The ball on the steering wheel?

Blue2Orange

Active member

Equipment
BX2380 with LA344S & QH05. SB1051. SG0554. BB1248. RB0560, Vassar dirt bucket
Apr 3, 2025
278
170
43
Bayview Township
What are the ball shaped thingy that you can attach to your steering wheel called?

The thing that allows you just grab and spin the steering wheel.

Yesterday when clearing snow with the 3pt mounted snowblower my leather choppers that I treat with NIK leather conditioner and waterproofer became very slippery when gripping the Kubota steering wheel. Probably real slippery grabbing anything. Wrapping the the thumb around one of the steering wheel spokes was a simple solution to the issue. Thinking (danger, danger...) that one of those balls might be a good option. Especially if I can easily without tools reposition it anywhere on the steering wheel. Or maybe just another excuse for adding more stuff to the tractor?
 

chim

Well-known member

Equipment
L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
2,926
2,371
113
Near Lancaster, PA, USA
I wouldn't be without one. HOWEVER if you don't have power steering and hit something with a front tire it can whack your hand hard before you know what's happening. Had that happen with the little Ford.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
14,698
7,207
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
This wanted feature may be difficult to come by with a steering system that never leaves the wheel in the same position. "Especially if I can easily without tools reposition it anywhere on the steering wheel."
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Kennyd4110

Well-known member
Vendor Member
Sep 7, 2013
1,426
756
113
Westminster, MD
www.boltonhooks.com
I'm in the 'no' spinner crowd:
1) With hydrostatic steering, it will never be in the same place.
2) With hydrostatic steering, the wheel turns so easily, I can just palm it or even use one finger in a spoke.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Bearcatrp

Well-known member

Equipment
BX1880 with loader, mower and 3 point
Mar 28, 2023
1,092
724
113
Minnesota
The ball works great on my power steering. Wouldn’t be without one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,376
1,161
113
SE, IN
What are the ball shaped thingy that you can attach to your steering wheel called?

The thing that allows you just grab and spin the steering wheel.

Yesterday when clearing snow with the 3pt mounted snowblower my leather choppers that I treat with NIK leather conditioner and waterproofer became very slippery when gripping the Kubota steering wheel. Probably real slippery grabbing anything. Wrapping the the thumb around one of the steering wheel spokes was a simple solution to the issue. Thinking (danger, danger...) that one of those balls might be a good option. Especially if I can easily without tools reposition it anywhere on the steering wheel. Or maybe just another excuse for adding more stuff to the tractor?
Steering wheel knob.

Do your self a favor and buy a good one with ball bearings from Kubota, etc.

Well known as knuckle busters back in the day of manual steering tractors but much less of an issue these days with PS, especially hydrostatic PS as (nearly?) all modern tractors are.

Had them on ALL of my tractors, even those without PS.
 

Lil Foot

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
8,002
3,322
113
Peoria, AZ
Wouldn't be without one!

IMG_20140419_100152467_HDR.jpg
IMG_0027.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

GrumpyFarmer

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650, MX6000, Ford 8N, (BX sold)
Sep 13, 2021
3,252
4,527
113
Ohio
I keep a lot of things on pallets and use my forks a lot. When I am playing Tetris in the barn to get to something, it’d be really handy to have a knob.

However, as it is I seem to catch my coat/jacket on the different levers getting on/off and I suspect the knob would add to that, so I have not put them on my tractors.

what I really need is a forklift with a knob on it. 🤔
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users

WI_Hedgehog

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2370 (impliment details in my Profile->About)
Apr 24, 2024
988
1,378
93
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
I keep a lot of things on pallets and use my forks a lot. When I am playing Tetris in the barn to get to something, it’d be really handy to have a knob.

However, as it is I seem to catch my coat/jacket on the different levers getting on/off and I suspect the knob would add to that, so I have not put them on my tractors.

what I really need is a forklift with a knob on it. 🤔
I really want to put a knob on an excavator.


I just don't have an excavator to put myself on. 😄
 
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users

chim

Well-known member

Equipment
L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
2,926
2,371
113
Near Lancaster, PA, USA
This wanted feature may be difficult to come by with a steering system that never leaves the wheel in the same position. "Especially if I can easily without tools reposition it anywhere on the steering wheel."
The L4240 is the first tractor I had with hydro steering. The first two Kubotae had power steering. I thought it wouldn't work well on the L4240 but it's fine. When mowing long runs I often put my hand ( or a thumb) on the wheel wherever it's handy. At the turn I grab the spinner and use it without much thought. When plowing snow, using the loader etc. my left hand is pretty much on the spinner while my right hand is on the joystick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

jyoutz

Well-known member
Premium Member

Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Jan 14, 2019
3,471
2,556
113
Edgewood, New Mexico
I have one on my machine with hydrostatic steering. I use it all the time, especially when doing precise maneuvering. It doesn’t matter that it is in different locations on the wheel; it’s useful in any location. Do buy a good one with ball bearings. TSC sells pretty good ones for less than Kubota.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

selftot

Member

Equipment
L3400
Aug 6, 2025
24
28
13
Vancouver Island
I added one this year. It's great for loader work.

My old hand/arm injuries do not act up as much and in winter my hands get less cold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users