Replacing Bushings On LA724 Loader

[kcender]

I was thinking of replacing the bushings on the bottom of my loader.I am not even sure if the bushings are designed to be replaced or if Kubota offers them as a separate part.Has anybody ever replaced these bushings and if so how hard was it to do?I tried to tap them out without destroying them but they seemed to be in there very tightly so I think it would be best to get some info first.Any help would be appreciated.

 

[art]

We have not had to work in that area but my gut tells me they are not replaceable.

 

[crazyal]

I would have to ask why would you want to? I have seen some very badly worn bushings that still worked fine. Did you go to your dealer and see if they have a part number for them? If they don't then I guess it's a non issue because you don't want to remove them and not be able to replace them. If they do list a part number then I would say the could be removed with a shop press.

 

[Deano]

kcender,

Are they worn or are the pins worn? My bucket is sloppy and I have not disassembled to look yet.
I looked in the parts manual and can get pins, but not bushings (for my LA240 loader). They should be replaceable though.

Deano

 

[rbargeron]

Those sure look like replaceable bushings. Try heating the arm and chilling the bushing. Why are you replacing them?

An LA680 loader I fixed didn't have bushings - it needed complete replacement of the welded collars. The collars were worn a lot - even more than the pins.

 

[slowzuki]

Its a pretty picture, I suppose under all the grease on mine it would look the same, if the paint wasn't all torn up.

On the bigger LA853, there is a bushing, part 7J268-58720. I don't have the parts sheet for the smaller loader.

 

[Chilly807]

If they're steel bushings, getting them out isn't so bad. Lay three beads of weld axially along the bushing at roughly equal spacing, when it cools they should be much looser due to the weld shrinking the bushing. We've used this to remove stuck outer races for tapered roller bearings, it should work for bushings too.

Getting the new ones in is going to be a little bit different. You'll probably need to heat the end of the loader arm to expand it slightly, then preferably freeze the new bushings with liquid nitrogen, dry ice or something similar.

This is assuming new bushings are available, if not you may have to get them made.

Sean

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Is it just me but I am looking at the picture and I am trying to figure what is wrong with them???

David Kb7uns

 

[Dr. Bob]

No, its not just you David, those look like some **** fine bushings to me, too. Like Slowzuki said, I am sure mine would look that good if I would get all of the dirt and grease off of them.

 

[kcender]

Is it just me but I am looking at the picture and I am trying to figure what is wrong with them???

David Kb7uns

There is some play in the bushings but probably not more than most loaders have.The tractor has 640 hours and a lot of that was FEL work.I just thought if it was an easy and inexpensive job I would do it.I called the Kubota dealer and the bushings are available but would be just under 150 dollars with the tax we pay,not what I would call inexpensive.I talked to the service guy but he didn't seem very familiar with replacing the bushings.After trying again to beat the bushings out without destroying them,I have decided it is not worth the bother and I will get at least one more year out of these bushings.
As far as the pins go I replaced those last year and they still seem alright.For those wondering I grease the bucket pins at the beginning of each day that I use the tractor.If I am doing a lot of FEL work I usually grease the bucket pins midway through the day as well.I don't think the wear is from lack of greasing but is just normal wear.Grease can only do so much.

 

[dstig1]

I don't think you have any cause for concern unless your FEL is not moving properly (binding or something). Those look perfect. Tractors with FELs use the FEL a ton. I know I do. So far I don't think there has been a time I have taken it out and not used the FEL.

Mine has 1100 hrs on it, and I wouldn't think of changing the bushings, and I had one that was frozen up pretty good with rust from the PO that apparently didn't grease it enough or bother to try to clean it out once it stopped taking grease.

Save your money and time, IMHO.

 

[slowzuki]

Ouch, the ALO Kubota branded loaders on the larger machines have bushings that are about 5$ each. Kubota is actually one of the cheapest places to get ALO parts.

I called the Kubota dealer and the bushings are available but would be just under 150 dollars

 

[David_Kb7uns]

If anything you may review the grease being used and see if there is one that is better and does not come out as easily you do not have real high hours on the tractor.

David Kb7uns

 

[crazyal]

If you're good with a torch or have a friend who is you can cut them out. that's usually how I get bearing races out if I can get on the back to drive them out.

 

[Chilly807]

If you're good with a torch or have a friend who is you can cut them out. that's usually how I get bearing races out if I can get on the back to drive them out.

If you have a welder, try the three bead method. Most will just fall out after that.

Sean

 

[crazyal]

If you have a welder, try the three bead method. Most will just fall out after that.

Sean

I have no doubt it would. Back in high school shop class one of our tests was to cut a muffler off a tail pipe without doing any damage to the pipe. I like doing it with torches because it's kind of a test to see if I've lost any skills from way back when. :laughing: Also I like torches because you can bring the torch to the work while a welder is tethered by a cord to an outlet. For a CUT neither should be a problem though.

 

[The dirt doctor]

That weld bead method seems pretty trick! I'll have to try it the next time I do a pin and bushings job on one of our pieces of equipment. The torch method is the way I do it. As for installing the new ones, they will need to be pressed. I have chained 20 ton bottle jacks to excavator arms to press in bushings. It's crude, but it worked.

 

[Max Power]

That weld bead method seems pretty trick! I'll have to try it the next time I do a pin and bushings job on one of our pieces of equipment. The torch method is the way I do it. As for installing the new ones, they will need to be pressed. I have chained 20 ton bottle jacks to excavator arms to press in bushings. It's crude, but it worked.

have you tried freezing them?

 

[The dirt doctor]

have you tried freezing them?

Yes with dry ice, but with no luck. It sounds good in theory, but I don't know if it will work. Pressing them is the way to go. This is common practice in heavy equipment, and the dealer repair shops have special presses that hook up to a port a power.

 

[Max Power]

Yes with dry ice, but with no luck. It sounds good in theory, but I don't know if it will work. Pressing them is the way to go. This is common practice in heavy equipment, and the dealer repair shops have special presses that hook up to a port a power.

I have used freezing for bearing races ...but not on this type of bushing

cheers