Changing front axle to gear oil question

[loggin]

My 6530 IS a 2007 model and the manual specs HTD fluid. I tore up my front ball bearings in a stupid mistake and refilled with 85W-140 since I live in Tx. otherwise would have been the lighter gear oil....no problems since. I bought a 2016 2400 and the manual and even the fill plug had 85-90 Gear oil specified. I think that Branson for one realized that HTD fluid has it limitations.

May I ask what mistake you made that caused you to destroy your ball bearings?

 

[Smokeydog]

Thinking might switch to Lucas synthetic 75/140 gear oil in the front axle next time instead of the conventional 75/90 wt gear oil. Kubota M59, single compartment front axle and hubs, 11qts, 95% in four wheel drive.

Synthetic 75/140 shouldn’t be thicker at cold temp than synthetic 75/90??? But better viscosity at higher temp??? Probably much I don’t understand.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Thinking might switch to Lucas synthetic 75/140 gear oil in the front axle next time instead of the conventional 75/90 wt gear oil. Kubota M59, single compartment front axle and hubs, 11qts, 95% in four wheel drive.

Synthetic 75/140 shouldn’t be thicker at cold temp than synthetic 75/90??? But better viscosity at higher temp??? Probably much I don’t understand.

First number is cold temp viscosity/ second number is viscosity at its rated operating temperature.

 

[5030]

Nope, hydraulic oil is spec for Kubota front ends.

So is hypoid oil as the alternative (always has been). Far as tearing up the ball bearings in the outboards, pretty easy to do in as much as they should be roller and not ball bearings. Exceeding rated capacity on the usually included FEL can and will eventually destroy them. One reason why I switched to hypoid oil versus the SUDT. Those ball bearings in the outboards need all the help they can get.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Lots of people use 4wd in high range and on hardpack/concrete counter to their manual. The windup has more impact than the FEL load does.

 

[Unclewillie]

Sorry for my ignorance but does this mean gear oil is more likely to be contaminated with water than UDT over time?

yeah because good hydraulic fluids have the ability to displace moisture / water where gear oil don't. But long as it's changed as stated it will be fine unless leaks allowing water in.

 

[5030]

On my 2 M's, the front axle oil gets changed every 2 years and inspected (for water) every time I change the engine oil. I use them hard.

 

[5030]

Lots of people use 4wd in high range and on hardpack/concrete counter to their manual. The windup has more impact than the FEL load does.

I haven't had either of mine in FWA in a long time. No need to use it for what I do. More of a selling point for me than anything else. I will be using it shortly, have some stumps to yank.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

On my 2 M's, the front axle oil gets changed every 2 years and inspected (for water) every time I change the engine oil. I use them hard.

That is a good sequence!

I am to lazy to keep track and do everything at 100 hours.

 

[CADplans]

I had a small leak with the UDT, so I changed to 80/90 Gear Oil about 100-150 hrs ago, and the leak went away. All I did was drain and fill, and have had no problems since.

I drained my JD 4105 and refilled it with 140W that I found a 2.5 gallon jug of at TSC,,
My axle was leaking, and after the change, it still leaked a little, I think the residual UDT oil was enough to "thin" the new gear oil,,

I drained it again, and refilled it again,, and that was the LAST of my front end leaks!!

The tractor is a 2012 model year,, I did the change in either 2016 or 2017,,

So, the gear oil might be in use longer than the UDT oil was,,