B40C Tiller Oil Seals

FarmerRG · Nov 13, 2004

Does anyone know how to change the oil seals on a Kubota B40C PTO driven tiller? I was able to remove the rotor axle but don't see any way to pull the bearings to get to the seals without bending the sheet metal flanges that protect the seals from dirt. Are the bearings pressed on? Should I take it to a Kubota dealer and what would that cost do you estimate?

Pilot · Dec 3, 2004

FarmerRG,

I have the same tiller & it is leaking, too. I talked to 2 Kubota dealers. The first said it was a job I wouldn't want to take on myself & that it would cost $250-$300 to have them do it. The second said I wouldn't want to try it, & the last time they overhauled one, early this year, it ran $601, but more parts were replaced than just the seal. They said they sometimes had to take a torch to it to get the bearing/seal out. They also said it was not a Kubota tiller, but made by Howard, instead & they put Kubota's name on it and painted it orange so that Kubota would have a tiller to sell.
So, later today I was at a Landini shop (a small 2 man operation) & they said they could fix it and that it would take about 2 hours.

So, what did you do with yours? Take it to a dealer? If so, how much did it cost?

Pilot

FarmerRG · Feb 7, 2005

I took it down to the Kubota dealer but he wanted $75 per hour plus parts but wouldn't say how long it takes. He said they use a puller, sometimes damage the bearing flange cover and replace that too. He said I could do it myself (which is funny since I already tried and that is why I was there in the first place!) The puller idea seemed bad to me so I ordered a bearing for $10 and a seal for $12 from tractorsmart.com. I took a small dremel wheel and cut a groove in the inner bearing race. I tapped it with a cold chisel and it split easily. The bearing slid right off since the pressure was relieved. You can then pry the old seal from the bearing cover. I cleaned up everything and pressed in a new seal with a Harbor Freight arbor press although you could use a 2" wood dowel if you are careful. I reassembled everything in reverse order. The new bearing is a press fit but I was able to tap it on with a 2" pipe and some oil. After putting the tiller back together, the manual said to use ISO 1000 (SAE 250) gear oil. The only place I could find it was MSC Industrial on the web for $12 a gallon. My tiller matched the B40C parts list on the web but if yours is made by Howard, it should be similar. Good luck!