Replacing Bushings On LA724 Loader

kcender · Nov 6, 2011

I was thinking of replacing the bushings on the bottom of my loader.I am not even sure if the bushings are designed to be replaced or if Kubota offers them as a separate part.Has anybody ever replaced these bushings and if so how hard was it to do?I tried to tap them out without destroying them but they seemed to be in there very tightly so I think it would be best to get some info first.Any help would be appreciated.

art · Nov 6, 2011

We have not had to work in that area but my gut tells me they are not replaceable.

crazyal · Nov 6, 2011

I would have to ask why would you want to? I have seen some very badly worn bushings that still worked fine. Did you go to your dealer and see if they have a part number for them? If they don't then I guess it's a non issue because you don't want to remove them and not be able to replace them. If they do list a part number then I would say the could be removed with a shop press.

Deano · Nov 7, 2011

kcender,

Are they worn or are the pins worn? My bucket is sloppy and I have not disassembled to look yet.
I looked in the parts manual and can get pins, but not bushings (for my LA240 loader). They should be replaceable though.

Deano

rbargeron · Nov 7, 2011

Those sure look like replaceable bushings. Try heating the arm and chilling the bushing. Why are you replacing them?

An LA680 loader I fixed didn't have bushings - it needed complete replacement of the welded collars. The collars were worn a lot - even more than the pins.

slowzuki · Nov 7, 2011

Its a pretty picture, I suppose under all the grease on mine it would look the same, if the paint wasn't all torn up.

On the bigger LA853, there is a bushing, part 7J268-58720. I don't have the parts sheet for the smaller loader.

Chilly807 · Nov 7, 2011

If they're steel bushings, getting them out isn't so bad. Lay three beads of weld axially along the bushing at roughly equal spacing, when it cools they should be much looser due to the weld shrinking the bushing. We've used this to remove stuck outer races for tapered roller bearings, it should work for bushings too.

Getting the new ones in is going to be a little bit different. You'll probably need to heat the end of the loader arm to expand it slightly, then preferably freeze the new bushings with liquid nitrogen, dry ice or something similar.

This is assuming new bushings are available, if not you may have to get them made.

Sean

David_Kb7uns · Nov 7, 2011

Is it just me but I am looking at the picture and I am trying to figure what is wrong with them???

David Kb7uns

Dr. Bob · Nov 7, 2011

No, its not just you David, those look like some **** fine bushings to me, too. Like Slowzuki said, I am sure mine would look that good if I would get all of the dirt and grease off of them.

kcender · Nov 7, 2011

David_Kb7uns said:
Is it just me but I am looking at the picture and I am trying to figure what is wrong with them???

David Kb7uns

There is some play in the bushings but probably not more than most loaders have.The tractor has 640 hours and a lot of that was FEL work.I just thought if it was an easy and inexpensive job I would do it.I called the Kubota dealer and the bushings are available but would be just under 150 dollars with the tax we pay,not what I would call inexpensive.I talked to the service guy but he didn't seem very familiar with replacing the bushings.After trying again to beat the bushings out without destroying them,I have decided it is not worth the bother and I will get at least one more year out of these bushings.
As far as the pins go I replaced those last year and they still seem alright.For those wondering I grease the bucket pins at the beginning of each day that I use the tractor.If I am doing a lot of FEL work I usually grease the bucket pins midway through the day as well.I don't think the wear is from lack of greasing but is just normal wear.Grease can only do so much.