The steering shaft broke on my kubota b8200 when I took it out to clear snow a couple months ago. I've spent some time since then converting my tractor to power steering. There were no universal kits available so I had to start from the ground up.
My hydraulic block had a dedicated supply and return line for power steering already, so that part was easy. The rest I had to do on my own. It was a learning process, so now that I'm more familiar, my next conversion should be much easier.
I picked up a 5 port power steering block/column from a john deere 318. They were by far the most readily available and cheapest, at ~$150. I picked up a 14" hydraulic cylinder with 8" throw from surplus center. The rest was just hoses, which my local hydraluic shop made for me in various lengths.
I took the old system out, which had the standard arm that went back and forth. Gas tank off gave me plenty of room to work.
The hydraulic flow is a bit higher than it was on the deere I guess, because it only takes a half turn of the steering wheel to go all the way left or right. Still, it's effortless one finger steering.
From now on if a tractor's steering gives me any issues I'm converting to power steering. Enough of the aching elbows from working a wheel around manually.
My hydraulic block had a dedicated supply and return line for power steering already, so that part was easy. The rest I had to do on my own. It was a learning process, so now that I'm more familiar, my next conversion should be much easier.
I picked up a 5 port power steering block/column from a john deere 318. They were by far the most readily available and cheapest, at ~$150. I picked up a 14" hydraulic cylinder with 8" throw from surplus center. The rest was just hoses, which my local hydraluic shop made for me in various lengths.
I took the old system out, which had the standard arm that went back and forth. Gas tank off gave me plenty of room to work.
The hydraulic flow is a bit higher than it was on the deere I guess, because it only takes a half turn of the steering wheel to go all the way left or right. Still, it's effortless one finger steering.
From now on if a tractor's steering gives me any issues I'm converting to power steering. Enough of the aching elbows from working a wheel around manually.