B2910 front wheel snapped off!

[riptides]

Sometimes people get so busy, they miss the obvious.

If someone had noted, perhaps a call was in order? "You want studs with your axle?"

 

[638]

Did I miss something here? Why not just unscrew the studs out of the old axle and screw them into the new axle. All it takes are 2 nuts and 2 wrenches.

 

[dlabrie]

Did I miss something here? Why not just unscrew the studs out of the old axle and screw them into the new axle. All it takes are 2 nuts and 2 wrenches.

Kubota re-designed the axle hub. The old studs were pressed on, the new ones screw in.

 

[dlabrie]

When I do get the new studs, how do I put them on? Do I take 2 of the nuts and screw them all the way on the stud and then screw the stud in to the hub and crank down on the 2 nuts?

 

[RobKinNH]

When I do get the new studs, how do I put them on? Do I take 2 of the nuts and screw them all the way on the stud and then screw the stud in to the hub and crank down on the 2 nuts?

That sounds about right. The stud should have a long and a short treaded end, the short threaded end should go into the hub. You might want to put some locktite on the threads that go into the hub, it will keep the stud from coming out if you have to remove a wheel.

 

[RobertBrown]

When I do get the new studs, how do I put them on? Do I take 2 of the nuts and screw them all the way on the stud and then screw the stud in to the hub and crank down on the 2 nuts?

I could be wrong but I was thinking your new studs are actually bolts with a tapered head shaped to match the lug nuts.
I had an old Datsun that was set up that way. I think volkswagons had the same setup.
I don't know why they would have a stud thats threaded on both ends...doesn't seem like a good idea....
I was wondering why the dealer didn't sell you the bolts or at least try to sell them to you or ask you if you needed them.
Didn't you say you were dealing with 2 different dealers?

 

[BlacknTan]

I could be wrong but I was thinking your new studs are actually bolts with a tapered head shaped to match the lug nuts.
I had an old Datsun that was set up that way. I think volkswagons had the same setup.
I don't know why they would have a stud thats threaded on both ends...doesn't seem like a good idea....
I was wondering why the dealer didn't sell you the bolts or at least try to sell them to you or ask you if you needed them.
Didn't you say you were dealing with 2 different dealers?

I think this is correct.

My fronts have bolts, and my rears have 2 studs, and the rest are bolts.

 

[dlabrie]

I could be wrong but I was thinking your new studs are actually bolts with a tapered head shaped to match the lug nuts.
Didn't you say you were dealing with 2 different dealers?

Same dealer, different store.

You can see they are just threaded studs. No taper. The wheel is held on with a lock washer and a nut.

 

[dlabrie]

Back in business!
The first pict is one of the new studs. #2 is the old, pressed on stud. #3 Stud ready to go on with loc-tite. #4 Double nuts and wrench to tighten new stud. #5 All studs in. #6 Wheel in place. #7 Finished!

#8, new problem The lifting bracket on my JD mower deck ripped out. Time to find a welder

 

[BlacknTan]

Nice job on the tractor! There's alot of satisfaction in your own repair, and you know 100% that it's done properly.

As for the mower deck... It's always sumthin'...LOL

 

[crazyal]

Glad it worked out and just think of everything you've learned. As far as the axle being stronger, does anyone know if it's stronger because it's also used on larger models?

 

[Verticaltrx]

Glad it worked out and just think of everything you've learned. As far as the axle being stronger, does anyone know if it's stronger because it's also used on larger models?

That axle is used on the B3200/3300, B2630, B3030 and B26. I don't think it is used on the B2320-2920, but I could be wrong. It is only used on the B-series as far as I know.

 

[kubotaron]

I just had my front right wheel snap off my 2910. Looks like the crack was there for some time and finally failed completely. In hindesight I think it may have shown in the hub surface seen in the middle of the wheel rim. I will monitor the other side or may take it apart and have it mag particled checked.
It really is an easy task. Drain the axle and remove the outside cover with bearings and gear. I supported the gear on 1/4 steel angles and used an air hammer with a brass tip and pushed the stub axle out of the inner bearing. No damage. real easy. I removed the inner bearing and then the shim. Reassembled with the new hub. Hub cost about 180 plus tax plus new seal.
Dealer had not seen one broken like this. Is this common?
Ron in Canada

 

[jungersbob]

My front loft wheel on my B2910 snapped of while clipping my field. It was a low-stress operation on the tractor. I found that it sheared from the axle on a poorly engineered and executed weld. The axle consists of a flange (to attach to the wheel) and a shaft, welded together and machined afterward to be the finished axle. The weld penetration on the inside was completely machined through, and the weld penetration on the outside was machined back to be less than .050" thickness. There was about .400" of interface with no weld penetration. This .050 of weld is what failed. The replacement axle was similarly fabricated, but at a larger diameter interface, with no obvious indication that the weld on the inside had been machined through. That indicates to me that the manufacturer became aware of this faulty design and took corrective measures for the new part. If this is true, I believe that the factory should have issued a recall and replaced them all for free. This could potentially be a very dangerous situation.

 

[brain55]

Hmmm, By that logic, Ford should go out and replace every car they ever sold with carburetor. Changing to fuel injection was a blatant admission that the carburetors were no good! Hopefully products evolve and technology improves. Could be the new part costs less to make.

It's not practical to think manufacturers should "stand behind" every possible defect forever. That's why warrantes have limits. You can buy extended warranties if you want to spend the money. Keep in mind, warranty costs get rolled back into next year's tractor prices. The cost of the "goodwill" stuff that gets covered for your neighbor, will be added to your next tractor. How much do you want to pay?

I can't respond any better than this previous post in this thread.

My front loft wheel on my B2910 snapped of while clipping my field. It was a low-stress operation on the tractor. I found that it sheared from the axle on a poorly engineered and executed weld. The axle consists of a flange (to attach to the wheel) and a shaft, welded together and machined afterward to be the finished axle. The weld penetration on the inside was completely machined through, and the weld penetration on the outside was machined back to be less than .050" thickness. There was about .400" of interface with no weld penetration. This .050 of weld is what failed. The replacement axle was similarly fabricated, but at a larger diameter interface, with no obvious indication that the weld on the inside had been machined through. That indicates to me that the manufacturer became aware of this faulty design and took corrective measures for the new part. If this is true, I believe that the factory should have issued a recall and replaced them all for free. This could potentially be a very dangerous situation.

 

[repete]

Seems to me that portion of the axle should have been immersed in gear lube. My dipstick on my front axle shows low level being way above this point. I see no evidence of grease dripping anywhere in the photos.

 

[brain55]

Seems to me that portion of the axle should have been immersed in gear lube. My dipstick on my front axle shows low level being way above this point. I see no evidence of grease dripping anywhere in the photos.

The part of the axle that breaks off is outside of the seal, so there is no fluid loss.

 

[Kubotafan]

Now here is my big worry, and I hope someone can settle my mind. Just as we were turning into my drive (everything is gravel) my rear wheels locked up. I had to put it into neutral for the last 10 yards. Did I do something to my transmission? While he was pulling me I was keeping up under my own power and wheel braking to stay with him. Please tell me I didn't do something really stupid.

How did this work out for you?

 

[dlabrie]

How did this work out for you?

Well it was 3 years ago since I fixed it. What ever happened with the locked wheel went away. I have been working it hard ever since. As a matter of fact, I must have dragged 4 cord of wood out of the woods this past week. The cold ( 0 this morning) and frozen ground makes for good sliding of the logs

 

[Jim Nelson]

I just lost the left front axle on my B7800 and it looks identical to yours.On my hub the studs are threaded and look like your pic of your new ones but in the parts diagram I have it notes to replace the axle and studs simultaneously. I have my old ones out and they look like new so I think I'll just deprive Kubota of a little piece of my pocket.Was there a noticeable difference in the new versus old axles? If so I think I'll replace both but if not I'll play the waiting game.