MX5400 socket size advice needed

[Bullwinkle123]

I have to ask, why the f*ck aren't the parts we're all talking about spec'ed in the owners manual? If I buy this parts manual will it specify all the bolt sizes? Kubota: M47??/M54?? Parts Manual, Part # 97898-21753

Seems crazy that we're all here comparing measurements, it ought to be readily available to us in product documentation. A bit frustrating. Or did I miss it in my owner manuals? I don't think I did.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

No different than Ford or Chevy. No, it won't be there either. And I'm not sure that is correct manual.

 

[Peter 315]

Its like nuts and bolts I have draws full but never the right ones........ Some of the sockets you will never use and some you will wear out....................

 

[Agvg]

I have to ask, why the f*ck aren't the parts we're all talking about spec'ed in the owners manual? If I buy this parts manual will it specify all the bolt sizes? Kubota: M47??/M54?? Parts Manual, Part # 97898-21753

Seems crazy that we're all here comparing measurements, it ought to be readily available to us in product documentation. A bit frustrating. Or did I miss it in my owner manuals? I don't think I did.

Proper made manuals have that, on bolts, washers and everything is specified, even by which DIN/ISO standard the parts are made.

Unfortunately so are the goal today to bring revenue to the dealers, it should be mandatory to make all parts and service information available for free, it has zero cost for the manufacturer.

And for metric bolts it's diameter and length, pitch is only given if it's not a standard bolt, and of course quality, 4.6, 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Well, after due consideration I'm forced to conclude Kubota must own some manufacturer of sockets and wrenches.

I put the battery into my calipers so I could get the digital readouts, of course even a slight shift in my hand while measuring changes the readout, but the sizes of bolts are clearly all over the place.

Most of the stuff I measured on the tractor looks metric, as expected. Except .. the ROPS bolts (where you fold it down) are about 1 inch exactly. 25.4mm.

The many big loader bolts, attaching to various parts of the tractor frame all say "JDF 8.8", 8.8 being a metric standard, and measure about 24mm, +/- about 0.25 in my flaky measurements.

The wheel bolts are ~24.5mm And have a big old "7" on the head with no other identifying indicators. No SAE ticks. And I don't know what "7" matches to on metric charts or if it's a metric bolt at all.

The nut on the toplink measures at 32.59mm.

Looking at some of my land pride implements, the grapple has an 18.93mm bolt on it, that's close to a 3/4 inch size at 19.05mm.

The brush hog has:

• A 28.65mm bolt just under where the top link would attach. 1&1/8?
• A 29.34mm bolt just forward of that near-toplink bolt, so ... 1&3/16?
• A 23.9mm bolt near the lower 3ph link poinrts, so ... 15/16?
• The bolts holding the gearbox lid on look about 15.91mm, fit a 5/8 inch socket reasonably well
• If I look at the laminated wheel bolkts which several sizes, the smallest are 13.52mm, fits a 14mm socket slightly loosely, and a 9/16 socket more loosely, but chances are the whole tire is from some far off (metric) point of origin.

I couldn't test any actual sockets with the bigger bolts, because I don't have any!

Between the fact that I have 3 land pride attachments and the crazy mix of sockets even on the tractor+rops+tires, I guess I'm feeling forced to get SAE and Metric sizes.
And I'm definitely a bit put out that there isn't a easily accessible document that lists all these parts so I don't have to guess at it with my rather lame measurements. I may need to spent more on this forum too, clearly other Kubota owners wrestle with this. All metric ? - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Nobody "wrestles" with this. Its just part of life and easily worked with. I'd quit trying to optimize down to a gnats butt. You are in the mode of analysis paralysis. I know this mode well. As you have observed, bolt heads are slightly undersized so a wrench fits on them. If that brush hog is made in the USA, you likely have imperial fasteners. If off-shore, 100% its metric. A lot of the things you are measuring you won't need to touch for years, if ever. Quit worrying about them. Get tools for them when you need them.

I don't recall if you said you had much in the way of tools, but really, just start out with metric and imperial socket sets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive. Get a few extra extensions in a foot or so so you can reach bolts from far away. Especially for getting to the rear lug nuts. Can't swing a breaker bar or torque wrench from inside the wheel easily.

Then, buy what you need. Quit fretting about it and move on. It's not good for your well being to make more of this than there is.

Also, at best, a parts breakdown would tell you that something like your loader frame bolts are 16mm. That would be the thread size. You still have to know that it is standard to use a 24mm head on such a bolt. (You can get such a look-up table on-line.) Even then, its not an absolute requirement for bolts to conform to the head standard.

Impact wrench: A nice to have. It is absolutely not necessary. I have an air gun as well as a couple of battery powered ones. They are nice, but not essential. Most of your maintenance is one or two bolts so they aren't much help. You aren't going to be changing tires on that tractor for many years, so no help there.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Nobody "wrestles" with this. Its just part of life and easily worked with. I'd quit trying to optimize down to a gnats butt. You are in the mode of analysis paralysis. I know this mode well. As you have observed, bolt heads are slightly undersized so a wrench fits on them. If that brush hog is made in the USA, you likely have imperial fasteners. If off-shore, 100% its metric. A lot of the things you are measuring you won't need to touch for years, if ever. Quit worrying about them. Get tools for them when you need them.

I don't recall if you said you had much in the way of tools, but really, just start out with metric and imperial socket sets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive. Get a few extra extensions in a foot or so so you can reach bolts from far away. Especially for getting to the rear lug nuts. Can't swing a breaker bar or torque wrench from inside the wheel easily.

Then, buy what you need. Quit fretting about it and move on. It's not good for your well being to make more of this than there is.

Also, at best, a parts breakdown would tell you that something like your loader frame bolts are 16mm. That would be the thread size. You still have to know that it is standard to use a 24mm head on such a bolt. (You can get such a look-up table on-line.) Even then, its not an absolute requirement for bolts to conform to the head standard.

Impact wrench: A nice to have. It is absolutely not necessary. I have an air gun as well as a couple of battery powered ones. They are nice, but not essential. Most of your maintenance is one or two bolts so they aren't much help. You aren't going to be changing tires on that tractor for many years, so no help there.

True, I analyze all purchases to death, it's in my nature. Meanwhile SAE and metric sockets and all assorted paraphernalia are on order now, including a bigger adjustable wrench, since my old 10" ones will not handle that toplink nut. I ordered the 84 piece Tekton set from Home Depot for $199, which was quite a bit cheaper than amazon. It should cover most foreseeable size needs unless I do blade changes on the rotary cutter, but I'll need a much bigger torque wrench for that anyway, so ... different tools. I'm not worried about the tool quality too much, should meet my minimal needs. What I hate is not having the right size tool for the job, and this should cover that. Has metric to 32mm (without skipping sizes, which a lot of sets do - particularly the 25/26/29 sizes I wanted), SAE to 1 5/16, deep and shallow. Definitely shotgun shopping, but the cost isn't horrible.

Thanks all for the advice. Time to grease up and go grapple something outside in just-got-sunny weather

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Ooooh! Grappling. My favorite thing to do on the tractor.

 

[Egon]

Okay: try a pipe wrench! It will alleviate your size conumbdrum!

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Okay: try a pipe wrench! It will alleviate your size conumbdrum!

Heh, I was definitely at the stuck toplink nut today with a pipe wrench, using a latex coated glove in between to avoid scratching the paint. Got it unstuck, but took about 4 tries to get the glove+wrench fit right and get the nut loose.