MT125 Front Axle Loose

[mslisaj]

My MT125 is a year and 10 months old and has 100 hours on it. Today I am doing the two year service on it of changing the engine oil and engine coolant. While I was removing the oil filter I happened to hand roll a front tire and I heard a clunk! I have kind of heard this before when I'm slowly going over uneven ground. I could actually roll this front tire back and forth and see the entire axle move on it's central pivot. I jacked the tractor up and go under it and I could see the center pin that attaches the axle to the rear frame rear cross member move side to side. The pin is tight in the axle where it pivots but this pin is moving back side to side with about 3/32" play in the rear of the fame mount. Looking at the front of this pin it has a nut and cotter key retaining the pin in place. Looking in the service manual I can not find any specifications on the torque of this nut or anything about it other then how to remove it to the rear. Anyone else have or see this issue on the MT125? Looking at it this rear cross member is a welded part of the entire frame! I have attached pictures of what I'm looking at. If you have a MT125 maybe you could go out to your tractor and hand roll a front tire back and forth and see how much play you have in your axle.

As usual gentlemen, thank you for your thoughts, input and help.

Lisa

 

[Diggin It]

I have over 260 hours on mine in about the same time period, just under two years. Most of that time has been in 4WD due to my hills. I haven't noticed any front axle issues like that. I won't be able to roll test it until morning.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

What you are describing was on mine from day one of owning it. I called the dealer and sent him a video. They told me it was "normal", they checked two other new units on the lot, both of them had the play also. If I recall correctly, there was about an 1/8" of front / back movement on each side. Mine would have the "clunk" sound and you could feel it in steering wheel, especially over the rough areas when the axle was pivoting. Not present when on the smooth areas. I had over 220 hours on it, it never changed nor did it get worse.

The pin you are showing had about a 1/16", maybe 3/32" play side to side. I was told it was normal and within factory spec.

 

[mslisaj]

Thank you gentlemen for your responses here. "LS mt125 owner" you are describing my situation exactly and I guess I would have to say it's conforting to know that someone elses machine did the same thing from day one. Mine could of too I just never noticed it and the majority of my property is paved and my biggest use is pushing snow in the winter. But helping neighbors with their yard chores and the uneven terrain I would notice the clunk but throught it may have been the backhoe rocking around in the back. I was surprised yesterday to discover it's actually the front axle! Being my local dealer went out of business I don't have an LS shop to ask about it.

Now here is what I kind of did about it yesterday. While the machine was jacked up in the air I pulled the cotter key out of the castellated nut and put a wrench on it. While it was tight I was able to pull the nut around to the next opening tighter and put the cotter pin in that location and it tightened up the slop quite a bit. The axle actually pivots on this bolt but the bolt is stationary in the frame mount. I never have found a grease zerk to lubricate that pivot point though.

It will be interesting to see what "Diggin it" has to report on this issue. A note to him is if you can put your tractor on a smoothed paved surface it makes it easier to check. But yes, 1/8" front / back movment on each side.

Thanks again for your comments.

Best regards,
Lisa

 

[Diggin It]

What am I looking for here, rotation front to rear or turn side to side?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

No rotation, movement front to rear on either side, of front axle

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Mslisaj---

I never have found a grease zerk to lubricate that pivot point though.

There is no grease zerk there. I asked the dealer about removing the large pin and greasing it, he said it is a "dry" pivot, not a lot of rotation on it. The axle only droops about 4" to either side. He said putting grease in there would trap any dirt or debris , then causing abrasive wear.

My philosophy is "if it moves, grease it", but I can also see how what he said could happen. I did leave it dry....

 

[mslisaj]

To "Diggin it" and "LS mt125 owner".
First "Diggin it" the axle will move fore and aft about 1/8" on each side when you hand roll the tire on a smooth hard surface. There is no left or right movement at all.

To "LS mt125 owner" thanks for checking this with the dealer. I agree there is not much movement on this pivot at all to justify greasing it. I would recommend checking the nut on that pivot for tightness though. What I was observing is the rear of that pivot loose in the frame and it actually pounding and flanging the metal a little like a hammer. That pivot should be tight in the frame as the axle is what actually moves on the pivot.

Lot's of good information being passed back and forth here.

 

[Diggin It]

OK, I see what you mean now. Never noticed it before. Not forward/back or side/side, but a twist/pivot on a central point. I wonder if that's related to keeping the FWA from binding up.

 

[radios1]

you could take the slop out with a thin hardened steel washer..