Loader M59 broken loader pin

[Smokeydog]

Noted a broken lower bucket pin while greasing the tractor. 1183hrs. Half the pin that has the grease zerk was gone. Several of the pins close to the bucket have considerable slop. Previous owner wasn’t friends with a grease gun. Question is there better sources for pins/bushings other than Kubota?

 

[Roadworthy]

Reading the manual for my loader it said to grease it every ten hours. I wonder how many people do that?

 

[mikester]

I grease my machine at every re-fuel so roughly 10-12 hours. How often do you guys grease your machines?

 

[Smokeydog]

Big proponent of greasing regularly. Loader 8-10 hours. Several pneumatic grease guns with either TSC red premium grease or black moly grease. Loader pins, ball joints, slip joints get moly. Bearings and u-joints get red. Premium greases run better in the guns in hot and cold weather. Greasing the loader, grapple or backhoe regularly takes only about two-three pumps per pin. If I don’t see new grease coming out the joint by three pumps it will shortly after working the joint.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

I grease mine every 8. I had t broken pins, one on a stabilizer and this one. The stabilizer caused me to do some welding because I didn’t catch it and cracked the frame. This one was easy to catch as it busted the steel hydraulic line and spread the ears. Not too bad of a fix. So I’m not sure grease has 100% to do with it. This was on my m59 that I no longer have. I use the trip on my m62 to help remind me when its time to grease. I only use Schafer grease on my m62.

 

[Oldoak]

Reading the manual for my loader it said to grease it every ten hours. I wonder how many people do that?

Not me. I'm not getting up in the middle of the night to grease it!


Seriously, I use the same as Smokeydog:

Loader and backhoe pins and bushings: TSC BLack Molly Grease
Bearings and micsellanious zerks: TSC Red Premium Grease

 

[diesel85]

This is why I invested in a pneumatic grease gun.

Makes this equivalent to fueling time or even quicker.

I have things that have a lot of grease fittings, so getting a pneumatic grease gun was totally justified.

 

[ovrszd]

This is why I invested in a pneumatic grease gun.

Makes this equivalent to fueling time or even quicker.

I have things that have a lot of grease fittings, so getting a pneumatic grease gun was totally justified.

Yep, me too. The Road Grader I run takes one and a half tubes per time. That'll make your hand cramp using a pistol grip gun.

 

[ovrszd]

I've broken 3 pins on my M9540. They've always broke at the grease groove. I am generous with a grease gun. I contribute my breakage to friction between the pin and the sleeves. I believe this exceeds the limit of the pin because of this friction and the extra stress of using a Grapple.

 

[Smokeydog]

My pins and probably bushings are worn. Probably have 5-7” of play at the bucket edge or grapple tips. When I bought the tractor used, one pin wouldn’t take grease so removed pin and cleaned harden grease/metal from the grease groove. Pin had some step wear. Another maintenance item on the list.

I think the pin breakage at the grease groove comes from flexing during use. Wear might make it flex more.

Ordered 4 new pins today @$20ea from local Kubota dealer. Know more when they get installed.

 

[ovrszd]

I always break a lower pin. I keep an extra onhand.

 

[rScotty]

I grease my equipment maybe once a week - it depends on what I've been doing. For example, working in wet sand down by the creek with the backhoe I might grease it 3x/day. I've never broken a pin - yet. I have had a few problems with hardened grease and pin wear from that.

I've seen enough hardened grease in the joints to make me pay attention to grease compatibility.
It's entirely possible to use the wrong grease and end up with pin-to-bushing fit that looks to be full of grease but what is actually in there is just the thickener without the oil.

Grease Compatibility Chart and Reference Guide
How to Determine Grease Compatibility and Why It's Important
rScotty

 

[Smokeydog]

Good point on the grease. Have to check compatibility of the main two I use on farm equipment.

Photo shows a broken lower ssqa pin, upper used pin and new pin. Replaced all 4 lift pins on the ssqa assembly. The broken one broke at the grease groove. Used pins showed wear 0.5-1mm(0.020-0.040”) along the load side. New pins 30x150mm. Easy and straightforward to replace. Kubota dealer could not show the bushings on their parts drawing. ??? Reduced a couple inches of play. Still play in bushings and the other four linkage pins. No hardened grease in the grease grooves hopefully means an improved maintenance regime at its new home.
With grapple loads of trees cleared it puts tremendous dynamic loads on these parts.
Keep things spinning in greasy grooves!

 

[ovrszd]

Good point on the grease. Have to check compatibility of the main two I use on farm equipment.
View attachment 628639
Photo shows a broken lower ssqa pin, upper used pin and new pin. Replaced all 4 lift pins on the ssqa assembly. The broken one broke at the grease groove. Used pins showed wear 0.5-1mm(0.020-0.040”) along the load side. New pins 30x150mm. Easy and straightforward to replace. Kubota dealer could not show the bushings on their parts drawing. ??? Reduced a couple inches of play. Still play in bushings and the other four linkage pins. No hardened grease in the grease grooves hopefully means an improved maintenance regime at its new home.
With grapple loads of trees cleared it puts tremendous dynamic loads on these parts.
Keep things spinning in greasy grooves!

I've not saw any wear in the ones I've broke. They always break right where your's did.

 

[ptsg]

The grease groove and cross hole just make a for a weak spot.

Yes it's nice to have all the fittings easily accessible from the side of the tractor but it makes for a weak spot on the pins.

 

[ovrszd]

The grease groove and cross hole just make a for a weak spot.

Yes it's nice to have all the fittings easily accessible from the side of the tractor but it makes for a weak spot on the pins.

Yep....

 

[Oldoak]

The grease groove and cross hole just make a for a weak spot.

Yes it's nice to have all the fittings easily accessible from the side of the tractor but it makes for a weak spot on the pins.

Yep....

Many times there is a price to pay for convenience.

 

[ovrszd]

Many times there is a price to pay for convenience.

Sadly so.

 

[rScotty]

Good point on the grease. Have to check compatibility of the main two I use on farm equipment.
View attachment 628639
Photo shows a broken lower ssqa pin, upper used pin and new pin. Replaced all 4 lift pins on the ssqa assembly. The broken one broke at the grease groove. Used pins showed wear 0.5-1mm(0.020-0.040? along the load side. New pins 30x150mm. Easy and straightforward to replace. Kubota dealer could not show the bushings on their parts drawing. ??? Reduced a couple inches of play. Still play in bushings and the other four linkage pins. No hardened grease in the grease grooves hopefully means an improved maintenance regime at its new home.
With grapple loads of trees cleared it puts tremendous dynamic loads on these parts.
Keep things spinning in greasy grooves!

Smokeydog, those are some great photos. They clearly look to have been run without grease until they seized. The torn metal is obvious on the one that hasn't broken yet - but is about to...., just as it is on the broken one.

Like most mechanical guys, when I'm running grease into a joint, I try to sort of visualize what the internals of that joint must look like. Doing that helps me to decide whether or not I've gotten the joint properly greased as the grease starts to ooze out the side. The problem with grease joints is you can't really know you got it right.. Just have to take some of it on faith.

But the M59 loader pins are weird. Several times when I've been greasing the front on mine I recall stopping in puzzlement trying to figure out just how that pin & bushing pair would have to be drilled to grease all the wear surfaces. It would have to be pretty fancy. But each time in the past I've put the puzzle away for another day. Now you've inspired me to pull the pins on mine and see how they are doing.

When we see this many pins breaking, I've got to be suspicious and wonder if Kubota got the grease path figured correctly.

Another surprise was that the loader parts are not shown in the printed M59 parts manual I bought from Messick's. I thought that parts book was complete - it sure was costly enough... , but apparently does not include the loader.

No problem, this morning I went online to Messick's parts dept. and was able to look at all the loader parts along with inventory and prices. All the bushings are there, as well as the pins. They keep them all in stock..... I'll attach some .jpgs below. Those guys really go the extra mile to help owners.

In fact, I not only found the loader pins and bushings, but under loader parts I also found the missing hood protector that we discussed here on TBN a few months ago! The optional hood protector thingy is listed under "loader parts". Well, OK...that sort of makes sense, but no wonder those desireable hood protectors were so hard to find and to order. Our M59 just happened to come with one.
rScotty