Front Axle Oil

unclebunk · Jun 23, 2012

I think I know what all of you will say to this, but I had to ask. My BX24 has 325 hours and I am doing the service this weekend. The book says to change the front axle oil. When I asked the dealership which oil they recomend, the parts lady said, "We don't change that oil. If you change that oil, the front axle will leak from now on. We only change it if something goes wrong." My dad has been a heavy equipment operator and mechanic for over forty years. He said that was crazy. He said if I was worried about leaks to use teflon tape on the plug. Has anyone ever heard of any of this? My gut tells me to change the oil and replace it with 90w.

john haylow · Jun 23, 2012

unclebunk said:
I think I know what all of you will say to this, but I had to ask. My BX24 has 325 hours and I am doing the service this weekend. The book says to change the front axle oil. When I asked the dealership which oil they recomend, the parts lady said, "We don't change that oil. If you change that oil, the front axle will leak from now on. We only change it if something goes wrong." My dad has been a heavy equipment operator and mechanic for over forty years. He said that was crazy. He said if I was worried about leaks to use teflon tape on the plug. Has anyone ever heard of any of this? My gut tells me to change the oil and replace it with 90w.

My dealer told me to use Kubota UDT.

Bluegill2 · Jun 23, 2012

Yeah, it wont leak from changing it...

My book, says 80w-90, or UDT.

Combustix · Jun 23, 2012

Bluegill2 said:
Yeah, it wont leak from changing it...

My book, says 80w-90, or UDT.

Just did my 600 hr and the parts guy said the same

Deano · Jun 23, 2012

Change it!!!

PHILIP8N · Jun 23, 2012

I have changed mine. Not one drop on the concrete floor. They are nuts. Philip.

MHarryE · Jun 23, 2012

I don't believe she was saying it would leak from the plugs - she meant it would leak from the seals. Used to be something on transmissions in the old days - people didn't change oil like they were supposed to and ended up with gunk. Then, maybe when a new owner gets the tractor, they change the oil. The new oil with its improved additives starts loosening things up and seals start leaking. Blame changing oil when the problem was really poor maintenance from the start. Makes you wonder if you would ever want to buy used equipment from that dealer. I got this from my dad who had an International Harvester dealership from the mid-30's to 1954, then Case & New Holland until well after I left. He caught me doing things by the book and tried to straighten me out about this exact thing.

Bluegill2 · Jun 24, 2012

MHarryE said:
I don't believe she was saying it would leak from the plugs - she meant it would leak from the seals. Used to be something on transmissions in the old days - people didn't change oil like they were supposed to and ended up with gunk. Then, maybe when a new owner gets the tractor, they change the oil. The new oil with its improved additives starts loosening things up and seals start leaking. Blame changing oil when the problem was really poor maintenance from the start. Makes you wonder if you would ever want to buy used equipment from that dealer. I got this from my dad who had an International Harvester dealership from the mid-30's to 1954, then Case & New Holland until well after I left. He caught me doing things by the book and tried to straighten me out about this exact thing.

Yep, I've seen this happen with older vehicles and epuipment that never had trans, or diff oil changed.

Proletarian · Jun 24, 2012

load of rubbish, change the oil. I've always changed mine with no problem. The shear stability is lessened the more the lube is used therefore it needs to be changed. you can go synthetic or UDT

TripleR · Jun 24, 2012

We change all of ours and never had a problem, we use gear oil, but we have it on hand with different brands of tractors.

bikerdib · Jun 24, 2012

So your dealership said not to do a owner's manual / factory service manual recommended maintenance? I'd ask the dealership general manager if that is their official position on how to do maintenance and if he said it is; I'd find another dealership to deal with, quick.

big bubba · Jun 24, 2012

sure change it, just like the manual says....as mentioned, i'd go with GL5 80/90 gear oil...i've heard it said that if the seals were going to leak, it might be more likely with the thinner udt but am skeptical of even that. a kubots rep needs to talk to the dealership lady re: potential warranty issues if customers take her advice....btw check several times afterward after running as it takes time to flow within the axle

Chugbug · Jun 24, 2012

Just changed mine used 80 / 90 with no problems...

bp fick · Jun 24, 2012

My dealer recommended changing it as soon as it was convenient for me. Also suggested 75w-90 synthetic. That's what I did. I have absolutely no idea why you were given advice along those lines. Really, really bizarre!!! :confused2:

At some point, common sense has got to rule the day.

sixdogs · Jun 24, 2012

I have changed it over several tractors and replaced with 80w90 in some and UDT in others and can't tell the difference. Obviously nothing leaked. My choice going forward is 80w90 only because it seems 'stickier" to the gears and may offer better protection. Kubotas are so tough and trouble free you could probably put maple syrup in there and not have any problems.

unclebunk · Jun 25, 2012

Thanks for all of the advice. Its good to get feedback from other owners. The service went great. This little tractor sure is fun to work on. 330 hours and still having fun. Looking forward to the next 300 hours.

radioman · Jun 25, 2012

glad its went well- just be sure you double check the level for next 2 weeks as you use it since th BX front axle oil level does funny things.

PHILIP8N · Jun 25, 2012

radioman said:
glad its went well- just be sure you double check the level for next 2 weeks as you use it since th BX front axle oil level does funny things.

Agree, When filling it appears there are air pockets in the system that do not get filled and settle after a few hours use. Same thing happend on my Grand L, had to add a quart after draining, filling to over flowing, running a few hours, then checking. Philip.

joshuabardwell · Jun 25, 2012

PHILIP8N said:
Agree, When filling it appears there are air pockets in the system that do not get filled and settle after a few hours use. Same thing happend on my Grand L, had to add a quart after draining, filling to over flowing, running a few hours, then checking. Philip.

I have noticed the same thing on my CT225. I am sure there isn't a leak, so I wondered where it was going. So far I have put a quart in at 8 and 16 hours.

EE_Bota · Jun 25, 2012

It may leak, but it will have nothing to do with the oil. I would use Gear Oil, and save the swanky stuff for the tranny.

The leaking I have seen are actual leaks with oil on the ground. I went into surgery on it and replaced the seals.

Disappearing oil after a change is not a leak, but some other mysterious thing where it takes a good while for some places to fill. I don't understand why it is true, and while I had mine apart, I looked for any possible reason that full once is not full always. I didn't find a reason, but it sure is true..on the Kubota...check it off and on and top up until it quits demanding.