crazyal
Super Member
Over all I've been very happy with my L4240 but one thing has been giving me problems. The bolts holding the rear wheels on are sliding back and forth. They are held on with 4 bolts and two studs. I think the size is M16-1.5x30. The whole in the center of the wheel, Kubota calls it a "dish", is too large. This allows the wheel to move slightly. The bolts only have lock washers on them, not that it matters as they aren't loosening up. But after 9 years the holes are starting to get oblong shape and now the metal is starting to wear down. This winter I finally had one of the bolts start to come loose so I was going to replace that disk but at $225 each I was only going to do it one at a time. I figured I would replace the bolts at the same time. While at the parts counter I put one of the bolts into the hole and was surprised that even the hole on the new disk has a lot of play so I didn't bother buying it only to have it wear down.
I'm thinking that maybe I'd be better off just drilling 6 new holes the correct size that will not have any play. I've also ordered some belleville washers to see if that will help put more pressure to keep the wheels from moving. The bolts flush with the backside of the axle so to use the washers I'll have to find longer bolts. Until now it was just annoying but with one bolt actually getting loose each time I use the tractor I can't risk the worst case, a wheel coming off. I made the mistake of going a little past the torque for the bolts and broke one of the studs (which is why I'm posting this). There's nothing on the inside the axle so I'm thinking of getting new bolts that are 20mm longer and put a nut on the inside to prevent the bolt from being able to actually fall out. Has anyone else had this issue? I'll take a picture later.
I'm thinking that maybe I'd be better off just drilling 6 new holes the correct size that will not have any play. I've also ordered some belleville washers to see if that will help put more pressure to keep the wheels from moving. The bolts flush with the backside of the axle so to use the washers I'll have to find longer bolts. Until now it was just annoying but with one bolt actually getting loose each time I use the tractor I can't risk the worst case, a wheel coming off. I made the mistake of going a little past the torque for the bolts and broke one of the studs (which is why I'm posting this). There's nothing on the inside the axle so I'm thinking of getting new bolts that are 20mm longer and put a nut on the inside to prevent the bolt from being able to actually fall out. Has anyone else had this issue? I'll take a picture later.