How much play should there be in the front axle pivot?

RaydaKub · Jun 1, 2013

I used my BX pretty hard today, first trying to de-sod a sand volleyball court that has been abandoned for 10 years (rachet rake, blade, and then drag harrow), then grading a driveway behind our church that had some ruts about a foot deep, water 3 inches deep; rake and blade). I drove it home and got a flat front tire in my back yard. How I got home, I don't know, but it appears to me that it is only the valve stem that leaks. Anyway, as I was taking the bolts out to get the tire off, I noticed the front axle seems loose. One side goes back and the other forward by about 3/16 of an inch. I haven't seen a lot of oil dripping there, but that seems to be a fair amount of slop to me. Should I be having this checked out? How much wiggle should there be on the front axle pivot?

ibnxe · Jun 2, 2013

There shouldn't be any wiggle to the pivot. On my BX23, the pivot bolt is to be torqued to 15 foot pounds. I have tightened mine twice in 580 hours.

4shorts · Jun 2, 2013

Mine has a little play. While I was doing all the mods and before I started using it I would really have to struggle to make the Axel pivot. Now that the machine has 48 hours on it you can get it to pivot with one finger and there's play (wear) in the pivot joint.
The Grand L has got a grease nipple fore and aft its pivot joint but the BX has no allowances for greasing. It has to wear with no grease. I think its time to investigate this.

ibnxe · Jun 3, 2013

On the BX, the pivot bolt goes through the axle housing and is lubricated with oil from the axle.

RaydaKub · Jun 5, 2013

Gentlemen, Thanks for your input. I looked at the pdf for the parts manual and saw how it was put together. It is hard to tell from that manual, but can I assume those bushings are beveled so that as you tighten the lock nut that they pull into place?

I turned it about 3/4 of a turn and the torque wrench clicked at 15 lbs. The cotter key hole was off by just the width of the hole, so I put the wrench up to 20 lbs and got it just enough to put the key in. The wobble appears to be gone.

Thanks again for the advice. I love TBN!

crazyal · Jun 5, 2013

Nice. It would bother me having something loose. The fact that it can be tightened up easily is good to know. I know that the front pivot on my 4240 is so tight that getting grease into it is still hard. I assumed that over time this will change as it wears.