GPintheMitten
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2009
- Messages
- 3,291
- Location
- Flushing, Michigan
- Tractor
- Kubota B2620 with BH65 backhoe, Ford 2N
The service manager at my Kubota dealer said 80 90w is what they use when they service the front axles.
Is it better to use gear oil or trans fluid in front axle of FWA Kubotas?
- Thread starter sixdogs
- Start date
- Views: 33342
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
The reason for the fluid dropping after a change and running is that the lower joints have tight passages and get air locked and need burping.
I use 90w gear oil in all the front axles because of the EP additives, higher viscosity to keep seal seepage down and it is about half the cost of SUDT here.
David Kb7uns
After buying a used BX1500 with about 300 hours on it, I changed all the funds using SUDT2 which I also put in the front axle.
Shortly thereafter, it started to leak from the left front wheel, just a minor leak but it was annoying.
After about a hundred hours of use I decided to drain the front axle and refill with gear oil. When I drained out the SUDT 2 I was shocked to see lots of very fine metal particles, the oil had a silvery look to it. After changing to the gear oil the leak has pretty much stopped and the front end seems to work fine but I am worried about all that metal that I saw.
Shortly thereafter, it started to leak from the left front wheel, just a minor leak but it was annoying.
After about a hundred hours of use I decided to drain the front axle and refill with gear oil. When I drained out the SUDT 2 I was shocked to see lots of very fine metal particles, the oil had a silvery look to it. After changing to the gear oil the leak has pretty much stopped and the front end seems to work fine but I am worried about all that metal that I saw.
unless your previous owner had a service log, it's very possible your axle change was the 1st, in that case, particulates would be normal. as long as they were fine, just not chunks!! even after several axle changes on my own machine @ 450 hrs, i still see the slurry on each change, think you're ok! & btw, my choice is 80/90 hands down, esp in my own climate.
Thanks for the input, I feel better now.
Nightforce
Silver Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2014
- Messages
- 165
- Location
- Rehoboth, MA
- Tractor
- Kubota BX25D, John Deer D140, Craftsman GT6000
Greenfield Dave
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 144
- Location
- Greenfield, Indiana
- Tractor
- Kubota L4400DT, w/FEL; 2021 Sidekick
Well, I just replaced a front bearing and seal after 440 hours. I put 30 weight hydraulic oil in the front end like the book says you can at 50 hours, because it was cheaper. So much for that!!! I put 75w-90 Synthetic Lucas oil in mine. Hopefully the other side won't do the same thing...
It was expensive, but I learned a valuable lesson. As an old friend tells me, "It costs money to go to school." Learning isn't cheap!!
It was expensive, but I learned a valuable lesson. As an old friend tells me, "It costs money to go to school." Learning isn't cheap!!
LD1
Epic Contributor
Surprising there are soo many blaming oil for the failure of the front axle components.
Yet that same oil causes no issues in the numerous seals, bearings, and gears of the transmission and rear end.
If Hydraulic oil really wasnt good enough, there would be separate reservoirs for the hydraulics, and you would be using gear oil in the trans/rear end.
Yet that same oil causes no issues in the numerous seals, bearings, and gears of the transmission and rear end.
If Hydraulic oil really wasnt good enough, there would be separate reservoirs for the hydraulics, and you would be using gear oil in the trans/rear end.
buck boost
Silver Member
Well worded, and agree 100%. The important thing is to keep the oil clean and full. Full, of anything, as long as it is oil!
