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Faunsdale, AL | I think the 40 series Deere row crop tractors (4440 for example) have the best seal/greasing system yet. A triple-lip seal and a zerk to put grease into the center of the hub. That way you can flush out any wet contaminated grease before it gets into the inner bearing. Their utility tractors could benefit from the same system. We have purchased the old style bolt-on caps that were used on the 20 series and earlier tractors and drilled and tapped some of the hubs that had drive-on dust caps so we could grease them regularly. Unfortunately without the right seal, you can't purge the contaminated grease until the seal is worn a bit. I have taken to installing the lip seal backwards so it is easier to get the grease to purge out of it, but that isn't a real good solution either. It only prevents someone from cracking the bolt-on cap from pumping too much grease.
All the utility tractors here run a rubber scrape around the cow lot for a couple hours a day 365 days a year and get washed with a high pressure hose every few days. Front wheel bearings fail regularly here (rear axle bearings too). Tried 2 MFWD (5320 and 5325) tractors since their bearings run in oil, but they don't last any longer and cost a whole lot more to fix when they do go out. Part of it is there's no adjustment on those bearings. Not a good purchase in our case since we didn't need the traction, just looking for long lived wheel bearings.
All our older utility tractors have the rear axle housings tapped and we keep them filled with gear lube until the outer seal won't hold it any longer and then use corn head grease until the bearing fails.
Grease isn't cheap, but it's a lot cheaper than bearings and repairs. | |
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Why do 2wd Deere's have no wheel bearing zerk?
