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Lube for front axle pin

B

BobReeves

Member
Just replaced the front axle pin and bushing on my 3600 and getting ready to do the same with my 3000. Wondering if and what it should be lubed with. Without thinking I put the 3600 together more or less dry. I could probably squirt some motorcycle chain lube in it. It goes in like water then thickens up to a pretty good lube.

Thanks...
 
The service manual doesn't mention any lubrication when replacing the pin. Any kind of grease or oil in that location would attract dirt and turn into a gritty slurry, and in the long run would probably cause more wear than it would prevent. The only thing I might recommend would be anti-seize on the threads so it will come out easier 20 or 30 years down the road when the next person has to do it again.
 
I have to disagree with that advise. I've replaced my share of worn front axle pin bushings that were never greased, and I'm talking about
the ones that had grease fittings going to them, not just the 3000-3600 types. In extreme cases, I've had to have axle bores re-sleeved to
make them round again.

If it were my 3000, I'd consider drilling the axle for a grease zerk and pump fresh grease into it on a regular basis, especially if the
front axle sees a lot of oscillating.
 
This is a topic that has been discussed many
times on the N board.
Some guys fault Ford for not providing a means
to grease that pivot. They ask how to do it,
etc.
I'm on the side that says you dont need it.
I say check that pivot every 5 years and
replace the bushing and/or pin every 30 years.
More often if the tractor wears a loader.
The parts are surely cheap enough and it's not
a big job to do it.
The guys that do add a zerk there always drill
and tap the top of the axle which does little
good imo. If you want the grease to get to
where it's needed you'd want to get the grease
to the bottom side.
Another point that opponents of greasing that
pivot make is it is similar to the balls on the
ends of your lift arms which Ford says Do Not
grease for the reason Sean says - it attracts
and holds dirt, etc.
I also agree to use anti seize on the threads.
 
Drilling holes causes a stress riser, especially in tension. If possible, I'd drill the pin from the end, and cross drill. I think some Fords used this type. Greasing it regularly would keep pushing the dirt out, if any gets in. However, you wouldn't be able to drive a pump from the front pulley.
 
OK, I'll leave it dry, am sure it will outlast me, maybe...

Thought I was being smart and put the seam in the bushing at the top. Then when I put the center support in I thought hey why not turn it over any wear in the support will then be at the top. Double smart = stupid, the seam is now on the bottom. I'm going to leave it, it is a puzzle locked seam and will probably last as long as any other part of the bushing.
 
If the thing had a front end loader, you obviously could not drill the pin. If I were to drill and tap the axle for a grease zerk, I would be coming at it from the side. I would further drill and groove the bushing so the grease is distributed 360 degrees around the bushing.

As for anyone who doesn't think grease is necessary, monitor other chat boards where John Deere 4000 series tractors (e.g. 4850) are discussed. Whenever someone asks "what to look for when considering a used tractor", the front axle pivot pin usually comes up. Seems even though the factory provided a grease point, it rarely gets done. When it goes long enough without grease, it wears well past the bushing, and then the axle housing needs to go to the machine shop for repair. That said, I've seen my share of TW tractors with similar issues.
 
Yup... My TW35 was in bad shape there when I got it. Something like a TW, especially a FWA carrying 1600# of weights besides the tractor itself, needs grease...regularly. I still don't think a small tractor would need to have a grease fitting added... but if the owner wants to, and greases it regularly enough to push the grit out, it would be beneficial.
 
Bern,
I have a complete front axle from a 68? 3400 I parted out.
They used the same dry design as all the other wishbone Fords except the center pin is a bit larger/heavier. When I first got it I serviced it and put new thrust bearings in the spindles and a new bushing in the center pin. I didnt buy the loader - another guy did but judging by how beat up the loader was it had had a hard life. The center bushing did need replacing but the center pin was good enough that I didn't think it warrented replacing.
Would the pin and bushing have shown less wear if there was a provision for greasing the pivot? Probably. But the service they gave was well within what most of us would call normal wear and tear.
 
The earlier Ns with front mount distributer have a built-in warning system for letting you know when it's time to service the pivot. When the left side axle comes up and breaks the distributer cap you know it's due or well past due.
 
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