B3030 Front End Locking Up (Video)

[Chaldaean]

The front end started locking up this afternoon and intermittently comes to a halt.

Here is a video to show behavior (tractor is in 2 wheel drive):Kubota B3 Front End Locking Up - YouTube

It wanted to limp it back to the garage, but couldn't only manage to get it moved a few feet.

I was home during lunch break to pickup some leaves and had to get back to work, so I couldn't spend time troubleshooting (lifted the front end, spinning by hand etc.). I hope to do that tonight.

Does anyone have insight regarding troubleshooting, potential causes and solutions? I'm handy and would like to fix it myself to save money, but will take it to the dealer if the group thinks this will be a can of worms.

Thanks for the support!

 

[bg71361]

Check your link, didn’t work for me

 

[Chaldaean]

Thanks; link is fixed

 

[moship]

Is only the passenger side locking up?

It's fairly easy to remove the wheel hub assembly. An o-ring is used to seal and can be reused if not damaged. So there are no parts that need to be procured to remove and replace for inspection.

I wouldn't hesitate to disassemble as it requires minimal work and you'll be able to see first hand if a ball bearing or gear is failing. My guess is a bearing is coming apart and jamming in the gear.

Keep us posted on what you find and good luck!

 

[KennyV]

Is only the passenger side locking up?

I think this is on a B3030, tractor,... it has No passenger accommodations, however there are much larger AG tractors that do have passenger seats, generally on cab models, on the Left side of the operator station. KennyV

 

[moship]

Curious what the OP found wrong. Care to report?

 

[Chaldaean]

Curious what the OP found wrong. Care to report?

moship, I'm still in the middle of the repair, but the quick news is that the teeth on the pinion and ring gears are damaged. The debris migrated into both (left/right sides) bevel gears and there is some collateral damage in those bearings (retainers damaged etc.). I have the whole front axle off of the tractor and pulled apart every component. I'm waiting on receipt of gears, bearings, backlash spacers, seals, etc to complete the repair. So far, I'm at $500+ in parts. Here's a shot of the ring/pinion set....

 

[Michford]

moship, I'm still in the middle of the repair, but the quick news is that the teeth on the pinion and ring gears are damaged. The debris migrated into both (left/right sides) bevel gears and there is some collateral damage in those bearings (retainers damaged etc.). I have the whole front axle off of the tractor and pulled apart every component. I'm waiting on receipt of gears, bearings, backlash spacers, seals, etc to complete the repair. So far, I'm at $500+ in parts. Here's a shot of the ring/pinion set....

View attachment 580890

Ouch. Any idea what caused the damage to the teeth on the ring and pinion?

 

[moship]

Thanks for sharing ,but I’m sorry for the extent of damage you’ve found.

It’s hard to imagin the circumstances that initiated the initial failure before it snowballed into what you have now.

Good luck with the repairs.

 

[diesel85]

Looks like defective castings/materials.