Greasing Front Axle Support

[Arkansasdawg]

There is a Front Axle support grease fitting just behind the front axle in my MX5400 unlike the other grease points where I pump grease in until it squirts out somewhere else, where is this grease going? I have pumped and pumped but don’t seem to be able to fill up wherever it is going . Do I just keep pumping until no more goes in?

 

[GrizBota]

Nope. You should have stopped pumping about a tube ago. The grease is filling the housing around the front drive shaft. You can probably leave it, but someday you might have to deal with the mess. In the future, three pumps should be plenty.

You took the vent off the front zerk for the pivot point before you greased it? You should. And stop when grease comes out the vent

 

[GeoHorn]

There may not be a “front” zerk….depending upon modification-standard. I see in my parts catalog that there is a later front axle support which has two zerks but my early-production tractor has only one. I priced the later part (for planning purposes) and found it ridiculously priced…so I plan to simply drill the existing front support and install a zerk.

 

[mikester]

I grease approx every 10 hours (every fill up) and at most it takes 2-3 shots from my air powered grease gun for the grease to ooze out of the bearing.

Maybe you have an air bubble in your grease gun and nothing is coming out.

 

[Arkansasdawg]

That is what I can’t understand. I removed the vent and nothing happened. There is another zerk on the opposite side of the vent ( very front, right side) and when you grease there, grease comes out the vent. But nothing comes out the vent when I use the zerk in the picture. Grease is definitely coming out of my grease gun.
I guess I won’t put anymore in!! Ha

 

[mikester]

I love finding big grease blobs on my concrete floor the next morning!

 

[D2Cat]

I love finding big grease blobs on my concrete floor the next morning!

I'm so good at it I find the blobs WAY before that!!

 

[The Evil Twin]

That is what I can’t understand. I removed the vent and nothing happened. There is another zerk on the opposite side of the vent ( very front, right side) and when you grease there, grease comes out the vent. But nothing comes out the vent when I use the zerk in the picture. Grease is definitely coming out of my grease gun.
I guess I won’t put anymore in!! Ha

If I'm understanding correctly....
One support has a zerk and vent.
The other has a zerk and no vent.
The two pivot points are not connected. So the vent is not for both pivots. The one with the vent gets grease until a little comes out the vent. Then plug the vent. The other only gets a couple 3 pumps because there is no vent.
I had this same question on my L.

 

[MxTx]

Hey there,
Just got to doing my 50hrs service on my MX5400, I’m running into the same thing in regards of the front axle support grease fitting that doesn’t have a breather plug! I can barely pump anything in there, couple pumps and the grease gun becomes hard and starts pushing grease from the back piston joint.
I called 3 big dealers and none seemed to know what I’m talking about while telling me that grease should be oozing out of somewhere!
I jacked my tractor, the axle moves freely up and down, I also replaced the grease zerk and still, everything is the same.
Can’t seem to find much about this online or anywhere!
What do you guys think, is it supposed to ooze out somewhere or it’s just how it is? Any info helps, thank you

 

[McMXi]

There is a Front Axle support grease fitting just behind the front axle in my MX5400 unlike the other grease points where I pump grease in until it squirts out somewhere else, where is this grease going? I have pumped and pumped but don’t seem to be able to fill up wherever it is going . Do I just keep pumping until no more goes in? View attachment 113875

My MX6000 has a square drive plug that needs to be removed before greasing the zerk fitting at the front axle pivot point. The manual is clear about this as I pointed out a few years ago.

After removing it the first time, I ordered a socket that fits over the plug and it makes removal and installation a lot easier.

 

[MxTx]

My MX6000 has a square drive plug that needs to be removed before greasing the zerk fitting at the front axle pivot point. The manual is clear about this as I pointed out a few years ago.

After removing it the first time, I ordered a socket that fits over the plug and it makes removal and installation a lot easier.

View attachment 157883

View attachment 157884

Yes that’s the forward front axle support grease fitting. On the back side of that there’s another one without a breather plug, and that’s the one I’m wondering about

 

[Vlach7]

My L47 has the same mystery

 

[imarobot]

Mine too and from what I was told, 2 or 3 squirts is all you need. There is no vent and if just keeps filling up the driveshaft tube.
So what happens when it gets filled, don't know. Am I going to blow a seal? Don't know. Seems like there should be a bleed somewhere.

 

[Mak65]

What grizbota and evil twin said. Front has the plug you remove and pump until grease oozes from the plug. The back one has no vent, you just pump 2-3 times 4 if you must but that’s it. If you pump and the grease gun becomes hard to pump the zerk may be stopped up. It might need to be removed and examined or cleaned.

 

[McMXi]

Yes that’s the forward front axle support grease fitting. On the back side of that there’s another one without a breather plug, and that’s the one I’m wondering about

There are no removable plugs for greasing the front axle pivot on the M6060. The addition of those plugs seems to be somewhat arbitrary.

The manager at the local Kubota dealership told me that a customer with an M7060 cracked the bevel gear case or the support case on the front axle due to adding too much grease via the zerk on top of the support case. When I grease mine, a little squeezes out under the support case which is preferable to cracking an expensive part.

 

[number two]

My MX6000 has a square drive plug that needs to be removed before greasing the zerk fitting at the front axle pivot point. The manual is clear about this as I pointed out a few years ago.

After removing it the first time, I ordered a socket that fits over the plug and it makes removal and installation a lot easier.

View attachment 157883

View attachment 157884

 

[number two]

I've found that pipe plug has a 7mm square head.
May I ask where you found a socket that fits?
Thank You in advance!

 

[The Evil Twin]

I've found that pipe plug has a 7mm square head.
May I ask where you found a socket that fits?
Thank You in advance!

You can use a 8 point socket. Technically not the right tool for the job, but it requires very little torque to R&R that little plug
If you want an actual 4 point, they are commonly called "pipe plug sockets". McMaster Carr has them individually

 

[McMXi]

I've found that pipe plug has a 7mm square head.
May I ask where you found a socket that fits?
Thank You in advance!

Remember this thread? @JoeR provided a link to a 9/32" 4-point socket. I ordered one from McMaster-Carr around the time that I started that thread.

Perhaps this is common knowledge for MX owners ....

I was reading the MX manual the other day and noticed this comment re removing a plug when greasing the zerk fitting on the front axle support (FAS). I don't remember if the BX25 had a plug or not, but the M sure doesn't. I have no idea why the MX FAS has a plug and the M doesn't but someone...

www.orangetractortalks.com

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[number two]

I do recall that thread.
Thanks for the reminder!
I still wonder what the dealership technicians use?