Kubota Front Axle Vent
- Thread starter PsRumors
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oosik
Epic Contributor
My 2009 M6040 4WD does not have a front axle vent. Its got an upper plug to fill and a lower plug to verify fill level. Both on one side. There is a drain plug at the bottom of the axle gear case on each side. The front axle gear case and front differential case are continuous. Pull both drain plugs and wait, wait, wait. Draining can be a slooooow process.
Bought the tractor new and had no leakage problems on the front axle. The pressure build up is REALLY SLIGHT and, obviously, not enough to blow oil out thru any seal.
Bought the tractor new and had no leakage problems on the front axle. The pressure build up is REALLY SLIGHT and, obviously, not enough to blow oil out thru any seal.
ruffdog
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This guy went through the time to make a special fill plug and hose to vent the front axle. When he was routing the hose, he discovered the factory vent hose.
greenrider1
Silver Member
The axle on my L5740 isn't vented. It's always under pressure when I remove the check plug. Just double checked it and it had quite a bit of pressure just sitting in my barn at 60 degrees. I'm guessing it would have quite a bit more on a summer day after it's been working. I should probably drill and tap the fill plug to add a vent hose.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I've checked mine after three hours of grading my "mud hole from Hades" in my driveway. Yes, there was slight pressure. Not that much different than what I found yesterday. Yesterday, the tractor had been sitting - unused - all winter.
greenrider1 - I would recommend that you NOT try to vent the front axle. Couple reasons - Kubota would have vented it if necessary, read Peter 315 post # 7, how will you figure out the vent hose. Remember the front axle can go thru some fairly serious vertical oscillations. If you vent from the fill plug - the hose going up to somewhere high under the cowling is alway subject to being torn off.
greenrider1 - I would recommend that you NOT try to vent the front axle. Couple reasons - Kubota would have vented it if necessary, read Peter 315 post # 7, how will you figure out the vent hose. Remember the front axle can go thru some fairly serious vertical oscillations. If you vent from the fill plug - the hose going up to somewhere high under the cowling is alway subject to being torn off.
oosik
Epic Contributor
CORRECTION!!! The front axle of my M6040 IS vented. I looked at the video from ruffdog. Went back out and found the U-shaped steel pipe where the rubber vent hose terminates. I was able to blow a small amount of air thru the system - with the fill plug removed.
The vent worked a whole lot better after I pulled all the Mud Dobber "snot" out of the end of the steel pipe. I will be putting a small external filter on the end of that steel pipe.
The vent nipple is right in the dead center - top of the front axle. Saying it is difficult to find is the understatement of the year. I would have NEVER found it without looking at the video clip.
greenrider1 - look at the video clip and then look for the U-shaped steel pipe. More than likely - yours is already vented.
PsRumors - yours is most likely already vented. Find that U-shaped steel pipe - look at the video. Perhaps the Mud Dobbers have done a job on your also.
My little U-shaped steel pipe is right behind the battery - just in front of the main radiator - attached near the top of the hood support cage.
Right hand side as you stand in front of the tractor - looking towards the rear of the tractor. Photos will follow.
The vent worked a whole lot better after I pulled all the Mud Dobber "snot" out of the end of the steel pipe. I will be putting a small external filter on the end of that steel pipe.
The vent nipple is right in the dead center - top of the front axle. Saying it is difficult to find is the understatement of the year. I would have NEVER found it without looking at the video clip.
greenrider1 - look at the video clip and then look for the U-shaped steel pipe. More than likely - yours is already vented.
PsRumors - yours is most likely already vented. Find that U-shaped steel pipe - look at the video. Perhaps the Mud Dobbers have done a job on your also.
My little U-shaped steel pipe is right behind the battery - just in front of the main radiator - attached near the top of the hood support cage.
Right hand side as you stand in front of the tractor - looking towards the rear of the tractor. Photos will follow.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Here is a picture of the vent hose and U-shaped terminal pipe on my Kubota M6040. View attachment 647959
Egon
Epic Contributor
Some are not vented. Keeps a positive pressure and does not allow water In.
ericm979
Super Member
If you do add a vent, put it in the center of the axle, not on one end. Unless you operate on flat land only. My Branson has a factory vent on one end and it leaks if I park the tractor on a side slope with that side on the downhill. The dealer sent me an extension which helps some but does not fix it.
greenrider1
Silver Member
I went back out to the barn this morning and took the side panels off the L5740 to get a better look. I spent a good bit of time looking things over and I couldn't find any vent lines connected to the axle. It's strange that Kubota feels the need to vent some models but not others. I dont spend much time doing deep water crossings so I would imagine the benefit of having the axle vented would outweigh the possibility of water intrusion. I still plan on tapping the fill plug, adding a 90 degree barb and running a vent line along the top of the axle to a termination point up under the hood. The top of the axle is pretty well protected. Any gear oil that happened to leak into the line on a slope would be able to drain back into the axle.
Paystar
Elite Member
My B does not have a front axle vent. A Kubota rep at a dealer show I attended told me it is like this and is supposed to have some pressure to keep contaminates out.
We only got into the conversation because I was asking him about all the forum people that think this will cause an oil leak past the seal and they go and make some kind of homemade vent.
We only got into the conversation because I was asking him about all the forum people that think this will cause an oil leak past the seal and they go and make some kind of homemade vent.
sixdogs
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They're vented. My M7040 has a vent that exits behind the battery in front of the radiator. I overfilled my front axle and it blew oil all over the front battery tray and radiator.
