JD 2030 Balancing Shaft Bushing

hcf · May 12, 2023

1973 JD 2030. Have had it for 15+ years, runs great. Pulled oil pan off to replace a leaking gasket and discovered a balancing shaft bushing in the bottom of the pan. Comes from the left shaft, middle bushing. Since this is the first time in 15 years that the pan has been off, I have no idea how long the bushing has been off the shaft! Yesterday? 20 years? First, can I replace this bushing without pulling the engine? Should I replace all bushings at the same time? If I need to pull the engine can I get by not replacing the bushing? If it were one of the end bushings I think it would be different but... Just looking for some opinions. Thanks

Tx Jim · May 12, 2023

Balancer bush can't be replaced without removing timing gear cover & removing balancer shaft forward out of engine. Replacing balancer shaft requires timing of gears. With bush AWOl one would think engine would have lower oil pressure due to extra clearance between balancer shaft & engine block.

Keith True · May 12, 2023

Also,I believe those bushings are held in place by putting a dimple in them,that fits into a hole or groove in the
block.There was a special tool to do it with,that you tightened with a wrench to create the dimple.When I worked for
a JD dealer in the late 70's I remember re-installing some that the machine shop had just driven in.I'm not sure if
I still have the dimpling tool,but I do still have the Y-shaped timing tools.

tim s · May 12, 2023

If it spun the bushing,, chances are it will not hold a new one, and yes this would have caused the oil pressure to drop,,starving the rest of the engine bearings,, to me I would consider the life of that engine to be near over..you could over haul it try to lock that bushing in one of several ways,,,and it may work out..but then after all that the Gremlins in the hydraulics will come out to haunt you..you will be fighting a loosing battle...I have seen this situation play out many times..

buickanddeere · May 12, 2023

The cost of repairs on a 48+ year old tractor . That would go a long way on a basic open station version of this tractor .
https://www.deere.com/en/tractors/utility-tractors/5-family-utility-tractors/5060e-utility-tractor/

ss55 · May 12, 2023

It must not be vibrating very much if you had not noticed it before this.

What are the risks of simply replacing the oil pan gasket and continuing to run it as-is? Those engines were widely used and complete engines are easily available in the event the original engine is not rebuildable should it eventually go down. Running it more may not change the cost to overhaul or engine replacement by much. Does the tractor get used 50 hours per year or 500 hours?

Maybe add an oil pressure gauge and have the oil analyzed periodically for your own peace of mind.

hcf · May 12, 2023

Thanks all for your input. My impulse is to replace the gasket and run as is. It s running as well as a 50 year old workhorse ever runs. No undue vibration. Probably put 250 hours a year on it, mostly as a loader. Have been in the market for something a bit younger so might get more serious on that although bought a 6140 two years ago and was told by the boss no more tractors for a while! Again, thanks.

Russ from MN · May 13, 2023

My fathers 440 JD skidder had a similar engine, and it broke a connecting rod, and that broke a balancer
shaft and the part of the block that held the bushing. It was towards the end on its life anyway, so I took
the balancer shaft out and plugged the oil holes. My friend the local JD mechanic gave me a good used
piston, rod, and sleeve. It had good oil pressure and ran just fine after that, I don't know what happened
to it. It was about 1973, dad retired and sold most of his logging equipment.

JD 2030 Balancing Shaft Bushing

hcf

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Tx Jim

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Keith True

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tim s

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buickanddeere

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ss55

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hcf

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Russ from MN

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