3-Point Hitch Properly maintaining hitch and pto

[theaverageJoe]

I bought a used Kubota L3800 and it arrived Friday.

Looks like the hitch and shaft have been left to the elements a little and no visible lubrication on there or the ballbearings etc.

My questions as a new owner are:

How do I clean this level of rust off?
What is the proper way maintain these, what lubricants and how often and how to apply them?

 

[mrmikey]

All I use on mine is a spray of Fluid Film. As for the rust, it appears to be just surface, nothing a wire brush wouldn't clean off.........Mike

 

[WranglerX]

Wire brush to clean and apply "something" that prevents moisture from remaining on exposed surface....

Dale

 

[Agvg]

You do not want to lubricate these things, dry rust dosent let all kinds of dirt stick to it. Have tractors that had regular use the last 50 years and there are no wear going dry.

 

[ruffdog]

I do lube my PTO shaft and 3 point swivel balls. Take the parts apart, wet with a penetrating spray, then thoroughly lube them with used motor oil or even better, marine grease. Be sure to roll the balls around to get them coated good.

 

[Agvg]

PTO shaft I do but the ball ends? Get them full of dirt?

 

[TheMadOne]

I bought a used Kubota L3800 and it arrived Friday.

Looks like the hitch and shaft have been left to the elements a little and no visible lubrication on there or the ballbearings etc.

My questions as a new owner are:

How do I clean this level of rust off?
What is the proper way maintain these, what lubricants and how often and how to apply them?

View attachment 597296

I agree that dry rust is better than sticky grease, especially if you intend to use the machine without anything on the back in dusty conditions. Keep a little grease on the PTO side of each implement yoke and that will take care of itself. Get a PTO shaft cap if you can find one, once the shaft is greased it becomes a dirt magnet. I'd use fluid film or something similar on the balls, if anything at all.

 

[bigtiller]

Hit it with a wire brush as best as you can and then give it a good dose of your favorite spray-dry-lube. I like Liquid Wrench Multi-Purpose Dry Lubricant.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Liquid-W...5v0tHDXWWdjTtpe7uTQVs2iHECiA1F_xoC4kYQAvD_BwE

 

[LouNY]

Looks to me like the 3 pt was used.
Anything that attracts and holds dirt such as oil or grease will increase wear over leaving dry.

 

[ruffdog]

Lubing the swivel balls....:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/378095-lubricating-3-point-assembly.html

https://www.****************.com/forums/large-frame-compact-utility-tractors-lcut/2262-ball-joints-three-point-hitch-lubrication.html