L1500DT drive shaft issues.

[mrflorida]

Figured i'd start a new thread with just this issue and use to to brainstorm or add how it was fixed.

drive shaft (from rear transmission output to front axle) has crappy u-joints and the rear yoke has female splines that are rusted away.

Front side is the long yoke and slips on input shaft, but shorter rear yoke is splines and a roll pin to hold it in place. Well, the rear output shaft looks to have some wear but mostly the drive shaft yoke female splines probably held water and rusted away.

What i've found so far is that it's 18t and 25mm wide, the yoke is no longer available but the whole driveshaft is (over $400)

Options: machine shop make new end?
source female splined tube to weld onto old yoke?
buy new drive shaft?

I've found a few listings for slip spline couplers from kubota and am going to auto store to compare u-joints to a few foreign auto parts.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Your male end looks pretty rough as well. Machining costs on that driveshaft will probably be as much if not more than a new one.

 

[D2Cat]

Might send a PM to 007kubotaguy here on the forum. He has some older Kubota's he has parts for.

 

[mrflorida]

https://www.stavros-savva-co-ltd.co.../kubota-sleeve-shaft-4wd-l02-30-strength-18t/

what are the chances this 18t is also the 25mm od? seems to be a common metric spline size from researching online

that sleeve is what i'd be after, might even look up cost of the male output shaft if available still.


Anyone ever source U-Joints for this setup or the l225dt??

 

[SidecarFlip]

Pretty easy to buy either metric (ISO) joints or SAE joins. ASC has them both in their catalog and online

 

[mrflorida]

https://www.stavros-savva-co-ltd.co.../kubota-sleeve-shaft-4wd-l02-30-strength-18t/

this place got out a part and took pics with dimensions. looks like an option for the sleeve to be used on the rear yoke (machine off old one and machine new sleeve to fit, center it and weld it on)

 

[mrflorida]

Pretty easy to buy either metric (ISO) joints or SAE joins. ASC has them both in their catalog and online

did not find anything from them on website, but I did measure the joints at 20mm x 55mm outside retaining clips. Found a few sources though. $15 range each

 

[mrflorida]

Tractor now has a working 4wd driveshaft, here is what it took to get the job done at the best prices I could find online.

18t 25mm spline coupler (shaft also, didn't need but was best price together. Came from Cyprus and was $40 something USD)
2x 20x55mm ujoint store $38 total shipped

lathe cut off old coupler (attempted to cut off at best spot, nothing crazy precise here as i'm only using a little hobby level 7x14 lathe for now)
Bored out inside of coupler to press fit yoke end and welded on (really need to invest in larger lathe and mill next year)

With the new coupler that fit was nice and snug on the output shaft from the transfer case so I'm pretty confident in its ability to last a long time once again.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Have any issue sizing the U joint crosses?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Excellent fab and repair job!

 

[thebicman]

Excellent work. Someone knows how to weld. I'm an ok welder but an excellent grinder. LOL

 

[mrflorida]

Have any issue sizing the U joint crosses?

took out old ones, got dimensions and figured it would be metric so i just googled and found the ujoint store had them.. new ones fit in properly with no issues

 

[Ironman2]

Nice job on the repair.
It is almost always cheaper to repair than buy a driveline. On cars the spec for drivelines is .025 run out and low speed implements is .100. This is easy to achieve even by eye with no lathe.

When looking at the damaged splines, I did have the thought flitter across my mind that there was a long term lack of grease.