it's power steering on a mechanical steering system. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,197
6,369
113
Sandpoint, ID
I have a L2501. I know the steering wheel location can “float”. Like smittydog27, my suicide knob is almost always at or near the 7o’clock position - where I placed it
Again because you have a mechanical steering system on the l2501, not a hydrostatic steering.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

BA76

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX5400 Tractor, RB3784 Rear Blade, RCF2072 Brush Mower, FDR1672 Finish Mower
Dec 21, 2020
85
105
33
Illinois
Well, I learned something about my steering.

Thanks all!
Me too! That’s what we these forums are all about. 🧐
 

NCL4701

Well-known member

Equipment
L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Apr 27, 2020
2,790
4,233
113
Central Piedmont, NC
I suppose the hydrostatic steering also explains why there doesn’t appear to be any “feedback” from the front wheels into the steering wheel. First old tractor I learned on, if you hit a decent rock or hole the “feedback” would about break your wrists, but that system was just two bevel gears that set up a wrestling match between the driver and the front wheels. With the L4701 seems like I get no force from the front wheels back through to the steering wheel. Interesting... And thanks for the explanation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
2,921
1,383
113
Kansas City, KS
The basic L series tractors have a steering gear not the hydraulic steering that is on most (all?) other Kubotas.
Correct. All other Kubota tractors including the Grand Ls have hydrostatic steering.