When I went in for parts to do my 50 hour service the dealer told me that all I needed to do is change oil & filter, fuel filter, air filter and tranny filter. This conflicts with the manual, but other than the typical fine metallics, the UDT oil looks clean. Additionally, when you attempt to grease all of the fittings you run into problems. I have yet to locate a grease fitting for my gun that is small enough to get into the U-joints on the belly and PTO shafts. So, I have two questions; 1. Should I stick with the maintenance intervals in the manual or follow dealer advice ? 2. Has anyone else been able to access the U-joint grease fittings and if so how, short of disconnecting the shafts ?
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BX2200 Lubrication
- Thread starter wdm
- Start date
- Views: 4601
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- kubota bx2200
DaleW
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2000
- Messages
- 116
- Location
- Lower Hudson Valley New York
- Tractor
- B2710 FEL with a 72 inch mid mount mower and teltrax canopy
Had the same problem on my 2710 on the belly shaft. I wound up disconnecting the shaft and greasing. Don't know about the BX but it is easy to get at the belly shaft on the 2710 for a disconnect.
I tried every way to get a grease gun to fit into the universal but any way I turned the shaft I couldn't get it to fit.
Good Luck
Dale
I tried every way to get a grease gun to fit into the universal but any way I turned the shaft I couldn't get it to fit.
Good Luck
Dale
RBrown
Bronze Member
wdm,
After reading your post under the BX2200 catcher, I had to reply to your questions about the lubrication frequency on your BX. I had a dealer tell me the same thing about the manuals recommended service intervals. This particular dealer even went as far to say if it isn't broke don't fix it. Once I take delivery of my B2710 in a couple of weeks I fully plan on following the manual to the letter. If a local dealer doesn't want to sell me the filters or oil, then I go to the next one. Changing the oil is cheap insurance. It seems like you have some other issues with this dealer. If possible I think I would find another dealer.
After reading your post under the BX2200 catcher, I had to reply to your questions about the lubrication frequency on your BX. I had a dealer tell me the same thing about the manuals recommended service intervals. This particular dealer even went as far to say if it isn't broke don't fix it. Once I take delivery of my B2710 in a couple of weeks I fully plan on following the manual to the letter. If a local dealer doesn't want to sell me the filters or oil, then I go to the next one. Changing the oil is cheap insurance. It seems like you have some other issues with this dealer. If possible I think I would find another dealer.
scruffy
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2000
- Messages
- 1,445
- Tractor
- None (at present)
To grease the u-joints on any type of drive shaft, you need to purchase an needle addaptor, it fits over the female zerk fitting on your grease gun, and has a 'needle' shaft on it that centers on your grease zerk 'ball' allowing you to reach into the narrow space available for your grease gun. Any automotive parts house will have the adaptor.
PaulB
Gold Member
Hey you guys, now you have me worried. The manual for my B1700 says nothing about lubing the drive shafts - I figured they were sealed and didn't need any maintanance. Am I wrong? Does the manual for the BX and 2710 discuss this issue, or is it something you picked up from experience?
scruffy
Veteran Member
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- Jul 8, 2000
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PaulB, most (not all) U-Joints will have either a zerk fitting, or indented hole that is a guide for the needle adaptor. I am sure that some U-Joints will also come without any means of lubing the joint...makes for replacement profits down the road for the manufacturer. For the most part, they will be serviceable, and should be periodically lubed to prevent premature wearout. (T'iz the old mechanic experience in my ancient history)
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Scruffy...
You're just old fashioned. You don't need zerks anymore. Many ball joints for instance are "sealed for life" or "lubricated for life". Unfortunately people think "life" means their life, or the vehicle's life. It's for the "life" of the joint, which will be danged short if the grease gets out! (which they seem to do).
I love the idea of "lubed for life" joints, maybe a great new sealing system that prevents water etc from getting in etc. but would it hurt to maybe have a zerk anyway? Maybe with a cute rubber cap over it, or even just the threaded hole with a little bolt in it (seen that) for when "life" starts to end?
I think the lack of zerks helps the manufacturer, especially cars, make a slimmed down maintenance chart to sell to people as a reason to buy the car. NO TUNEUPS FOR 100,000 MILES!!! Sometimes looking under the hood now and then can prevent other problems. Of course the dealers then make up their own service charts, sometimes as a true sincere help, sometimes just to make money. I had a vehicle under warranty, was busy and took it in, was presented with a HUGE estimate, went through it and crossed off 2/3 of the items as they were either truly unneeded (and I'm a maintenance nut) or just impossible to perform on my model vehicle!
Old fashioned too,
del
You're just old fashioned. You don't need zerks anymore. Many ball joints for instance are "sealed for life" or "lubricated for life". Unfortunately people think "life" means their life, or the vehicle's life. It's for the "life" of the joint, which will be danged short if the grease gets out! (which they seem to do).
I love the idea of "lubed for life" joints, maybe a great new sealing system that prevents water etc from getting in etc. but would it hurt to maybe have a zerk anyway? Maybe with a cute rubber cap over it, or even just the threaded hole with a little bolt in it (seen that) for when "life" starts to end?
I think the lack of zerks helps the manufacturer, especially cars, make a slimmed down maintenance chart to sell to people as a reason to buy the car. NO TUNEUPS FOR 100,000 MILES!!! Sometimes looking under the hood now and then can prevent other problems. Of course the dealers then make up their own service charts, sometimes as a true sincere help, sometimes just to make money. I had a vehicle under warranty, was busy and took it in, was presented with a HUGE estimate, went through it and crossed off 2/3 of the items as they were either truly unneeded (and I'm a maintenance nut) or just impossible to perform on my model vehicle!
Old fashioned too,
del
scruffy
Veteran Member
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Del, I agree Sir! Remember Ford coming out in the early sixties with their lube free systems. Only problem was, a year or two down the road, they got hard to steer, u-joints going bad, etc. Thankfully the replacements had zerk fittings! It definately makes for an increase in business' maintenance profits! Proud to be old-fashioned!
I have completed the 50 hrs service and found my screen filter full of metal shavings. I know the Super UDT is expensive but it is going to be in the tractor much longer the second time around.
My Super UDT fluid also looked clean on a dip stick, but after I drained it into a clear plastic container I purchased at the store it looked suprisingly dirty with many metal shaving settling to the bottom. I was hoping to reuse the fluid in my roto-tiller gearbox. Not after what I saw.
I too took the mower deck off to clean and grease the PTO shaft(easy to grease when you bend at the U joint).
I have no grease fittings on my U joints on the front drive shaft(guess I need to look closer for a hole and buy that special tool, I like tools. ha ha).
RGD - BX2200 owner
My Super UDT fluid also looked clean on a dip stick, but after I drained it into a clear plastic container I purchased at the store it looked suprisingly dirty with many metal shaving settling to the bottom. I was hoping to reuse the fluid in my roto-tiller gearbox. Not after what I saw.
I too took the mower deck off to clean and grease the PTO shaft(easy to grease when you bend at the U joint).
I have no grease fittings on my U joints on the front drive shaft(guess I need to look closer for a hole and buy that special tool, I like tools. ha ha).
RGD - BX2200 owner
