Grease fitting marred and bottomed out, wouldn't take grease

[OrangeGee]

Hey all,

My questions are, what is the deal with this OEM grease fitting installment and should I do something different when installing the new one? Do I need to be concerned with the bearing and pin longevity because of this, and/or should I pursue any warranty stuff while I still have warranty?

L2502, LA526 loader, top most and main pivot pin grease fitting wasn't taking grease for me. After trying a bunch of different things to get grease in, I decided to remove it and put in a new one. PITA.

After I removed it, it appears the factory fitting was bottomed out on the pin. The pin center grease channel is also not centered on the grease fitting and it's apparent in the wear on the tip of the grease fitting. Half of the width of the pin's grease channel is out of view of the grease fitting port. I'm assuming the grease channel doesn't need to be exactly aligned with the fitting because that pin seems like it could float a little bit anyway? The channel just needs some overlap with the grease port for grease to have a place to flow, yeah?

I'm also assuming I shouldn't bottom out the new fitting into the pin.

Thanks All

 

[85Hokie]

I think you might want to call the dealer and have them PULL that pin and replace it !

 

[GreensvilleJay]

grind/file 1/16" off the new Zerk. test fit, remove more if required
or...
find another , shorter Zerk. They do come in several threaded lengths.

 

[Lil Foot]

I have also seen zerks installed with a tight-fitting washer installed under the hex.

 

[fried1765]

grind/file 1/16" off the new Zerk. test fit, remove more if required
or...
find another , shorter Zerk. They do come in several threaded lengths.

Don't bother with it!
Make the dealer do it!

 

[OrangeGee]

Thanks guys. I should mention, I don't own a means to get the tractor to the dealer. And their round trip fee is $300 not covered by warranty. If my zerk issue doesn't have anything critically alarming about it, and requires a bit of my own elbow grease, I'm fine just doing that to save $$$ and hassle. If this is a big deal, like the loader or pin isn't properly aligned, I'll have it taken in.

Is my assumption correct in that the pin grease channel isn't supposed to be perfectly aligned with the grease fitting port?

 

[85Hokie]

Thanks guys. I should mention, I don't own a means to get the tractor to the dealer. And their round trip fee is $300 not covered by warranty. If my zerk issue doesn't have anything critically alarming about it, and requires a bit of my own elbow grease, I'm fine just doing that to save $$$ and hassle. If this is a big deal, like the loader or pin isn't properly aligned, I'll have it taken in.

Is my assumption correct in that the pin grease channel isn't supposed to be perfectly aligned with the grease fitting port?

I would place the loader in such a "safe" way - remove the bolt/pin what ever and see if the pin can be tapped out. IF IT comes out, and I bet it will not easily, take IT AND THE ZERK to the dealer and have them do the math!!!

Worse case is you may need another pin - best case they GIVE you another pin!!!

 

[Russell King]

Thanks guys. I should mention, I don't own a means to get the tractor to the dealer. And their round trip fee is $300 not covered by warranty. If my zerk issue doesn't have anything critically alarming about it, and requires a bit of my own elbow grease, I'm fine just doing that to save $$$ and hassle. If this is a big deal, like the loader or pin isn't properly aligned, I'll have it taken in.

Is my assumption correct in that the pin grease channel isn't supposed to be perfectly aligned with the grease fitting port?

The pin can probably move some under the fitting so may not line up exactly in the center of the zerk hole. But it should be well within the hole since the groove provides a low pressure path for the grease to move into and get into the annular space around the pin.

See if you can tap the end of the pin and get it to move at all.

 

[chim]

If you can't find a shorter one I'd go with a washer under it.

If you try to shorten it, the spring will likely fall out, than the ball can go somewhere it shouldn't. Grease might come back out, and lacking the check ball dirt might get in.

 

[OrangeGee]

Thanks everyone for your input. The update so far is I put the new OEM grease fitting in, which was actually measuring shorter than the painted OEM fitting that came with the loader. Not sure what Kubota was doing on assembly day. New fitting isn't even screwed in all the way and was able to hold grease without leaking so so least now I can get grease in there reliably.

Next step will be to get some time and flat area to remove the loader and see if I can remove that top-rear pin to inspect it. My hope is that the grease fitting material is much softer than the pin, there aren't any fragments floating in there, and the bearing and pin are in good shape for long term service.

Next, I may check the same fitting on the other side for the same deal.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

It's pretty easy to have a 'similar' part get tossed into the bin of correct parts.
Ford Canada in Oakville did that decades ago..... 1/2-20 wheel nuts went into the METRIC sized bin of wheel nuts...... yeah HUGE recall....

 

[SDT]

Hey all,

My questions are, what is the deal with this OEM grease fitting installment and should I do something different when installing the new one? Do I need to be concerned with the bearing and pin longevity because of this, and/or should I pursue any warranty stuff while I still have warranty?

L2502, LA526 loader, top most and main pivot pin grease fitting wasn't taking grease for me. After trying a bunch of different things to get grease in, I decided to remove it and put in a new one. PITA.

After I removed it, it appears the factory fitting was bottomed out on the pin. The pin center grease channel is also not centered on the grease fitting and it's apparent in the wear on the tip of the grease fitting. Half of the width of the pin's grease channel is out of view of the grease fitting port. I'm assuming the grease channel doesn't need to be exactly aligned with the fitting because that pin seems like it could float a little bit anyway? The channel just needs some overlap with the grease port for grease to have a place to flow, yeah?

I'm also assuming I shouldn't bottom out the new fitting into the pin.

Thanks All

Workmanship.

A few years ago I bought a new grapple. Part of the deal was that the dealer would deliver it about 30 miles to my place.

Upon delivery, I glanced to see if all zerks had been lubed and noticed two colors of grease around all. Great. Looks like all greased both at factory and dealer.

First fall when I do all annual maintenance, I greased everything a is routine. One would not take. Upon closer inspection, I found no grease around either end of pin. Replaced zerk with new one but still no go.

Turns out that hole for zerk had not been drilled completely through. Removed pin, drilled hole, replaced zerk, replaced pin, greased, and everything good.

Obviously at least one person at factory and at least one person at dealer had attempted to grease zerk, failed, shrugged shoulders, and moved on.

Workmanship.