L3901 Plastic Plugs on Front Axle

[Cherrybark]

With 50 hours, the tractor isn't all shiny and new anymore but the operator and his maintenance stills are still pretty green.

Worked through the 50 hour service steps over the weekend. Greasing the FEL loader has become familiar but it took a relaxed three or so hours to do the work on the tractor.

When greasing the forward front axle support I looked at the wrong picture for the "remove the breather plug" step and mistakenly pulled the small black, plastic plugs on the front of the axle near the wheels. After figuring out my mistake, it was very tough to replace those plugs and I really don't trust them in such a dirty location.

Does anyone know what these plugs and holes are for?

The holes appear to be threaded and it seems like a small bolt would be better than a plastic plug. Is this a good idea and does anyone happen to know the appropriate bolt size?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

With 50 hours, the tractor isn't all shiny and new anymore but the operator and his maintenance stills are still pretty green.

Worked through the 50 hour service steps over the weekend. Greasing the FEL loader has become familiar but it took a relaxed three or so hours to do the work on the tractor.

When greasing the forward front axle support I looked at the wrong picture for the "remove the breather plug" step and mistakenly pulled the small black, plastic plugs on the front of the axle near the wheels. After figuring out my mistake, it was very tough to replace those plugs and I really don't trust them in such a dirty location.

Does anyone know what these plugs and holes are for?

The holes appear to be threaded and it seems like a small bolt would be better than a plastic plug. Is this a good idea and does anyone happen to know the appropriate bolt size?

The plugs are assembly plugs, they keep paint and such out of the bolt holes.
They are not required to stay plugged as they were for optional bolt on parts.

If you really want to put new plugs back in, P/N TC402-27590

 

[Cherrybark]

That they are nothing more than holes for assembly bolts is a relief. Thanks for going to the trouble of posting that info. The old plugs are about 2/3's inserted so I'll leave them in place. Now I just need to correctly grease the front axle support and buy a better filter wrench to remove that factory tight HST filter.

 

[SRG]

That they are nothing more than holes for assembly bolts is a relief. Thanks for going to the trouble of posting that info. The old plugs are about 2/3's inserted so I'll leave them in place. Now I just need to correctly grease the front axle support and buy a better filter wrench to remove that factory tight HST filter.

If I can make a suggestion.
https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-5866-...filter+wrench&qid=1552742911&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I've been using those for awhile now, and they have been way better than the typical strap wrench of old.