Broken axle

[skyhook]

Jim, have you checked out this thread, also...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/214500-b2910-front-wheel-snapped-off.html

 

[Jim Nelson]

Yes I did,thanks,one of the guys said that the replacement axle is heavier duty but I want to confirm that before I do anything.I don't know what percentage of these axles were defective but I do know at least one of mine is and there is an even chance the other is too so if I can confirm they are improved I will replace both.The big thing is I will never feel good about this tractor again.

 

[DavesTractor]

Yes I did,thanks,one of the guys said that the replacement axle is heavier duty but I want to confirm that before I do anything.I don't know what percentage of these axles were defective but I do know at least one of mine is and there is an even chance the other is too so if I can confirm they are improved I will replace both.The big thing is I will never feel good about this tractor again.

Jim the B7800 is a great little tractor. I'd just replace both stub axles with the heavier replacement parts and you will be good to go. It's a pretty simple fix. So don't be discouraged.

 

[Ductape]

Jim the B7800 is a great little tractor. I'd just replace both stub axles with the heavier replacement parts and you will be good to go. It's a pretty simple fix. So don't be discouraged.

Agreed..... the 7800 is a great tractor. They obviously had a bad batch and know it. Once fixed your tractor will be good for another 25 years......

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Yes I did,thanks,one of the guys said that the replacement axle is heavier duty but I want to confirm that before I do anything.I don't know what percentage of these axles were defective but I do know at least one of mine is and there is an even chance the other is too so if I can confirm they are improved I will replace both.The big thing is I will never feel good about this tractor again.

I think you'll feel better about it, you'll have replacements that you can be confident in. Things happen, it's still a good tractor.

 

[Jim Nelson]

Ok I called Messick's yesterday and after explaining my situation they connected me to Les in their technical dept. who called me back this afternoon. He said that he had gone back as far as he could in both their records and Kubota records and could not find any different part number for the axle.So he can't say that it has been upgraded or not.I ordered one and the seal and will look at it when it gets here and if it appears beefier I'll order another and if not I'll probably get rid of the tractor.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I got the new axle today,thanks to Messick's for the great service, and the only obvious difference between it and the broken one is the lack of paint on the new one. This is good ,I guess ,as I could see any cracks on the outside, but that's not where the problem was.I'm glad I only ordered one and hopefully the other side and this new one are not defective.
I don't want anything to do with the new EPA mandated machines so I will just keep this one and not use the loader for anything over a couple of feet off the ground. This axle was used on the B series from the 2710 to the new B26 so I would say buyer beware.

 

[DavesTractor]

Differences could be in the material itself, the way it was cast, the way it was machined, and perhaps any heat treating or hardening. It would not necessarily need to look beefier to be stronger. Just for safeties sake though, I would take a good look at the opposite side and look for any signs of a beginning of a crack. I suppose you have already done this. I think you are good to go, and we wish you well.

 

[Jim Nelson]

One other thing,if you break one of these and have the threaded studs,they fit the new axle. The parts diagram says to replace them but I think that is referring to some of the older models that had press in studs. Gotta save a buck when you can.Just double nut them to remove and replace and you're good to go.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I got the new axle installed,waited 24 hours for the silicone gasket material to cure then filled it up and did some mowing.Seems fine, with no leaks,so I'm back in business. Looking at this after doing as much research as I could I would say the design change was going from pressed in studs to threaded studs and this was done before my tractor was built.In looking at pictures of other failures here on TBN there was one axle that appeared to have been properly welded but mine and all the rest were only welded about half way around the circumference of the axle.This makes it a quality control issue rather than a design flaw. If someone had shown me my axle and said it was out of an imported tractor I would have smiled and said "That's what you get when you buy Chinese".I have lost a lot of respect for the brand.