BX front axle pivot zerk

[Rfisher7381]

Is there a grease fitting for the front axle (BX2360)? Seems like there should be but I can't seem to find it. Thanks

 

[BXpanded]

Nope. Lubed by the front axle oil.

 

[oldnslo]

On a side note, check the torque on the castle nut on the pivot. I don't remember the torque spec but if allowed to run loose it allow the pin move and start wallowing out the bronze bushings (bearings).

Roy

 

[bird1968]

On a side note, check the torque on the castle nut on the pivot. I don't remember the torque spec but if allowed to run loose it allow the pin move and start wallowing out the bronze bushings (bearings).

Roy

Reminds me to retorque my BX, specs in the Manual has it 15lb-ft

 

[Rfisher7381]

Great. Thanks for the quick replies. Now I'll go check the torque

 

[Skyco]

Nope. Lubed by the front axle oil.

I don't think so!:laughing:

 

[BXpanded]

I don't think so!:laughing:

And that comment means what??? If you have a BX, I suggest you go look.

 

[rdsaustintx]

I don't think so!:laughing:

Think again, laughing boy.

The pivot is a pin through the housing and runs in axle lube. 15 ft-lb is just snug.

 

[coveredbridge]

Pivot pin runs through front axle housing and is lubed by axle fluid. Mine developed a leak at about 600hrs and had to be replaced (pin and bushings). I asked the mechanic if I overloaded it or didn't have the castle nut torqued properly. He said no, it's just a poor design, that the pin doesn't always get lubed due to its location in the axle housing and it can corrode and leak.

 

[oldnslo]

If the lube is kept to the proper level it should always be partially submerged in oil. I guess if the bushings/ bearings are a snug fit they may not get lube to them. If the lube isn't getting there, why do they leak??

 

[sw03]

Pivot pin runs through front axle housing and is lubed by axle fluid. Mine developed a leak at about 600hrs and had to be replaced (pin and bushings). I asked the mechanic if I overloaded it or didn't have the castle nut torqued properly. He said no, it's just a poor design, that the pin doesn't always get lubed due to its location in the axle housing and it can corrode and leak.

I would agree, if th epivot is lubed by the axle, poor design. The designers need to re-think this one..Not to hard.

 

[Skyco]

I stand corrected- the front axle pivot IS lubed by the axle oil:ashamed:
I have thoroughly perused the genuine BX24 Kubota Workshop manual and absolutely no mention or diagrams of this exist...hence my error. The manual does have a procedure for checking the pivot force with a scale rather than just blindly torquing to 14.5 ft lbs.
I will say I am astounded they designed it this way, I would have preferred to see a through tube for the axle pivot isolated from the axle oil.
Now one has to make sure this area is perfectly sealed at all times or there is a potential for lube contamination...and it is not even a real seal, just 2 O-rings according to the parts manual..

 

[kdm0811]

Skyco,
A couple of years ago I realized that the design was substandard. However, I did not know, or see evidence of, a hole or passage to the gear case fluids when I removed the pivot pin/bolt to fix the apparent design flaw.

I modified the bolt by drilling a .125" hole from the head end in a lathe and then a .06" intersecting cross hole. Tapped the hex end for 1/4-28 for a zerk fitting, so now it gets extreme pressure synthetic grease on the same schedule as the other pivot points on the BH & FEL.

I guess I will need to be careful to not pump too much grease into the joint (just in case there is a passage to the gear case interior).