front axle oil

[Gary Fowler]

I was just reading the Kubota forum and the low oil in the front axle. Has anyone checked the oil level in their front axles on the LS? I sure havent.

 

[bp fick]

Gary, I"ve not heard of this "air lock" issue on other models as much. The design of many of the small Kubotas, especially the BXs make them virtually impossible to "fill" in one sitting. You've got to fill, use them for a week or two, then top them off, to work out the trapped air pockets. Nature of the beast.

It seems 90% of the guys gripe that no one told them to check their fluids. I gotta say, however, my salesman DID tell me. He even went so far as to recommend I drain the factory fill and re-fill with synthetic gear lube, which I did.

I don't care if your tractor is Blue, Orange, Green or Red, checking fluid levels, at least before using your tractor seems like a machinery no-brainer to me. Maybe I"m being insensitive, I don't know, but my old man drilled checking fluid levels into my brain as a youngster.

The fact is, that the manuals DO recommend you check all fluid levels periodically or "regularly", whatever that means to you.

Maybe it's just me, but I checked those levels when the delivery truck pulled away. Trust the setup guy, but verify. I still check 'em all every few months. I dunno.

 

[Short Game]

The fluids that could possibly burn or evaporate out the exhaust or have contained leaks I check often. The ones that can only leak away externally, not so much. I've had a leaky front axle before. One tablespoon of gear oil leakage doesn't easily go unnoticed. A low level, via leakage in the rear axle/transmission/hydraulic supply, would be hard to miss. For one thing, bumpy hydraulic operations should be a tell tale. I check these things at my regular 50s.

So, the crankcase and radiator need to be watched, as levels can go up or down and alert you to serious problems like fuel or coolant in the engine oil. Front and rear gear oils, part of regular service. That's my system.

 

[joemd11]

I checked the level in the front axle of my R3039 after some "burped" out one day last fall. I had the tractor parked on an incline where the right front tire was lower than the left. When I put the tractor away in the shed (moved about 20 feet forward), I noticed oil dripping on the floor. My investigation revealed it had come from the blue plastic vent cap that is on the right side of the axle. I guess oil in the axle had ran to the low side (right) while the tractor was parked and was then forced out when I drove it in the shed. Only lost about 2-3 tablespoons of oil.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Sounds like this might just be a Kubota problem. I still intend to check mine next time I am home. I dont even have 50 hours on it yet, but went ahead and changed the motor oil and hydraulic filters as per the 50 hour service when my year of ownership came about. I did notice that I have a leak at the quick disconnects for the FEL last time I used it. I will have to clean that off good and see which one is leaking. Other than that, no drips found so far.

 

[bp fick]

It isn't unusual. We've had some outboard lower end units and stern drive lower end units that acted the same way. You'd change out the 80w-90, re-fill them. But, many would need major topping off after being run a few hours.

The nature of the fluid is that is cannot, by itself, through the mere act of filling from an upper fill port, displace all the air pockets that are in that drive unit or axle housing. The more oddly shaped the drive unit is, the more places for air to to be trapped. These units get delivered to the customers as "full", when it's merely "full" temporarily.

Through use, the gears and shafts turn, the temperature increases, the thick oil gets sloshed around and the air pockets get driven out. Usually, the air escapes through a vent. And.... Ta Da. The oil now "fills" those displaced air pockets and now reads a quart low on the dipstick. It isn't a mystery.

What we do have here is a failure to communicate. (Cool Hand Luke).

The dealers, owner's manuals, (but, who read them?) salesmen, prep guys and ultimately, the owners themselves need to better understand these kinds of issues, imho.

How many DIY anti-freeze re-fillers fail to "burp" their systems? Yup, it's full!!! Slam the hood. Only to discover after driving the car/truck for a week to see their reservoir low a half a gallon?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I guess that is why my boat lower unit says to pump the gear lube in from the bottom till it runs out the top hole. You need a bit of speciality equipment to do that, but it works well, when it runs out it is surely full.

 

[gregsm33]

Gary,

I have checked my front axle oil and some time ago and is fine, also I have been reading about Shortgames problem with his FEL (rollback weakness). I guess I hadn't tried if the 7010 rollback would lift the front end of tractor off the ground. I am happy to report that it lifts it "no problem".

Dealer changed my fuel tank the other day too, thanks for that tip.

 

[Short Game]

My problem is my hopelessly gutless LL4100 loader's rollback cylinders. It's the only one I have any experience with. The fact that LS has beefed up the bucket cylinders shows they have gotten some idea about it. I await their recall, and the arrival of my new, free, cylinders.

How about it, LS, don't you read about your brand here? Please fix me up. Put in your R&D budget. Pay me for my testing.

 

[DwightD123]

Gary,


Dealer changed my fuel tank the other day too, thanks for that tip.

What is the deal with the fuel tanks?