Disc axle nut tightness

[mmsb27]

Hi. I recently bought a used CountyLine (Tractor Supply) 7 foot Three point hitch disc. Three of of the disc plates were broken, so I removed the axle nut and jam nut off of two axles, and replaced them. I used my Rigid 18 volt impact gun, to tighten the 1 7/16” nuts on. I don’t have experience using a disc, let alone working on one. So…. How tight should I have made there nuts. Is it possible to have them too tight? I used the middle setting on my impact gun. Another question, does tightening affect the spinning of the axles? Any pointers on how I would know when a bearing carrier would need replaced, since this disc set has non greasable axle bearings. I had to use the impact gun to get the nuts off to replace the broken discs. Any other pointers and suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Tighten the nuts down good and tight, it's not gonna hurt anything and with the disc raised spin the gang and listen to the bearing, you will hear it if it's going bad and if you hear it dragging it won't be long before it needs replacing, you should be able to cross reference and get one with a grease fitting

 

[mmsb27]

Thank you very much. All 4 gangs spins, the rear two spin easier(freer) than the front two spin, but none are like spinning a something lubed. No noise, or bad bearing sounds. In other words I can turn them by hand, but not give them a spin, and they keep turning a while. I’m assuming that’s ok? Thanks again

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Thank you very much. All 4 gangs spins, the rear two spin easier(freer) than the front two spin, but none are like spinning a something lubed. No noise, or bad bearing sounds. In other words I can turn them by hand, but not give them a spin, and they keep turning a while. I’m assuming that’s ok? Thanks again

After you use it some they may actually spin a little better, you know knock the dust off.

 

[TractorTech]

As Lineman says, tighten them good and tight.
That said, I would use the highest setting on your Milwaukee. Better yet, get a 4' cheater on a breaker bar and get it tighter.

 

[mmsb27]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your advice.

 

[sweettractors]

Hi. I recently bought a used CountyLine (Tractor Supply) 7 foot Three point hitch disc. Three of of the disc plates were broken, so I removed the axle nut and jam nut off of two axles, and replaced them. I used my Rigid 18 volt impact gun, to tighten the 1 7/16” nuts on. I don’t have experience using a disc, let alone working on one. So…. How tight should I have made there nuts. Is it possible to have them too tight? I used the middle setting on my impact gun. Another question, does tightening affect the spinning of the axles? Any pointers on how I would know when a bearing carrier would need replaced, since this disc set has non greasable axle bearings. I had to use the impact gun to get the nuts off to replace the broken discs. Any other pointers and suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

I would recommend tightening as you did and then retighten all 4 after using a couple hours. Also, you may want to double nut each axle if you have trouble with them backing off and getting loose. Ken Sweet

 

[mmsb27]

Thanks Ken. I was concerned about over tightening, thinking I could somehow stress, or impede the bearings. The axles each have a nut, and then a nylock(sp?) nut. I bought new Nylocks. After I use it a bit, I’ll check tightness, and snug the new ones on it. Thanks for your help

 

[TractorTech]

If they are 1-7/16” nuts across the flats, I assume 7/8” axles. Pretty hard to over torque with the Milwaukee, but follow up torque as Sweet suggests is good advise. Periodically inspect for loosening depend on use.

 

[mmsb27]

They are 1 7/16” nuts, the axles are 1” square. Since I felt the axles should spin freely like a roulette wheel, I was concerned I might have over tightened the nuts. I’m glad to hear that being very tight is the correct way. The axles spin, but only as I turn them. I imagine as others stated above, it might loosen up, after use. The disc was sitting for a while. I really wish the bearings had grease fittings, but many bearings these days don’t. Thanks for your advice.

 

[TractorTech]

On the subject of greased disc bearings, Domries, a Central Valley California disc maker only sells discs with sealed bearings as their theory is a greaseable bearing stands a chance of getting over greased and will push out the seal allowing dirt to enter.

For customers that wanted bearings to grease, they ablige by installing a zerk, but aren't greasing anything. "It makes them happy"

 

[dieselscout80]

Lots of bearings are sealed now vs being grease able. Automotive u-joints and wheel bearings are prime examples.

I kinda doubt farmers are greasing +30’ discs once or twice a day anymore.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Lots of bearings are sealed now vs being grease able. Automotive u-joints and wheel bearings are prime examples.

I kinda doubt farmers are greasing +30’ discs once or twice a day anymore.

While seaied bearings may be nice in certain applications, the problem with them IMO is on equipment such as round balers , there is virtually no way to know that one is going bad other than stopping and shooting each bearing with an IR temperature gun every 20 or so rolls or just watch for the smoke and hope it doesn't catch fire, and while that is really not a concern with disc harrow bearings it is a good feeling to grease them and spin the axle and know you can go to the field and work without that concern. About 7 years ago I rebuilt my 12' bush hog brand leveling harrow which I grease before use and while I replaced all 8 bearings along with all the disc pans only 1 of them was failing, I would like to think it was due to me greasing them religiously prior to each use.

 

[TractorTech]

While seaied bearings may be nice in certain applications, the problem with them IMO is on equipment such as round balers , there is virtually no way to know that one is going bad other than stopping and shooting each bearing with an IR temperature gun every 20 or so rolls or just watch for the smoke and hope it doesn't catch fire, and while that is really not a concern with disc harrow bearings it is a good feeling to grease them and spin the axle and know you can go to the field and work without that concern. About 7 years ago I rebuilt my 12' bush hog brand leveling harrow which I grease before use and while I replaced all 8 bearings along with all the disc pans only 1 of them was failing, I would like to think it was due to me greasing them religiously prior to each use.

That would tell me that you properly greased the bearings, which is not the majority of instances.
This also underlines the importance of using quality sealed bearings vs cheapest available. Pre-greased, sealed bearings need to be loaded with grease when manufactured and this isn’t always the case.

The bearings on discs that were greasable that didn’t makes sense to me were those utilizing flangettes. Grease never finds the bearing and dirt gets into the flangettes.

 

[TractorTech]

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