Loader Odd squeak from front (axle?) with a full bucket of gravel - kubota 3400 - problem?

aarobyn · Mar 15, 2015

They are 22 mm nuts. So I'll try a higher ft-lb and see what happens.

the old grind · Mar 15, 2015

22mm heads, or threads? I'd guess close to 12 x 1.0 mm (maybe 14 x 1.25) or similar thread size on a long shot & torque in the 80-110 ft/lb or so. (110-140 for 14MM?)

Most manuals have 'general' torque tables if you can match up the thread size(s). I mentioned never having installed a nut or lug 'dry' in front of a neighbor (self-proclaimed as ASE certified .. 'not'). Soon as I said 'anti-seize or grease' he said "I wouldn't. The wheels would fall off."
(wooowww...)

btw, any broad torque chart I've seen that ever mentioned so specified 'lightly oiled bolt'. (Red grease is my fave for wheels.) Some suggested reducing torque by 10% if using anti-sieze, but I'd go fulll spec on that. .. Wouldn't want the wheels to fall off.

SPYDERLK · Mar 15, 2015

the old grind said:
22mm heads, or threads? I'd guess close to 12 x 1.0 mm (maybe 14 x 1.25) or similar thread size on a long shot & torque in the 80-110 ft/lb or so. (110-140 for 14MM?)

Most manuals have 'general' torque tables if you can match up the thread size(s). I mentioned never having installed a nut or lug 'dry' in front of a neighbor (self-proclaimed as ASE certified .. 'not'). Soon as I said 'anti-seize or grease' he said "I wouldn't. The wheels would fall off."
(wooowww...)

btw, any broad torque chart I've seen that ever mentioned so specified 'lightly oiled bolt'. (Red grease is my fave for wheels.) Some suggested reducing torque by 10% if using anti-sieze, but I'd go fulll spec on that. .. Wouldn't want the wheels to fall off.

I would definitely not use antiseize. Maybe a little WD40. Then if youre worried about corrosion getting in spray each exposed lug end with Chain Wax.
larry

aarobyn · Mar 17, 2015

It's a 22mm socket - so the OD of the nut, not the thread.

I tightened them to 95 ft-lb, which is where I was able to get 2 nuts on the left wheel to tighten ever so slightly so it has to be close to right.

I finally got a chance to try another load of gravel with it (right side lugs tightened, loader joints freshly greased, tires at better inflation) and I still get a squeak. This time it doesn't sound quite as correlated to a single revolution of the tire (but roughly so), and it's higher pitched (at least that's how it seems to me). My wife says that it sounded like a bird chirp, and more like a rubber on rubber squeak.

There's definitely a tire issue in play - It lost several pounds of pressure in the right front in just the 48 hours since I aired it up.

I also got it to squeak a couple times without a load in the bucket when I went over some rocks with the right tire that bounced things a bit.

Next step (after we dry out a bit from tomorrow's predicted rain) is to check the axle oil levels as was suggested early on.

SPYDERLK · Mar 17, 2015

aarobyn said:
It's a 22mm socket - so the OD of the nut, not the thread.

I tightened them to 95 ft-lb, which is where I was able to get 2 nuts on the left wheel to tighten ever so slightly so it has to be close to right.

I finally got a chance to try another load of gravel with it (right side lugs tightened, loader joints freshly greased, tires at better inflation) and I still get a squeak. This time it doesn't sound quite as correlated to a single revolution of the tire (but roughly so), and it's higher pitched (at least that's how it seems to me). My wife says that it sounded like a bird chirp, and more like a rubber on rubber squeak.

There's definitely a tire issue in play - It lost several pounds of pressure in the right front in just the 48 hours since I aired it up.

I also got it to squeak a couple times without a load in the bucket when I went over some rocks with the right tire that bounced things a bit.

Next step (after we dry out a bit from tomorrow's predicted rain) is to check the axle oil levels as was suggested early on.

... also inspect for a crack or broken spot weld on the rim web or the web to rim transition.

Gordon Gould · Mar 18, 2015

I have a front end squeak in my L3010. It drove me nuts trying to figure out what it was. It would come and go but mostly only appeared when I was in high range. (gear transmission) It only appeared while moving forward. I went through all the stuff you are, trying to find it or eliminate things. It sounded like a bad water pump chirp on a 1962 Ford p/u truck and often seemed to be synced with wheel rotation. After a year of worry and intermittent searching I finally figured out that the removable engine cowls on both sides squeak when I am in high range. The left louder than the right. I have no idea why the perfect vibration has any thing to do with high range except I am going faster.

gg

aarobyn · Mar 18, 2015

Gordon Gould said:
I have a front end squeak in my L3010. It drove me nuts trying to figure out what it was. It would come and go but mostly only appeared when I was in high range. (gear transmission) It only appeared while moving forward. I went through all the stuff you are, trying to find it or eliminate things. It sounded like a bad water pump chirp on a 1962 Ford p/u truck and often seemed to be synced with wheel rotation. After a year of worry and intermittent searching I finally figured out that the removable engine cowls on both sides squeak when I am in high range. The left louder than the right. I have no idea why the perfect vibration has any thing to do with high range except I am going faster.

gg

I'll have to check that out. Thanks for sharing!

aarobyn · Apr 5, 2015

Update -

The front right tire was consistently losing air, especially while driving the tractor. The squeaking seemed worse when under full inflation, so I wondered if it was forcing air out in an odd way somewhere/somehow. I eventually tried sliming it as I couldn't find an obvious puncture/leak to fix. And it still has a slow (but slower) leak, and it still squeaked after sliming.

Then I moved on to one of the first suggestions and I checked the front axle oil. That was way too low, so I topped it off and took a trip to the gravel pile. Still squeaking, but maybe not as bad as before? That's hard to say for sure because everything I've tried seems to alter the frequency and pitch just a wee bit.

Next stop - checking in on the rear axle.

whis · Apr 5, 2015

how much oil did you put in and why wait this long to check it

aarobyn · Apr 5, 2015

Nearly 2 quarts. I had just been been checking the "easy" stuff first. And procrastinating. And the squeak still sounds more "rubbery" than "metallic".

The hydraulic level looks fine - is there really a chance that the problem is in the back?

Or should I just completely drain and refill the front axle? Just in case?