MF/Iseki and Kubota 4wd bearing failure

[DavidP,South Wales]

Hi, I believe that either the same or very similar 4wd front axles are
fitted to MF/Iseki and Kubota 25-40 HP compact tractors and perhaps
more. In the last 30 years or so I have rebuilt I think 6 Kubota hubs
and 1 MF. Naturally Kubota will not acknowledge that there is a
weakness in these axles advising that the front end loader should be
removed when not in use. This is not sensible when the loader may
be required every other day. I have been to a Kubota L5040 today
and found that the inner stub axle bearing had collapsed for the
second time in the tractors 1900 hours. With a small but significant
amount of wear present the other side was stripped. Inner bearing
collapse was total with a broken outer ring. I may be able to salvage
the hub but its likely that a new stub axle will be required. Clearly the
is a fault in this type of axle and Id like to hear from anyone who has
had this problem with either make whether very low or high houred to
gain an idea of just how widespread this problem is.
Thanks in advance.
DavidP, South Wales

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

I've found that the seals on the pivot of the vertical section are a source of leaks on most of the older Kubotas. I replaced both sides of mine a number of years back. Kubota or someone else resigned the seals and I have had no trouble since.

 

[Welding man]

Your are looking at the reality of owning a 4WD Tractor. I tell people every day, if you don't need that 4wd tractor to do a job leave it in the shed. You don't need a 4wd to rake hay. I have rebuilt 7 New Holland,3 Kubota, 2 Massey Ferguson and 2 John Deere front ends this year. They all have problems and they are all expensive to repair. If you play you pay.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

As far as I can see the only reason to have 4WD is if you have a bucket. It helps when the bucket is full with the traction where the weight is. I Bought a new JD 5103 in 2004 and it is 2 wheel drive. I use it primarily for haying. No bucket or 4WD, people can't understand why I didn't buy a 4WD.

 

[moresmoke]

Considering that bearing failure is not uncommon on large MFWD tractors with ujoint/cv and planetary axles, this really wouldnt be a surprise. There is a reason skidsteers and small articulated loaders are built.

 

[Stephen Newell]

It wouldn't surprise me Kubota had weak axles. I have a 2wd model and have broken more axles than I can count. Then you can't adjust the front wheels where they will stay straight with each other. I even replaced the whole axle assembly after I got done with the heavier work and it didn't help.

 

[jm.]

Well David I can tell you this , of 7439 total four wheel units sold from my dealership in the last ten years I show only 6 warranty repairs to the front axels . Now if that is a more than normal to say a John Deer or other type I do not know. I just know this the turning radius of a gear type front axel (LIKE KUBOTA) certainly is advantageous and that the power is transferred pretty much even at any steering angle. I suspect the failures you are seeing are more tractors being over loaded with the loader. O and of that 7439 86 % of them were sold with loaders.

 

[showcrop]

I have used my 2001 Kubota 3010 for tedding for as long as I have had it. I remove the loader during hay season. I replaced the seal on one side five years ago and the other will need it soon. No bearing problems when I opened it up.

 

[Hobo,NC]

The average I see them is around 800hr. All are run hard and put up wet I spec ran in 4wd all the time.

I get every bearing and seal while there I spec I will never see them back. I take the loader off of mine when mowing it takes me 5 min. to remove it. I also run a counter weight maybe that helps take the load off the front. They are EZ to repair if that helps : )