Bolting a L2550DT front axle assembly back to front wheel assembly case

[plumber mechanic]

I'm pretty sure I have an "O" Ring (see attached photo #050) that is causing a leak at the right front wheel. I have completely wiped the area dry and will be able to verify for sure in the next day or so. My question is when I bolt the main axle case back to the wheel assembly case (after replacing the "O" ring) do the bolts have to have a specific torque? Check out photo below.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Follow the torque specs in the manual for bolt size.

 

[plumber mechanic]

Follow the torque specs in the manual for bolt size.

Thank you for responding.

 

[Russell King]

I'm pretty sure I have an "O" Ring (see attached photo #050) that is causing a leak at the right front wheel. I have completely wiped the area dry and will be able to verify for sure in the next day or so. My question is when I bolt the main axle case back to the wheel assembly case (after replacing the "O" ring) do the bolts have to have a specific torque? Check out photo below.

That o-ring should be sitting in a groove of some sort. The o-ring should be slightly taller than the groove depth, so is compressed between the two steel surfaces that bolt together.

when you tighten the bolts, use some crisscross pattern and all the bolt tension is applying force to the steel surfaces so it won’t compress the o-ring too much.

 

[plumber mechanic]

That o-ring should be sitting in a groove of some sort. The o-ring should be slightly taller than the groove depth, so is compressed between the two steel surfaces that bolt together.

when you tighten the bolts, use some crisscross pattern and all the bolt tension is applying force to the steel surfaces so it won’t compress the o-ring too much.

Got it...thank you for responding.

 

[Russell King]

Got it...thank you for responding.

I guess since you are @plumber mechanic you have seen that type of joint many times! Probably should have read your name before posting!

 

[plumber mechanic]

Follow the torque specs in the manual for bolt size.

Thanks Wolfman. I found the bolt size is M14 and according to the manual the torque should be 91.2 to 108 ft lbs for grade 7 or 123 to 144 ft lbs if grade 9. At this point I'm not sure what grade the bolts are until I turn them out.

 

[plumber mechanic]

I guess since you are @plumber mechanic you have seen that type of joint many times! Probably should have read your name before posting!

Yes...I dealt with "O" rings before but I am always open to good advice....Thanks

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Thanks Wolfman. I found the bolt size is M14 and according to the manual the torque should be 91.2 to 108 ft lbs for grade 7 or 123 to 144 ft lbs if grade 9. At this point I'm not sure what grade the bolts are until I turn them out.

Don't mistake the Bolt head size for the bolt size, I'm not saying your wrong on the size, it's a just a common misconception.
I'm pretty sure they are Grade 7 bolts.

 

[plumber mechanic]

Don't mistake the Bolt head size for the bolt size, I'm not saying your wrong on the size, it's a just a common misconception.
I'm pretty sure they are Grade 7 bolts.

Thanks Wolfman for the follow up. I got the bolt size by getting the Kubota part number then doing a search of the part number and two different sources verified that it is size 14 mm. The bolt head takes a 19mm socket. But again thanks for the caution. I like how you cover all the bases. It shows you are a great asset to this site.

 

[whitetiger]

For verification, the WSM's torque value is 123-144 ft-lbs.

 

[plumber mechanic]

For verification, the WSM's torque value is 123-144 ft-lbs.

Yes you are correct....Since my earlier posts and finally getting a chance to crawl under the tractor, I have found the bolt heads do have a "9" on them and that's the torque the WSM lists for a M14 bolt.

I am leaning towards the big "O" ring must be leaking (inside the axle case where it meets up with the wheel case assembly). For the past few days I have been wiping things dry and checking the next day. The leaking is always at the bottom of the bolt flange right under the lower bolt towards the rear of the tractor. I am trying to 100% rule out that the leak is not coming from the seal where the wheel swivels on the case assembly.

Thank you whitetiger for verifying the torque info.