Repeated Damage to Bottom Plate on front Axle Assembly on 3120,3320,3520 &3720??

defed · Jan 17, 2011

Re: Repeated Damage to Bottom Plate on front Axle Assembly on 3120,3320,3520 &3720??

not sure i'd want threads down there....if that got smashed, it would be a real nightmare then. i don't mind the interference fit they have, should just be a beefier plug to avoid crushing.

i'm sure JD's responce (as always) will be..."that's the 1st we've heard of that problem!"

there are a few other things i watch out for, especially when i drive into the woods or do brushhogging w/ thick underbrush.

jimgerken · Jan 18, 2011

Re: Repeated Damage to Bottom Plate on front Axle Assembly on 3120,3320,3520 &3720??

I looked at my 3720 last night. Same design, pressed in metal cap. Mine is really exposed too, 'cause I flipped the front tires around for more width (to match the rear width, for row-crop spacing reasons). So now I am inclined to develop a gaurd for it. If I was to go to the trouble, would it be something that you guys might want to buy? No promises, just thinking about how much effort I'd put into the project. Thanks.

dfkrug · Jan 18, 2011

Re: Repeated Damage to Bottom Plate on front Axle Assembly on 3120,3320,3520 &3720??

I just saw this thread, and I had missed DEFED's earlier one.

When I refurbed my 4300 hub, the only way to get the cap out was
to push from the inside. When fully seated, the lip of the cap sits below
the lip of the spindle casting, so it has some protection. In the photo
of my hub that DEFED posted, you can see where the housing had taken
a hit, without touching the cap.

Perhaps the new caps with rubber lips were created because it is hard
to get a seal with the old caps if you don't use sealant, and sealant
will not be effective unless all grease is removed. The only way to get all
the grease off it so have the hub off the axle. Perhaps many folks have had
to fix a dented/leaky cap without removing the hub?

OzGrasshopper · Jan 18, 2011

Re: Repeated Damage to Bottom Plate on front Axle Assembly on 3120,3320,3520 &3720??

Hi All, well funny u should mention the levels of cap & shoulder & also sealant. we spent a fair bit of time yesterday looking at some physical remedy for protection. we recon hanging anything off the actual hub as protection may well be counter productive once the wheel is turned. so our attempt at a solution is going to be to cut a piece of mild steel just 1/4" to say 3/8" larger daimeter, press the centre to make a disc to a greater depth than the indent in the cap, so that our disc will sit over the cap but not touch it in the centre, but rest on the outer section of the hub just outside where the cap is pressed in.
we recon we will get some type of sealant/adhesive and bead that around the outer edge of the shoulder of the hub so that it can take a hit b4 touching the cap (ie a protective shield if u like). if we need to get the cap out, we will chisel the mild steel disc off by simply breaking the seal. we have used a metal to metal sealant b4 to put tempory repairs on bottom of fuel tanks on farm vehicles. i have ordered a couple of spare caps from local JD dealer and we will see if this works. making up the discs so the outer edge is perfectly flat will be our hardest task, but i recon its worth a bit of time as this is a frustrating thing just poping new caps in. cheers Oz.