Oil & Fuel How to lubricate L2650 Front Axle Trunnions/Pivots

[atrus5]

Anyone know how to lubricate the front axle pivot joints on a L2650DT-7? I had to disassemble mine to repair a leaky seal on the back of the differential where the pinion exited.

What has me scratching my head is that I see no way to lubricate this pivot joint in front or back of the front axle. Each trunnion has a bushing pressed in to support the circumference. They also have a washer (rear trunnion) and round plate (front trunnion) for the end of the axle support. But I see no sign of any lubrication. Well actually I might see a very small amount of lithium in one corner of the front trunnion and I mean very small (like 3/4 inch of normal white string). The rear trunnion has a slight coating on the bushings that might have been grease at one time. But for the most part they are empty.

There is a seal on both ends of each trunnion but no way I can tell of getting lubrication into them.

Neither has any grease fittings. I am sure on this. (I have removed them to clean up and see them very well.

I have the WorkShop Manual and the Owners Manual. Neither refer to any lubrication. All that is discussed in the WorkShop Manual is measuring the clearance between the bushing and the axle support to determine if the bushing needs replaced.

Thank YOU!

 

[repete]

On my L2550dt I drilled and tapped mine for zerk fittings years ago.

 

[atrus5]

On my L2550dt I drilled and tapped mine for zerk fittings years ago.

Thanks for the reply.

That is what I am going to do as well. I finally got a Kubota dealer to pass me to someone in service and they were quite surprised about it. He could find nothing about lubricating it anywhere. Also he could not find anything about it being a "self-lubricating" bushing (my father in-law was foundry machine repair and says it really does exist and is all that can be done when the grease just makes the sand/metal into a great grinding compound).

Kubota's final suggestion was to stuff axle grease in it and reassemble. He considered it a design flaw.

The only trick to adding a grease zerk is making sure it is between the circumference bushing and the end bushing plate. Although that might not be critical it would probably be preferable and make bushing replacement easier if needed in the future. That just means that I'll be adding the grease zerk to the slope of the trunnion - I see they flatten area out on the trunnions with grease zerks.

I guess I'm all set - thanks again!

 

[MHarryE]

Same thing with my brother-in-law's L3000. The only problem is John does not have an inquiring mind. He called his brother and me to come look at his tractor because it was making a clunking sound and kind of jerking as he drove. Those in greased trunion bearings - worn to dust as was a significant portion of the trunions. After pricing parts at Kubota, we found a shop that would turn down the trunions and fit a pressed on sleeve bringing them back to size. Then we drilled and tapped the carriers for grease fittings just like you have done and problem solved. How they let multiple models out like this is beyond me. Even the cheap box store JD lawn tractors I used to own greased this joint.