BX front axle bushing removal tool.

[crabhab]

My Kubota BX 1500 has developed a leak in the front axle pivot bushing. Dealerships charge anywhere from 400 to 700 bucks to pull your front axle and replace the bushings.

I wanted to find the correct tool to remove the bushings. The bushings on the front axle of the bx series tractors are not in blind holes but they are seated against a shoulder machined in the axle housing preventing an easy push-out from the opposite side. I have found many blind bearing and bushing pullers that will work on Kubota BX front axles. They range in price from 70 to 500 dollars.

Here is an example of a lower end kit that I am considering buying to complete the job.

Motorcycle Blind Bearing and Bushing Puller : Amazon.com : Automotive

I really like the motion pro kit:

Motion Pro 08-0292 Blind Bearing Removal Set : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

[tjkubota93]

Those are nice tools. If you're like me its a good excuse to buy them.

You could try tapping the bushing and threading a bolt into it and rigging up a way to use your slide hammer or a gear puller on it.

Or just chisel it out. The bushing should be softer than what its pressed into.

 

[tjkubota93]

Bushing cutters

 

[thetooth]

I just replaced 3 oil seals on my front axel . I had to buy this Posi Lock 104 4" Reach, 0.5" - 5" Spread, 11024 lbs Capacity 3 Jaw Puller: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific to remove one of the bearings . It is a well made tool my local Sears stocked this item for $70.00 .

 

[crabhab]

I thought about bushing cutters they seemed like they would work but the blind hole bearing/bushing pullers seem like the right tool for the job.

 

[tjkubota93]

Yes the pullers you have there look to be the best way.

 

[AceDeuce]

I dropped the axle myself, threw the whole thing in the back of my truck and took it to the shop along with new bearings. They charged me $80 in labor to pull the old ones and install the new ones.

 

[brain55]

I'm glad I decided to look up the part numbers on those bushings before I told you those tools were going be too small. I have done a lot of B's but no BX's. Your bushings are 25 mm od and 20 mm id, much smaller than the B's.

Brian

 

[crabhab]

Bushings o rings and plastic seals are in along with a new pivot bolt. I am waiting for my bushing puller kit

 

[tjkubota93]

How many hours you got on the bx1500? Do you use a front loader alot?

 

[crabhab]

I have about 470 hours on the BX. I have been using the FEL alot to move large rounds of wood. Some of the Cherry Tree rounds must be 200-300 pounds.

I got the front axle off of the tractor and decided to put on new grassmaster front tires, they are 4ply and OEM on the BX 1500. I had to use lots of vaseline to seal up air gaps and get them to take the bead.

My blind bearing puller didn't do squat with the bushings, I had a local farm equipment mechanic pull them and press in the new bushing for 70 dollars. I put in new o rings and plastic spacers, and a new pivot pin. I cut grass for a couple of hours yesterday and everything seems to be good and dry on the bottom of the axle.

I think there are a couple of reasons for failure:

1. Age my BX is 10 years old

2. heavy FEL usage without rear ballast

3. heavy hours mine only has 460-470 hours. But a 1000+ hour machine will have more pin wear.

4. Someone mentioned pressure but, there are two breather bolt on top of the axle drive housing. I got my service manual from a famous online kubota retailer for under 70 dollars.

 

[tjkubota93]

Thanks. Thats what/why I was wondering.