Aluminum Axle Housing on Smaller Tractors

[WVH1977]

Hello all, I have been looking at smaller 25 hp tractors to go with my big tractor for close to the house. A lot of them have aluminum housing in the rear.

Besides the lighter weight, has anyone actually broke the aluminum housing or had any issues at all with it? Is it something that should really cause any concern?

 

[Tractorable]

Thought only John Deere had aluminum axle housings in their E series tractors? Any other manufacturers I’m not aware of?

 

[WVH1977]

I am looking at an Kubota LX2620 and I believe it has an aluminum axle housing. Did not have a magnet to check but all the info I find says it is.

 

[Tractorable]

Pretty sure Kubota is all steel. Check it with a magnet. Can a Kubota owner chime in to verify?

 

[dodge man]

I’ve seen the aluminum axle housing argued before. Some say it’s better, others worse. In my opinion it’s a non issue either way.

 

[jyoutz]

I don’t believe that Kubota uses aluminum axle or transmission housings, or any other company except JD.

 

[Williy]

Yes, some Kubota tractors, particularly those in the L series, do utilize aluminum housings, especially for transmission housings. For example, the Kubota 3025E has an aluminum-cast transmission housing. This is in contrast to models like the L2502, which features a steel-cast transmission housing. The choice of material can impact the tractor's overall weight and the maximum size of attachments it can handle


willy

 

[CPTKILLER]

These aluminum or similar metal housings are fairly common with Asian companies. They do that to reduce cost. When

When I was a manufacturing engineering manager manufacturing forklifts, we weren’t happy about the transition to pot metal cases. Nevertheless we avoided problems by carefully torquing all of the fasteners carefully to avoid cracking the cases.

It worked but took some effort.

 

[jyoutz]

Yes, some Kubota tractors, particularly those in the L series, do utilize aluminum housings, especially for transmission housings. For example, the Kubota 3025E has an aluminum-cast transmission housing. This is in contrast to models like the L2502, which features a steel-cast transmission housing. The choice of material can impact the tractor's overall weight and the maximum size of attachments it can handle


willy

I’m not aware of a Kubota 3025E model. That is a JD model number.

 

[murphy1244]

These aluminum or similar metal housings are fairly common with Asian companies. They do that to reduce cost. When

When I was a manufacturing engineering manager manufacturing forklifts, we weren’t happy about the transition to pot metal cases. Nevertheless we avoided problems by carefully torquing all of the fasteners carefully to avoid cracking the cases.

It worked but took some effort.

What asian tractors use aluminum? Not Kioti

 

[TMGT]

Kubota uses aluminum rear transmission/axle housings on the BX, B and LX series with one exception I know of. The B26tlb uses cast steel axle housings with an aluminum center/transmission.

From personal experience and what I've seen on other equipment, the aluminum rear ends on these tractors are not an issue. Like with any equipment, if you abuse it enough you can have failure, but it isn't a weak point.

I've actually seen more problems with cast steel(iron maybe?) axles and transmissions on older New Holland's. I think it's more about design, material selection, and QC, then aluminum or steel.

 

[dicktill]

The Massey Ferguson GC series uses "light alloy" transaxle housings. Not sure if they are aluminum or some sort of pot metal, but more likely aluminum in my opinion.

 

[skramer360]

Several years ago (15ish) I worked at a rental store. We had a John Deere CUT, 33hp but can't remember the model number, that had aluminum rear axle housings. A customer rented it without a rear attachment on the 3 pt hitch. They backed into a concrete curb and busted the rear axle housings where the 3 pt arms attach.

 

[sd455dan]

I don’t believe that Kubota uses aluminum axle or transmission housings, or any other company except JD.

I thought the BX did, thought there was a post while back of damage done by a stump grinder. Some of the powershift GL's as well iianm

B series back in the day? OK I see it above ^

Deere 3025E for sure

Aluminum rear axles

How long has Kubota been using aluminum transmission housings on their B series tractors? Has anyone ever had a reliability issue with this? Cracked or broken trans housings? I'm old school and think they all should be cast iron. Deere does the same thing. The only B series made now with a cast...

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