Wondering if anyone can shed some light on the issue I just encountered with my B21. I have an intermittent squeak coming from the front right wheel when moving. Sounds much more pronounced and louder when going forward. Barely hear it(if at all) when going in reverse. Any help and insight would be so appreciated.
B21 front wheel squeak
- Thread starter JHC32
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art
Super Member
Thats a tough one, what happens when turning?
Art,
After further review of the matter, and having my son help me pinpoint the sound while moving, discovered that it was not coming from the front wheel but the universal joint that has the boot cover on it towrds the front. I've done plenty of universal joint replacements on our pickup trucks but never on the Kubota. Is this a tough job to tackle?
After further review of the matter, and having my son help me pinpoint the sound while moving, discovered that it was not coming from the front wheel but the universal joint that has the boot cover on it towrds the front. I've done plenty of universal joint replacements on our pickup trucks but never on the Kubota. Is this a tough job to tackle?
art
Super Member
I don't know that it would be any different!
Carl_NH
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JHC32
Here is a pic of the front drive shaft area - the ujoints are held by roll pins and there should be enough play in the spline to back them off. I havent looked at the ujoints but by the parts diagram there is a clip or retaining ring in the end caps so they should come off as well same as a normal u joint.
I had some noise in that area on mine and the shroud had come loose.. You might want to grease or lube the area first, and see if it stops.
Here is a pic of the assy and the parts list from the manual.
Here is a pic of the front drive shaft area - the ujoints are held by roll pins and there should be enough play in the spline to back them off. I havent looked at the ujoints but by the parts diagram there is a clip or retaining ring in the end caps so they should come off as well same as a normal u joint.
I had some noise in that area on mine and the shroud had come loose.. You might want to grease or lube the area first, and see if it stops.
Here is a pic of the assy and the parts list from the manual.
CARL NH,
Thanks for that informative response and pic of the assembly. Unfortunately more snow on the way tonight and all day tomorrow so I'll have to wait until next week to dig in.
I did notice a hole the size of a dime in the shroud and maybe it has come loose. I will try the lube/grease route first to see if that takes care of things.
Thanks again!
Thanks for that informative response and pic of the assembly. Unfortunately more snow on the way tonight and all day tomorrow so I'll have to wait until next week to dig in.
I did notice a hole the size of a dime in the shroud and maybe it has come loose. I will try the lube/grease route first to see if that takes care of things.
Thanks again!
brain55
Veteran Member
A lot of the time that squeak is actually the bushing at the end of the drive shaft cover tube. Cleaning that area with some sandpaper and a little WD-40 or similar usually takes care of it.
Brian
Brian
moship
Veteran Member
JHC32,
This may sound crazy, but another place to look if your wheels are the type with flat centers and take flat faced (or conventional) nuts versus the acorn type lug nuts.
My neighbor was experiencing a squeak along with an occasional popping sound when using the loader. It turns out he had several cracks in the hub area of the wheel. This is the second wheel to fail like this. The wheels were not corroded, dented or have any other type of physical abuse.
The cracks were not noticed until the wheels were starting to be removed.
For reference his tractor is a B9200 (~25 years old)
Like I said, this is a very long shot and may not apply to your tractor. But if you're looking in the general area it might be worth looking at the wheel.
This may sound crazy, but another place to look if your wheels are the type with flat centers and take flat faced (or conventional) nuts versus the acorn type lug nuts.
My neighbor was experiencing a squeak along with an occasional popping sound when using the loader. It turns out he had several cracks in the hub area of the wheel. This is the second wheel to fail like this. The wheels were not corroded, dented or have any other type of physical abuse.
The cracks were not noticed until the wheels were starting to be removed.
For reference his tractor is a B9200 (~25 years old)
Like I said, this is a very long shot and may not apply to your tractor. But if you're looking in the general area it might be worth looking at the wheel.
eepete
Platinum Member
Does the U joint have zerks on it so it can be greased? I'm trying to figure out if there is some preventative maintenance that can be done here. tnx.
Pete
Pete
brain55
Veteran Member
Carl_NH
Elite Member
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When mine was noisy it was the wire clamp had caught some brush and was bent out of shape so I replaced with a SST hose clamp. Also there is a plastic sleeve coming out of the bottom u joint boot that is fairly snug around the drive shaft and if something got wrapped aound the shaft that could generate a squeak.
Its pretty easy to undo the clamp and slide the boot up the shaft to inspect the front U joint however the back end u joint is not easy to access at all.
Its pretty easy to undo the clamp and slide the boot up the shaft to inspect the front U joint however the back end u joint is not easy to access at all.
BruceWard
Platinum Member
On mine it is the front U joint. There is no way to apply grease with the boot in place. My guess is Kubota expects the grease inside the boot to last as long as the boot does.
What I thought was a rubber boot over the U Joint was more like a hard plastic that had a hole in it. I straightened the plastic where the whole was and readjusted the clamps and wouldn't you know it, the squeak stopped. I also sprayed some lubricant(Fluid Film) through the hole into the boot over the U joint and covered the hole with duct tape. I'm glad the squeak was a minor fix. I love my B21 and was not looking forward to more intensive reapirs.
Carl_NH
Elite Member
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Glad it was a simple fix. The parts list in the manual also replaces the wire type clamp with a regular SST band clamp. I did that and it hasnt come loose after three years.
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