Which oil do you prefer for BX front. axle

[roma3112]

Folks
I finally got to changing my front axle fluid in my bx24. It has about 1oo hrs on it and since i had a fresh 2gal pale of sudt that was my project for yesterday. Well I did everything exactly as I should with the bleeders ect, the fluid level is stable and within specs. The thing I noticed is that now when i put the unit into 4wd I can kind of hear the gearbox whirling noise. I don't bean a noise like something is wrong inside it seems to be just the normal noise from a spinning gearbox. The problem is that I never heard this before the fluid change, I am guessing the factory had 75w/90 fluid in there?
Now my question, I use the 4wd quite a bit because currently I am doing dirt work leveling off my yard which will last some time. Have any of you folks noticed anything similar? I know the factory says either sudt or 75w/90 but I don't know what I should do now should I drain the sudt out and go get fresh 75w/90 or just leave it. Are there any benefits to either the thicker or thinner oil? I am in the northeast so we do get snow, but it's not like I am using the machine in a very cold climate. Any opinions / experiences would be welcome.

thanks
john

 

[oldnslo]

The SUDT also lubes the gears in your transmission and works fine so I suspect either lube in the front axle will work. I used 75W-90 gear lube in my front axle since it is what I had.

In the winter you might notice a slight difference in power required to drive the axle with SUDT Vs gear lube.

Roy

 

[radioman]

SUDT is what I use in mine.

 

[TripleR]

I've used both and really don't have a preference.

 

[gwdixon]

Since Kubota says either is OK then that is the final word.

Personally, I use 80w-90 but never operate the tractor in freezing conditions unlike the "back east" guys.

SUDT is no doubt a quality oil. It just seems to me that the amount of force put on the front axle when in 4 WD requires a heavier oil to limit it being squeezed out and causing metal-to-metal contact. That contact is what is to be avoided regardless of the oil used.

 

[kevinj]

I figure if Kubota puts it in when new it must be good enough. I have seen Kubota hydros with over 5000 hrs and no trans issues. The trans take the same or more abuse in the gears as the front does.

All 3 of mine have super UDT up front and one has about 10 years use and 1000 hours on it. Last summer I had to replace some seals and the inside looks as new,

 

[actionaj]

I changed mine to Mobil 1 75w-90 this past fall at 300hrs.. I think the thicker oil is better for the gears at any temperature and a lessor chance for leaks. Plus the thicker oil is a lot easier to see on the dipstick. "Now thats thinking with your dipstick jimmy":laughing: Maybe I should have used Castrol instead.

 

[bstrom]

On my b2620 I changed the trans and front end oil and a five gallon pail works out about right for both with a quart left over. Both the rear and the front have gears to be lubed so I figure it should do the job in both and is specified for both. Maybe 75-90w gear oil is slightly better for the front but to me it seems silly to go buy something else when SUDT is also specified and you've got extra left over from the 5 gallon or whatever you bought. We're very frugal here in Maine.

 

[amg280]

I changed my front axle to Mobil 1 full syn 75-90 at 45 hours. Not sure what it had in it before. But notice no difference, but have piece of mind knowing the good stuff is in there. I used the same stuff in my big truck diff and front axle for years.

 

[bp fick]

I am a gear lube guy. Gotta have it on hand anyway for the bottom end of my Merc outboard, rear end of the truck, and gear box of the RFM anyhow. I buy the Valvoline 75w-90 semi synthetic. Inexpensive at WalMart. I've used it for close to 10 years and like it. Yes, you can SEE it. A plus.

Boat guys know you always drain the lower unit each fall, to prevent cracking by frozen water. It's just a cover your behind kind of thing.

I'm sure it's easier at the Kubota factory to have one gun and fill everything. I am also sure that sudt would be fine as well.