L3750 Rear axle shaft Removal

[rbargeron]

.............Anyways the bearing is already stuck in the tube. I will cut it out. A new bearing will definitely have to be put in via hydraulic press from the brake side. Once all that happens I will test fit it on the bench and report back.........

My experience with the way Kubota fits their large ball bearings is they are usually a precise slip fit in their bores. No press needed - just clean everything, line it up well - and it slips in by hand or by a light tap. This was a pleasant surprise the first time I noticed it. Its one of Kubota's procedures that has made their reputation for high build quality. Another nice touch is that they paint the INSIDES of the housings to control rusting from condensation that forms in equipment stored outside. Most customers will never see it.

 

[rbargeron]

My real concern now is if the bearing will become unseated during operation due to these tabs being broken. The inner bearing butts up against washer no. 40 which is seated on the axle below the splines. It seems this washer would compensate for the lack of those tabs. It seems like the washer will keep the bearing from pushing out, but I'd rather ask than break more stuff.

Seeing the no. 40 washer in your first 2 pictures, (and reading your post #10 again) I see now the tabs in the axle case are not needed to keep the bearing located.

Here's proof: Zooming up the attachment in post #4, washer no. 40 is visible and there's actually a small gap beteen the tabs and the bearing. There's more support for this idea in post #8 attachment showing the L48 (same planetary gear setup) which has NO TABS. The tabs might have been an assembly convenience in production of the earlier models. Anyway, the bearing is positively located in both directions when bolted to the axle, so the tabs are not needed and an added spacer tube on this L3750 isn't needed either.

 

[rbargeron]

See today's edit of post #22 above - the tabs were never needed, and still aren't.

Put a new inner bearing and outer seal in it and happy tractoring.

(now you have experience, doing the other side should be a snap)

 

[Bigtater91]

Yea I think it is going to work out ok. Didn't get a chance to fool with it today because of work. Just tryig to get all my parts together now. I will keep you fellas posted. Some of these parts are 5-10 days out before shipping. Also, checking with local kubota dealers, and auto parts stores. They can't seem to cross reference the bearing or seal.

 

[Bigtater91]

Wanted to follow up with you fellas and let you know I got it back together and running! Thank you for all your help and advice!

I only had a chance to put about 10 minutes of drive time on it, but it seems like the bearing/case situation is ok. I ended up taking your advice cutting the old bearing out of the case and installing a new one. It wasn't quite a slip fit, but with a few small taps with a large seal driver it went in. Also, I ended up just using a couple of long 3/8 bolts, a few nuts and washers to drive the axle cover/seal/outer bearing off the axle. It worked pretty well. No need for the special tool in the manual.

However, I decided to hold off on the other side for the time being due to other projects. The next project will be some wiring repair amongst other things. Thanks again!

 

[rbargeron]

Glad to hear it is a success! Thanks for reporting back. Another L3 lives on !!