Greasing Steering Spindles

   / Greasing Steering Spindles #1  

Pinch

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2019
Messages
43
Location
PA
Tractor
JD950, Kubota L4610, Kubota B2620
Have a 1981 JD 950 compact tractor that I am trying to service myself. Supposed to grease the steering spindles every 50 hours and according to JD there are two fittings on each spindle but I can only find one. Manual says to "remove the RELIEF PLUGS and apply several shots of grease to spindles." Here are some images:
IMG_1208.jpeg
IMG_1209.jpeg

I can see only one grease fitting and I'm not sure what the relief plugs are. Any help is appreciated.
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles #2  
Below is the parts breakdown for the 950 front axle. I don't see anything that screams "relief plug" unless it is #24.
 

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   / Greasing Steering Spindles #3  
Pinch
Maybe removing the old grease and dirt will expose the plug.. would make a better picture too. just sayin.... ;)

Meant to help, not to impugn ...
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles #4  
Pinch
Maybe removing the old grease and dirt will expose the plug.. would make a better picture too. just sayin.... ;)

Meant to help, not to impugn ...

Agree with this.....on my truck ujoints I have to stick my finger in there first to dig it out and locate the zerk.

It may be too that your zerks have long since fallen out. If that’s the case, scrapping all the crud off (pressure washer works great) should let you find the zerk hole and you can screw a new zerk un.
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles #5  
Just guessing but I think you might be right with #24. Looks like when you put grease in above it comes out #24 at bottom bushing when full enough. Can you see any other reason or function for #24 ?
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles #6  
Just guessing but I think you might be right with #24. Looks like when you put grease in above it comes out #24 at bottom bushing when full enough. Can you see any other reason or function for #24 ?

From the parts illustration alone it is difficult to say exactly what #24 is for. I was going to check the manual but unfortunately JD no longer allows on-line access to the 950 manual. Which, them removing access to older manuals is typical.
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks for the responses. I agree that I need to clean up the caked on grease. I have massaged each spindle up and down and there is no additional fitting, but the idea that it may be missing from both sides is possible. I found the owner's manual online and copied this image confirming that JD says there are two grease fittings at each spindle:

Screenshot 2020-02-01 at 6.26.07 PM.png

It looks like the lower fitting is near where #24 is in the parts diagram. What do you think? I'll clean those spindles today
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles #8  
Agree, the bottom arrow seems to be pointing to where #24 is.
 
   / Greasing Steering Spindles
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Gentleman, I give you #24

IMG_1211.jpeg

Here the instructions in the owner's manual (every 50 hours): "Apply several shots of grease to tie rod ends. REMOVE RELIEF PLUGS (yes this is in caps) and apply several shots of grease to steering spindles. Install plugs."

Screenshot 2020-02-01 at 6.26.07 PM.png

So am I supposed to remove #24, grease the existing fittings on the spindles and then reinstall the #24? Do you pump grease until it comes out the hole #24 was in? Anyone seen this before or maybe have a service manual to verify? Thanks.
 
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   / Greasing Steering Spindles #10  
If it were ME and I was reading the manual entry that you posted, I would grease all of the existing zerks. Then, I would remove #24, insert a rubber tipped grease adapter like shown below, and pump in several shots of grease. Then reinstall #24.
 

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