Front axle movement

[Murphydudley]

How much play should here be in the front axle on the pivot shaft? I've looked on the parts break down for a bushing but didn't see any. There is 1/8" or so worth of play when pushing the tires front and back. Is that normal, can I tighten up the shaft nut or is the axle that worn? This is my first terramite and just bought it. Everything else works great on the machine. My first time on a forum as well. I always read thm but never add to them. Thanks in advance.

 

[Terrasteve]

Mine has about the same amount of play. Not sure what normal play should be as I bought mine used and that's the way I got it. I have had it for 3or4 years now and always keep the pivot pin well greased. The play is still the same as when I got it, so it has not gotten any worse.

 

[Murphydudley]

How much play should here be in the front axle on the pivot shaft? I've looked on the parts break down for a bushing but didn't see any. There is 1/8" or so worth of play when pushing the tires front and back. Is that normal, can I tighten up the shaft nut or is the axle that worn? This is my first terramite and just bought it. Everything else works great on the machine. My first time on a forum as well. I always read them but never add to them. Thanks in advance.

I guess I could always stop by a rental yard to check out their machines front axles to. I'm preatty particular with my equipment and tools. I like to replace anything that is worn before it causes bigger problems. I service hvac equipment for a living. Maintenance goes a long way towards equipment life and reduces breakdowns. We always say pay me now or pay me later, but usually later will cost a lot more. I serviced the machine from top to bottom the week I bought it. The axle play just bothers me. It's probably not a huge deal since I only use it around my property but like to know what's normal and what's not. It has 1240 hrs. I had a l175 kubota before this that treated me great, just decided to upgrade a little. I always serviced it regularly. It never failed me.

 

[Terrasteve]

Let us know what you find out.

 

[Murphydudley]

I stopped by a rental yard today. I looked a 2 t5's and 1 t9. All three had the same axle movement. One had 500 hrs, the others had 1200 hrs. I also spoke with a guy at work who's father has a t5. He said his has the axle movement as well. It seems to be the way they are built I guess.

 

[Terrasteve]

Thanks for the info. I was a little worried about mine when I first got it, but it hasn't got any worse over the years. Must just be the way they are. And enjoy your terramite they certainly are a handy machine to have around.

 

[Alan7s]

I stopped by a rental yard today. I looked a 2 t5's and 1 t9. All three had the same axle movement. One had 500 hrs, the others had 1200 hrs. I also spoke with a guy at work who's father has a t5. He said his has the axle movement as well. It seems to be the way they are built I guess.

I have a T5C and the axle movement bothered me too, so took the thing all apart. Some of the steering slop was corrected by the steering linkage that needed tightening,
but the bang-bang from the axle looseness was something else. I finally put a large washer under the castle nut and greased it well before tightening - then backed off a bit
and put the 1/4 - 20 bolt back in. For a few weeks it was silent and the steering a breeze. Then the same old situation developed again with the same Bang-bang when
you operate it. I think the pressure is so great that the bolt just bends to allow the movement. Probably the answer - as someone suggested above -is to just live with it.

Like you, I'm careful about my equipment and don't like stuff that appears to be in the process of falling apart. If that's really the way it's supposed to be, then we just learn
to live with it. But seems like some simple design modifications could fix it permanently. That will have to wait for the tundra to melt . . .

 

[Murphydudley]

I thought about machining the axle opening larger, then installing brass bushings in it. That would tighten it up. Then when it gets sloppy again just replace the bushings. Simple fix for a simple machine. Like I read some reviews before. The machine is lacking on the fine finishing stuff. better spool valves, better axle fit and little things like that would make it an even better unit but hey, these things are tanks and do what they we're designed to.

 

[Alan7s]

I thought about machining the axle opening larger, then installing brass bushings in it. That would tighten it up. Then when it gets sloppy again just replace the bushings. Simple fix for a simple machine. Like I read some reviews before. The machine is lacking on the fine finishing stuff. better spool valves, better axle fit and little things like that would make it an even better unit but hey, these things are tanks and do what they we're designed to.

I honestly don't think brass would work. The leverage is so great that steel loosens up; brass would be like butter in there. If one could weld a steel bushing - say 1" long onto the plate and then secure the axle pin in there, I think it would do something.

 

[Murphydudley]

Yeh steel bushings would work.

 

[pontiac58]

I thought about machining the axle opening larger, then installing brass bushings in it. That would tighten it up. Then when it gets sloppy again just replace the bushings. Simple fix for a simple machine. Like I read some reviews before. The machine is lacking on the fine finishing stuff. better spool valves, better axle fit and little things like that would make it an even better unit but hey, these things are tanks and do what they we're designed to.

I did this to mine. My shaft was worn bad and the axle hole was worn, you couldn't drive straight with it, since it flopped back and forth so bad.
We machined the axle larger, made a bronze bushing out of some kind of really hard bronze (i forget the correct name), installed a new axle shaft. Ill probably never wear it out again, but if the bushing does wear out, ill just make a new one. It took all the play out of it. While i was in the steering, i changed out the worn tie rods to greaseable hiem joints. Steers like a champ now.

 

[Murphydudley]

On another note. I just noticed I have an oil leak on the pump shaft. Is that easily fixed or do I need to rebuild the pump? I seemed to have developed a few cylinder leaks to since replacing all the oil with 10w 30 because of the cold temps. Will heavier weight help stop the leaks and could I put some additive in to help as well?

 

[davesl708]

On another note. I just noticed I have an oil leak on the pump shaft. Is that easily fixed or do I need to rebuild the pump? I seemed to have developed a few cylinder leaks to since replacing all the oil with 10w 30 because of the cold temps. Will heavier weight help stop the leaks and could I put some additive in to help as well?

Have you contacted a dealer or the company about the play in the axle pivot? My Kubota has an adjustment for this and recommend periodic adjustment.
As to the oil seals leaking-using additives to swell the seals is a very last resort. The chemicals effect all seals which can cause good seals to wear faster.
Heavier weight oil will help but is it within the range recommended? Heavy oil is thicker in cold weather and can increase working pressures.

 

[Murphydudley]

Yes the heavier weight oil is recommended at temps above 40 degrees. I think it's either 15w 40 or 10 w 40. I have to check the manual. The axle movement really doesn't have any adjustment. It just has a castle nut on the end of the axle pin to hold it on. It seems all these machines have axle play.

 

[Alan7s]

I did this to mine. My shaft was worn bad and the axle hole was worn, you couldn't drive straight with it, since it flopped back and forth so bad.
We machined the axle larger, made a bronze bushing out of some kind of really hard bronze (i forget the correct name), installed a new axle shaft. Ill probably never wear it out again, but if the bushing does wear out, ill just make a new one. It took all the play out of it. While i was in the steering, i changed out the worn tie rods to greaseable hiem joints. Steers like a champ now.

Thanks for this info. It would be really good - if you think of it and time allows - to see how it's doing after a couple months of using it, to return to this thread and post a report how it's holding up. Mine was quiet and steered great for about a week and then right back to the same old condition. If you found something that works, I for one would like to know it. Some say these machines are just built that way and it's "normal," but there's no proof it's going to get only so bad and then stop there. My observation is that it keeps getting a little worse all the time, and your case seemed to prove that.

 

[pontiac58]

Thanks for this info. It would be really good - if you think of it and time allows - to see how it's doing after a couple months of using it, to return to this thread and post a report how it's holding up. Mine was quiet and steered great for about a week and then right back to the same old condition. If you found something that works, I for one would like to know it. Some say these machines are just built that way and it's "normal," but there's no proof it's going to get only so bad and then stop there. My observation is that it keeps getting a little worse all the time, and your case seemed to prove that.

We did the repair two winters ago. The machine doesn't get a ton of use, it may sit for 5 months at a time, but when it gets used its normally a project. I did just grease it the other week and had the axle in the air to get grease to flow easy and it still had no play.

 

[Alan7s]

We did the repair two winters ago. The machine doesn't get a ton of use, it may sit for 5 months at a time, but when it gets used its normally a project. I did just grease it the other week and had the axle in the air to get grease to flow easy and it still had no play.

OK thanks for that. One more thing before I forget; Can you shed some light on what you meant above by "We machined the axle larger" ? I see you said you also replaced the axle, so maybe this was referring to the hole? But you did use a larger diameter axle and not just a new one? Someone must have welded the inner nut onto the frame of mine, so I'm not sure if I could use a larger axle without removing the engine to get at it, and that's a lot of work.

 

[pontiac58]

OK thanks for that. One more thing before I forget; Can you shed some light on what you meant above by "We machined the axle larger" ? I see you said you also replaced the axle, so maybe this was referring to the hole? But you did use a larger diameter axle and not just a new one? Someone must have welded the inner nut onto the frame of mine, so I'm not sure if I could use a larger axle without removing the engine to get at it, and that's a lot of work.

Im calling the axle the piece that holds the spindles, and I'm calling the axle shaft the threaded piece that has the cotter pins in it. If i remember right, the inner nut on mine was welded also. If i remember ill try to get some pics of what we did. Just have to wait for it to warm up.

 

[Alan7s]

Im calling the axle the piece that holds the spindles, and I'm calling the axle shaft the threaded piece that has the cotter pins in it. If i remember right, the inner nut on mine was welded also. If i remember ill try to get some pics of what we did. Just have to wait for it to warm up.

OK thank you; that makes sense. I'm thinking the axle has to be round but that's not right . . .the wheel spindles are on the axle.
If you think of the type of brass / bronze you used, I'd be glad to know that also; I have worked with sintered bronze but didn't
seem overly hard, at least machining it on a lather wasn't bad.

 

[pontiac58]

OK thank you; that makes sense. I'm thinking the axle has to be round but that's not right . . .the wheel spindles are on the axle.
If you think of the type of brass / bronze you used, I'd be glad to know that also; I have worked with sintered bronze but didn't
seem overly hard, at least machining it on a lather wasn't bad.

Ill have to ask my pop, he is the machinist and knows all the ins and outs of material. I just wiggle through running the lathes and mill for my own stuff.