L3130 blew something in front end

[SteveA]

Bought my L3130 brand new 15 years ago and it has been flawless up until today. Was out moving some brush piles around in FWD when suddenly I hear some grinding and a pop from the LF wheel and oil came running out of the hub.
Any ideas what blew? Depending on what it is I will decide whether or not to tackle repairs my self or call the Kubota dealer to come and get it.
Thanks for any input.

 

[BeezFun]

I've fixed a number of different front axles, it's pretty straight forward because everything is in the open. You might need to press a bearing, but any shop can do that for you if you don't have a press. It couldn't be the axle snapping or the wheel would fall off. Hard to guess what it is until you pull the case apart.

 

[Tinhack]

I'd say if oil was running out, you broke a case. A picture or two would help.

 

[4570Man]

The bad news is it’s probably expensive no matter what. But without pictures we can’t determine anything.

 

[SteveA]

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered a shop manual and will dig into it soon. Will post some pics when I can get at it. Thanks again.

 

[Cycledude]

Pictures could be very helpful, how many hours on the tractor ?

 

[MHarryE]

Generally it’s a failed wheel bearing. I had several on my Grand L’s. You will find numerous threads. It is possible the failed bearing parts got trapped somewhere that punched a hole. Common thing on these is finding oil running down the wheel and the wheel slanting. Last one I repaired cost less than $100 parts and took a little over an hour to repair. As long as the gear teeth aren’t damaged, no need for re-shimming.

 

[SteveA]

Pictures could be very helpful, how many hours on the tractor ?

I am in Rhode Island weathering out a noreaster at our beach house. When I get back to my place in CT. I will start disassembling. The machine recently turned over 1000 hours. Believe it or not it still has the original battery.

 

[SteveA]

Generally it’s a failed wheel bearing. I had several on my Grand L’s. You will find numerous threads. It is possible the failed bearing parts got trapped somewhere that punched a hole. Common thing on these is finding oil running down the wheel and the wheel slanting. Last one I repaired cost less than $100 parts and took a little over an hour to repair. As long as the gear teeth aren’t damaged, no need for re-shimming.

I spent some time looking at some youtube vids. I am hoping it is just a bearing. When I heard the grinding and saw the oil, I was close to my outbuilding where it is parked. I gently moved it inside hoping to minimize any damage.

 

[MHarryE]

I spent some time looking at some youtube vids. I am hoping it is just a bearing. When I heard the grinding and saw the oil, I was close to my outbuilding where it is parked. I gently moved it inside hoping to minimize any damage.

When my first one failed, I had just finished plowing snow and parked my tractor in the garage. As I got off I noticed the left front had something other than the white snow it’s normally packed with. Went back in the tractor, used the loader to lift the front, went in front and rocked the wheel. Lots of slop. So I don’t recall anything out of normal except for seeing the oil dirtying up the snow. If it hadn’t been for that, I might have run until I did real damage.

 

[SteveA]

Got into it today and it does not look too good. Pulled the wheel and the outer cover. The inside bearing was fine along with the large and small bevel gears. No nicks or any other sign of damage from bearing shrapnel. I did find a bit of gouging on the inside of the case approx. where the o-ring would lie.
I then pulled off the large bevel gear and found the seal and bearing underneath absolutely wrecked. The shrapnel did manage to break off a small section of material on the cover adjacent to the o-ring groove.
I did not try to pull the remaining debris off the axle shaft yet where it appears by the scoring to be trashed. I will play with it later.

 

[SteveA]

I managed to get the remains of the outer bearing race off the axle shaft along with the remains of the seal. There is some gouging on the shaft. Not sure if it can be salvaged.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

On messick's site, looks like $600 or so in parts. An axle, a cover, bearings and seals. Not too bad for 15 years. I'd change the bearings on the opposite side too.

 

[SteveA]

On messick's site, looks like $600 or so in parts. An axle, a cover, bearings and seals. Not too bad for 15 years. I'd change the bearings on the opposite side too.

Do you think the scoring inside the case will affect how the O-ring sits? I was considering using some Permatex on the cover flange as an added protection against a leak.

 

[SteveA]

This is likely the source where the oil poured out.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Do you think the scoring inside the case will affect how the O-ring sits? I was considering using some Permatex on the cover flange as an added protection against a leak.

Your pictures are a little too close to get proper context of the damage, but it looks like the scoring is inboard of the o-ring seating surface. Measure and check. Do not use an additional sealer, it will goo up the o-ring and not allow it to work correctly.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

This is likely the source where the oil poured out.

Doesn't matter now, you are replacing that part.

 

[SteveA]

Doesn't matter now, you are replacing that part.

Thanks for the assist. Just ordered the parts.

 

[diesel85]

That's an expensive, but pretty easy fix. I like doing those types of jobs.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Thanks for the assist. Just ordered the parts.

You ordered seals and bearings for the opposite side, right?