For all the new MT125 owners out there

LS Tractor Owner · Sep 2, 2017

I just got a call from LS tractor in NC about the oil drain plug issue. There is a "kit" that was sent to the dealers as a fix for the drain plug hitting the axle when removing it to drain the oil. LS is replacing the original plug with a new smaller head plug. they also informed me there is a relay that needs to be changed with a different relay in the kit. (not sure what relay it is, but I will find out from my dealer after the holiday). Also there is a bracket to be installed on the upper top link of the 3 point hitch. (dealer told me about this one). the guy from LS also mentioned something about a rod on the pedals for the HST. When I get more info about these "updates" next week, I'll post the info. It's all covered under warranty if you take it into the dealer. Unfortunately for me, my closest LS dealer is about 500mi away. They are going to ship the "kit" directly to me.

ThirdMan · Sep 6, 2017

I am taking in mine for 50 hour service next week. I was going to try it myself, but the dealer called me saying there were these fixes from LS. Thanks for the detailed update!

ThirdMan · Sep 27, 2017

I had the 50 hour service completed and that included the things you mentioned (drain plug, HST relay, and some other items). I bought a used three-point hitch chipper and am looking at putting on the hitch arms. There isn't anything in the manual about actually putting on the link arms. The lower bar that the stabilizers and lower link arms attach to does not have very much clearance with the tires. Do I really need to remove a rear wheel to take on and off the three-point hitch arms?

jdom84 · Sep 27, 2017

should be able to slide the bar into the rim, put on 1 side and do the same for the other. Thats how you do it on the xj2025

ThirdMan · Sep 27, 2017

jdom84 said:
should be able to slide the bar into the rim, put on 1 side and do the same for the other. Thats how you do it on the xj2025

I will try that. The bar does not slide easily, I will put more effort into getting it pushed to one side to see if I can do that. I didn't want to spend much time on getting it out if I needed the tire off anyway.

ThirdMan · Sep 28, 2017

I ended up taking off both wheels to get on the lower link arms. The bar doesn't slide easily when it is in both sides of the frame on the back. I had to use a rubber mallet to push it out. Because we couldn't pull it out both wheels had to come off. Once we got it out putting on the link arms was easy. Now I am hoping there is a way to remove parts and position what is left of the three point to get the backhoe on without taking off a wheel. I am not sure there is.

jdom84 · Sep 28, 2017

that really sucks to have to remove the wheels. Looks like from the picture the rod only has 1 pin and a crimp flare on the other side? make sure to use some moly when putting the rod back in or corrosion could make it much... much harder next time.

ThirdMan · Sep 28, 2017

jdom84 said:
that really sucks to have to remove the wheels. Looks like from the picture the rod only has 1 pin and a crimp flare on the other side? make sure to use some moly when putting the rod back in or corrosion could make it much... much harder next time.

There is just one hairpin on each side. The rod is pretty simple with just the two holes drilled in it on each side. I am not sure what a crimp flare is and a quick search did not help me figure it out.

ThirdMan · Sep 28, 2017

I was looking at a picture of the back of a XJ2025 and see that the wheels are quite a bit further apart than on the MT125. It is just a very small tractor.

XJ2025 I found elsewhere on TBN

436930d1439118924-xj2025-owners-tractor1-jpg

MT125 picture I took yesterday

ThirdMan · Sep 29, 2017

I contacted my dealer and they confirmed that a rear wheel needs to be removed to put on or take off the three-point hitch. Very frustrating.

rider7767 · Nov 6, 2017

Has anyone heard anything from a dealer about Wheel stud upgrades to the LS MT125? I could have sworn I read someone had their wheel studs changed at the dealer. Mine just has bolts and washers. The wheels have bevels around the hole like a wheel bolt would use. I did some research and found out the studs are a unusual size. M12* 1.125. Extra fine thread. When these tractors are shipped here, they come with little steel wheels on them to save space and are set up in the states. It is like the wheel bolts were forgotten so they just used the bolts that they shipped with.

I think it should look something like this.

ThirdMan · Nov 6, 2017

I don't have any pictures of the wheel studs, but mine do not have washers. My lug bolts do look like what you have pictured. There is a listed item of "wheel bolt" in the work receipt I have from the dealer update when they fixed the drain plug and did the 50 hour service.

LS Tractor Owner · Nov 6, 2017

rider7767 said:
Has anyone heard anything from a dealer about Wheel stud upgrades to the LS MT125? I could have sworn I read someone had their wheel studs changed at the dealer. Mine just has bolts and washers. The wheels have bevels around the hole like a wheel bolt would use. I did some research and found out the studs are a unusual size. M12* 1.125. Extra fine thread. When these tractors are shipped here, they come with little steel wheels on them to save space and are set up in the states. It is like the wheel bolts were forgotten so they just used the bolts that they shipped with.View attachment 527585 I think it should look something like this.

Just looked at mine, they are bolts and washers. Guess I have to call the dealer again...

LS Tractor Owner · Nov 6, 2017

ThirdMan said:
I don't have any pictures of the wheel studs, but mine do not have washers. My lug bolts do look like what you have pictured. There is a listed item of "wheel bolt" in the work receipt I have from the dealer update when they fixed the drain plug and did the 50 hour service.

Called my dealer... He said he had no idea what I was talking about. Explained the wheel bolt difference and he actually went onto this site to see them. Do you possibly have a factory repair number or update number that I can use for referral to my dealer? Maybe your dealer has one?

ThirdMan · Nov 7, 2017

Sorry I don't have any more information right now. Once it drys out here I will take a picture of the lug bolts.

rider7767 · Nov 7, 2017

Please. Understand I am just asking the question. I don't know if LS is doing something new, but when I took my wheels off, I noticed it was just bolts. It probably is ok since it rides on the rim center circle.

ThirdMan · Dec 3, 2017

Finally got around to taking a picture of the bolt.

mslisaj · Dec 3, 2017

LS mt125 owner said:
I just got a call from LS tractor in NC about the oil drain plug issue. There is a "kit" that was sent to the dealers as a fix for the drain plug hitting the axle when removing it to drain the oil. LS is replacing the original plug with a new smaller head plug. they also informed me there is a relay that needs to be changed with a different relay in the kit. (not sure what relay it is, but I will find out from my dealer after the holiday). Also there is a bracket to be installed on the upper top link of the 3 point hitch. (dealer told me about this one). the guy from LS also mentioned something about a rod on the pedals for the HST. When I get more info about these "updates" next week, I'll post the info. It's all covered under warranty if you take it into the dealer. Unfortunately for me, my closest LS dealer is about 500mi away. They are going to ship the "kit" directly to me.

Thanks "LS mt125owner" for the information. My new tractor had the drain plug mod installed when I received the tractor. I would love more information on the HST Relay. Haven't heard about this issue. No info on the three point hitch upper link added bracket. When you get the information please pass it on to the rest of us.

On the wheel bolt issue, my rear wheels have straight bolts and washers as others have stated. Interesting too that before I noticed this thread I saw the tapered holes in the wheels too. But the reality is these wheels are hub piloted wheels and are supported there and not by the bolts. I have no issue with the way the wheels are secured with washers and bolts. But this is an interesting question. Even if "steel disc's" were used for shipping if there were supposed to be tapered wheel bolts they could have been used on the "discs' too. The HST relay and the three point hitch "bracket" are more of a concern But thanks again for the information.

Please advise with more information if you find out.

Doofy · Dec 3, 2017

ThirdMan said:
View attachment 530456

Finally got around to taking a picture of the bolt.

Looks exactly like the wheel studs off my 4 wheeler trailer that was made from a 1930s Dodge Brothers coupe axle.

LS Tractor Owner · Dec 3, 2017

mslisaj said:
Thanks "LS mt125owner" for the information. My new tractor had the drain plug mod installed when I received the tractor. I would love more information on the HST Relay. Haven't heard about this issue. No info on the three point hitch upper link added bracket. When you get the information please pass it on to the rest of us.

On the wheel bolt issue, my rear wheels have straight bolts and washers as others have stated. Interesting too that before I noticed this thread I saw the tapered holes in the wheels too. But the reality is these wheels are hub piloted wheels and are supported there and not by the bolts. I have no issue with the way the wheels are secured with washers and bolts. But this is an interesting question. Even if "steel disc's" were used for shipping if there were supposed to be tapered wheel bolts they could have been used on the "discs' too. The HST relay and the three point hitch "bracket" are more of a concern But thanks again for the information.

Please advise with more information if you find out.

Here are some pics of the "update kit". There were 6 items: 1) a new parking brake bracket. 2) the HST relay. 3) hydraulic damper for the HST pedals. 4) "hydraulic housing clamp". 5) new stickers for the BH controls w/ the correct directions portrayed in relation to BH movement (never even realized they were wrong until I went and looked). 6) the new drain plug. I'm sure most of the tractors out there have these already installed. My tractor was one of the first hundred sold and did not have these. I was not even aware of the "hydraulic housing clamp" until I got the kit. The 3 pt upper lift arms could shift side to side without it. I spoke w/ the LS rep about the wheel studs... The bolts w/ washers are not being replaced. The wheel is a "hub centric" which centers the wheel on the hub and also bears the weight on the hub.