Front Axle Pivot

[oldballs]

Hi TBN'ers

I am doing some more B2620 maintenance. According to the OE manual the Front Axle Pivot screw is suppose to be 11.2 - 22.5 ft lbs..."oscillating load"...whatever that is?? At 600 hours the adjusting screw took several turns to get at approx 16 ft lbs with my Torque Wrench. The tractor was sitting flat on the concrete.

I do not want to get that screw too tight, but rather adjust it per the manual. What is your experience?

Cheers,
Mike

 

[repete]

My guess is have the axle off the ground and rock it as you torque it. Does it have zerk fittings to grease it?

 

[jonsstihl]

that is not the torque of the bolt it is the force it takes to rock the axle when it is off the ground. the bolt should not be tight. My b7800 manual says something along the lines of tighten until snug then loosen an 1/8 of a turn and tighten the lock nut while holding the bolt so it doesn't move.

 

[jonsstihl]

you should probably lift the front axle off the ground when adjusting but it may not be required.

I would definitely loosen the bolt slightly before you cause too much wear.

 

[oldballs]

Thanks guys............I knew that you would come thru for me. Guess I'll have to raise the front end via the frame and just snug it up while rocking it ..... then back it off 1/8 of a turn. The members of this TBN site are great and helpful folks.

There is no grease zerk at the Pivot Point. :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Mike

 

[repete]

Thanks guys............I knew that you would come thru for me. Guess I'll have to raise the front end via the frame and just snug it up while rocking it ..... then back it off 1/8 of a turn. The members of this TBN site are great and helpful folks.

There is no grease zerk at the Pivot Point. :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Mike

If I remember correctly, I pulled the cap off, drilled it out then tapped for a Zerk so I could grease it.

 

[100 td]

Maybe you missed this bit in the manual
"Consult your local KUBOTA Dealer for further detail"
Further detail is available in the service manual
Front Axle Rocking Force
1. Jack up the front side of tractor.
2. Set a spring balance to the front axle flange.
3. Measure the front axle rocking force .
NOTE: When adjusting the locking force, apply liquid gasket (Three Bond 1206D or equivalent) to the thread part of an adjusting screw.
4. If the measurement is not within the factory specifications, adjust with the adjusting screw (1).
5. Tighten the lock nut firmly.

 

[100 td]

Sent you a PM

 

[oldballs]

Gents,

In appreciation of your help, here are some pics for others that might be interested. BTW, It was a good thing that I went thru this procedure, because my first understanding of the torque on the adjusting bolt had the axle locked up tight.

I used the by guess and by gosh method, since I had no "spring balance". I tightened the adjusting bolt till the axle would not budge, then loosed it up to what I figure was enough.....certainly better than my previous faux pas.



Cheers,
Mike

 

[100 td]

For others contemplating adjusting theirs, a sliding fish scale will do the job.

 

[diesel85]

I adjust the one on my BX2200 once every two years. Seems like that is the key.

Even then, I'm careful on how much or how loose it is.

 

[rScotty]

I adjust the one on my BX2200 once every two years. Seems like that is the key.

Even then, I'm careful on how much or how loose it is.

That's about what I do too. I gotta say that axle pivot is one weird design; a really strange way to make an axle pivot. It's hard to see anyadvantage to doing it that way. And it's true that not many tractors are built that way.

But it's what we have with the Kubota, so we work & make the best of it. My axle pivot bolt came with a zerk in the end of it, but that doesn't stop it from wearing. Although if it didn't have a zerk there I'd add one.

To my mind the shop manual's adjustment procedure it's one of those instances where the shop manual tries a little too hard to put cute measurements and numbers on what is a subjective process.
I do mine by feel. Raise the front end and then tighten the pivot bolt until the fore and aft axle play is all taken up but the axle still oscillates freely. I do NOT then add some 1/8 turn of looseness. To what point would one do that? After I tighten the locking nut I check that nothing has changed. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it just right.
rScotty