My front Axle almost came off!!

[RobJ]

With pics of course.

So I'm backing up the L to the FM this weekend and there is a little rut where I start backing up. I notice the front axle (2wd) shift front to back a little. WTH?? Upon inspection this is what I found, welds totally broken on the back side, actually the square beam is folded in where it has been hitting. On the front side about half is broken and the weld is popping upon the other half. This would have been a fun ride.

Some damage pics...

 

[RobJ]

So I jack up the tractor and pull the axle. Only 4 bolts and a steering control arm. It's sorta heavy, I'll have to get some help on the install or put the front wheels back on and raise the tractor the the proper height.

Interesting no greese fittings on the bushing cups.

 

[RobJ]

Since we were heading home and I had to pull the axle to fix it, I loaded it up and took it to the other house to fix. I also need to get my 220 extension cord up at the weekend place to run my 220v welder there.

WARNING!!!

If you looking for clean and spotless welding....you should exit now.

I was able tp pry it back into the original position and lay some metal on it. I started with a 7014 rod and then went to a 7018. Lays prettier but produces a lot of slag. Several passes on the back side to fill in the 1/4" wide gap there. Then a little weld along a crack.

 

[RobJ]

Then a little expensive grey paint and yall will be the only ones to know or see this...unless you are under my tractor sometime.

So perhaps an area to check on from time to time on an L or any small tractor.

Thanks for looking,
Rob

 

[MikeD74T]

I think your bumper/grill guard may have done you in !!!!
Did you include grease fittings or at least grease in the reassembly????
MikeD74T

 

[RobJ]

I think your bumper/grill guard may have done you in !!!!
Did you include grease fittings or at least grease in the reassembly????
MikeD74T

Hey man, my bumper has feeling you know!! It's not that heavy..less that a FEL!

There is what looks to be an 1/8" plug on the back side that I could maybe put a zerk in. On the front there is no fitting, no spot, just the adjustment bolt and lock nut to adjust the end play. I'l give it a good greasing upon reassembly. I think you can see from the pics it was a little in the dry side.

 

[wushaw]

Hey man, my bumper has feeling you know!! It's not that heavy..less that a FEL!

There is what looks to be an 1/8" plug on the back side that I could maybe put a zerk in. On the front there is no fitting, no spot, just the adjustment bolt and lock nut to adjust the end play. I'l give it a good greasing upon reassembly. I think you can see from the pics it was a little in the dry side.

Rob, they obviously updated that part....at least on 4wd models, there are grease fittings to lube the pin. My 05 L2800 and my previous 03 B7500 had grease fittings.

You should be able to drill and install a grease fitting in the bottom side or on the side of the pivot while you have it apart.

If you don't do the grease fitting it will just dry out again and more than likely cause this again.

The lack of grease is what caused the welds to break in the first place.
If you look at how the axle is a big arm rotating on a small pin and without lubrication it grabs the pin and rotates it causing the welds to break.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

OUCH! I like gorilla welds too. Big and ugly.

Good thing you caught it before you twisted your steering arms.

I thought only green paint was expensive, doesn't the navy sell gray paint cheap (leftover battleship paint)?

 

[RobJ]

The lack of grease is what caused the welds to break in the first place.
If you look at how the axle is a big arm rotating on a small pin and without lubrication it grabs the pin and rotates it causing the welds to break.

I can't say 100% it was lack of grease. There was some in there and it was moving freely. There was no gualding on the pin either.

If I say this right..the side to side spinning motion (the way the pin moves), shouldn't put much pressure on the welds, but the way they cracked it looks like the twisting (fronts being pushed back) put to much pressure on them. My guess why the back welds broke first...more leverage on them. I promise I don't jump that many curbs. My L is a 1999 model with 1300 hours on it.

Adding some zerks is a great idea I agree.

 

[RobJ]

OUCH! I like gorilla welds too. Big and ugly.

Hey I gave fair warning!! Big and ugly but very deep. They will not fail.

Thanks,
Rob