Front wheel bearings failed L5740

[Complete Turf Care]

Yesterday, I was loading sod with my front end loader and I could hear and feel a chatter. Suddenly, it got a lot worse and the left front wheel locked up. It would not roll at all.

When I looked at it, oil was pouring out.

Turns out the bearing failed. It must have been bad for a while, because there is quiet a bit of damage in there. Of course none of the local dealers have any of the parts in stock, and everyone is closed for the holiday Monday.

My point is.....check your front wheel bearings. I never had any indication that it was going bad. Everything has been greased regularly, and there was plenty of oil. I have put a lot of hours on it this spring, but had I noticed it earlier, there would have been a lot less damage.

I'll try to get pictures of everything tomorrow.

 

[SweBota]

What was the apprx FEL load and how much counterweight did you have in the 3pth ?

Br / Marcus

 

[Complete Turf Care]

What was the apprx FEL load and how much counterweight did you have in the 3pth ?

Br / Marcus

I would say the load on the FEL is about 700-800 lbs. I was on the 4th roll of sod for the day. I had to run back to my shop and get my New Holland TC45A to load the other 24 rolls. And I have my tiller on the 3ph which I would estimate to be about 1000-1200 lbs.

But, I don't think that had anything to do with the failure. It looks like the bearing had been bad for a while, but I had never noticed it. I've been using the tiller a lot lately, and my laser grading blade. Not much use of the FEL lately.

 

[KenB2920]

How many hours do you have on your machine?

 

[wmonroe]

The bearings isn't great able is it? I grease the fitting on the top of the spindle but I thought that was for the upper ball joint and the wheel bearing was either an oil bath or a sealed unit.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

How many hours do you have on your machine?

About 540. It's a 2011 machine that I bought about a year ago with about 275 hours on it.

 

[KenB2920]

About 540. It's a 2011 machine that I bought about a year ago with about 275 hours on it.

Wow, that is real low hours to have such an issue.

If you fix it yourself, please take photos of the repair. I'm also curious on the bill for this one. Thanks for posting this.

 

[MHarryE]

My L5740 failed in January but gave me warning. One day after plowing snow I noticed the left front was wet. I thought it was just that I had been working hard and it was snow melting. Next time I plowed I checked it and found the left to be wetter yet. This time I engaged my brain after putting the tractor in the garage, raised the front end using the loader and sure enough there was free play in the wheel. I had my dealer ship me both bearings and the seal. When I took it apart I found the retainer broken but the balls and races still looking good. There was light rubbing from the drive gear hitting the case. New bearings, seal, and oil and it's running fine. Having read about the number of people having front bearing failures makes me wonder if I should keep a spare set. Cost was about $90 plus shipping. That included a new o-ring housing seal. My tractor had 650 hours at failure.

 

[5030]

Koyo bearings too, not some off brand. Glad I have a large frame under my loader. That looks to be possibly expensive if it completely failed.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

There is a good bit of scars on the shaft where the bearing sits, and my mechanic (my brother) thinks that the new bearing will not seat on the old shaft, so I'll order a new shaft. Also, you can see the retaining ring is broken. I'll get pics of the gear later today. I'm thinking this is going to end up around $1000.

 

[KenB2920]

There is a good bit of scars on the shaft where the bearing sits, and my mechanic (my brother) thinks that the new bearing will not seat on the old shaft, so I'll order a new shaft. Also, you can see the retaining ring is broken. I'll get pics of the gear later today. I'm thinking this is going to end up around $1000. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/426368-front-wheel-bearings-failed-l5740-014d8dc861c5c97f9f0fff20d4a545532a33d45218-jpg"/>

Wow, does the wear feel worse than it looks? I would assume the shaft was fine.

Now the part that worries me, if this went, will the other side go?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Wow, does the wear feel worse than it looks? I would assume the shaft was fine.

Now the part that worries me, if this went, will the other side go?

I'm going by what my brother recommended for the shaft. He has worked for the local John Deere dealer for about 25 years. And, yes, I'm afraid the other side will go out too. I'm fixing to head over to the tractor this morning and I'll check the other side to see if it's got any play. (It's on a job site about 40 miles from my shop).

 

[KenB2920]

Well hopefully it's just a fluke and the other one lasts.

As for your brother, he sounds as he has more experience than me. I've never take an axle out of anything. (Or had to inspect one)

The only thing I know is dirt and grease don't get along.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Got the parts ordered this morning. They should be in Wednesday morning because today is a holiday. About $280 plus freight, and 2.5 gal. of oil. Not as bad as I was expecting.

The gear teeth are chewed up a good bit, but I decided not to change it now, because I would have to change the other gear that drives this one too, and that would be a lot more work.

I also lifted the other front wheel and could not detect anything being loose. Hopefully it holds up for a while.

 

[KenB2920]

Well $280 is much easier to swallow than 1k.

Is this repair pretty straight forward? Unbolt, remove, Slide back together and add fluid?

 

[ovrszd]

I would consider it a weak or bad bearing from the beginning. This is a rare failure. Especially at that many hours. But like you, I'd be paranoid about it. Glad the parts were cheaper than expected.

 

[5030]

I believe I'd take a die makers fine india stone and clean up the teeth a bit, looks like they are chewed a bit. I'm curious as to what lubricant you are putting back in.... Myself, I use 90 weight GL5 hypoid oil in both muy Kubota's front drives.

What a bummer.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Well $280 is much easier to swallow than 1k.

Is this repair pretty straight forward? Unbolt, remove, Slide back together and add fluid?

It's never that easy. But, it all came off in a few minutes. One thing is that we will have to remove the old wheel studs and put them in the new shaft/hub. Otherwise, with the right tools, it should not be too hard. But that's why I've asked my brother to do it. He has all the tools in his truck.

I believe I'd take a die makers fine india stone and clean up the teeth a bit, looks like they are chewed a bit. I'm curious as to what lubricant you are putting back in.... Myself, I use 90 weight GL5 hypoid oil in both muy Kubota's front drives.

What a bummer.

I have been researching what oil to go back with. I asked the parts guy at the dealer what oil it needed, and he said either hydraulic oil or gear oil. I told him the oil that was in it was red, and he said that's hydraulic oil. I just went through my owners manual and there is a section on how to change it and it says to look for 'lubricants' in the 'maintenance' section. But I can't find a 'maintenance' section in the manual. This is a pdf version of a manual that I ordered online, and not a hard copy.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Here is an expanded view of the parts.

View attachment Kubota.pdf

 

[KenB2920]

Here is an expanded view of the parts. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/426461-front-wheel-bearings-failed-l5740-kubota-pdf"/>

sorry, I'm unable to view the photo