Front Axle Oil Level

River19

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Equipment
B2601, RB1560, BB1260 and BX2830 blower
Sep 10, 2020
323
475
63
NH/VT NEK
A friend of mine with a BX mentioned someone told him to check the front axle oil level from the dealer and sure enough it was really low. So he passed on the advice to me on the B2601 and I checked today......low and behold mine is showing ~1/3 up the fill notch on the dipstick.

Is this a common known "thing" that the factory or dealers only fill it 1/3 full?

Thoughts? Comments? Insults?
 

foobert

Active member

Equipment
BX2380
Mar 25, 2021
112
111
43
Washington
Come to think of it, it was the one fluid I didn’t validate after delivery.

<runs to garage and back>

My 2.0 hour BX2380 front axle level is just above the full mark.

Thanks for the nudge to look at that 👍
 
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Nicfin36

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L2501 HST, BH77 Backhoe, SSQA Loader ZD1011 Mower
Jun 19, 2019
1,014
457
83
Decatur, AL
Mine (L2501) had very little in it after checking at 30 hours....like none in the upper axle case. Mine just has a fill hole and no dipstick. So, you were doing much better than me. It seems to be more common than it ever should be.
 

xrocketengineer

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BX1880, FEL, Grapple, 36 in. Forks, 48in. MMM, Quick Spade, Ripper
Nov 14, 2020
688
568
93
Merritt Island, Florida
Come to think of it, it was the one fluid I didn’t validate after delivery.

<runs to garage and back>

My 2.0 hour BX2380 front axle level is just above the full mark.

Thanks for the nudge to look at that 👍
Open the "vents" on the top of the wheel gear box on each front wheel, make sure there is oil. Then recheck the oil level at the dipstick. You might be surprised.
 
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lugbolt

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Equipment
ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
4,807
1,575
113
Mid, South, USA
Is this a common known "thing" that the factory or dealers only fill it 1/3 full?

The dealer doesn't fill them at all. They are prefilled. That said the dealer is SUPPOSED to check them as part of pre-delivery inspection. Every single one that went through my work bay got checked and 99% were low. Dealer hated it because it costs them some fluids. Another dealer I was at, they just hurried up the setup process and sent it out the door without pdi. That bothers me when dealers do that. You should have gotten a PDI checklist upon taking delivery of the tractor.
 
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River19

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Equipment
B2601, RB1560, BB1260 and BX2830 blower
Sep 10, 2020
323
475
63
NH/VT NEK
Good news is I have most of a gallon of the UDT2 fluid. Early on, being the good newbie owner I am I did the daily fluid check and found my rear case dipstick was low......like barely registering on the dipstick so I called the dealer and they sent a guy over with a gallon for me.

So I will add some fluid this morning........
 

leveraddict

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Equipment
2017 BX23S 60" LP BoxBlade 54" mower 60" BackBlade EA 12" 1 bottom plow & Forks
Apr 1, 2019
906
580
93
NEPA
I think once you start using the machine and things start circulating and getting up to temp that the levels change!
 
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PaulR

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BX 23S -- 100 hours seat time so far
Aug 3, 2020
580
456
63
Hadley, MA
Got my BX 23 S in the fall, found out about this over winter, 30 hours on the tractor, checked the front diff, it wasn't low, it was BONE DRY. I documented, took pics, called dealer, he said just fill it, it will be fine. <rolleyes>
 

79 powerking

Member

Equipment
1970 economy 1614 1979 powerking 1614 at least they're orange.
Feb 4, 2021
33
11
8
Lemont Furnace Pa
I bought my bx1880 February 13 and since then I have add just over a quart of fluid. The last time I removed the vents and topped it off. It has stayed full since then.
 

Henro

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Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
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North of Pittsburgh PA
Mine (L2501) had very little in it after checking at 30 hours....like none in the upper axle case. Mine just has a fill hole and no dipstick. So, you were doing much better than me. It seems to be more common than it ever should be.
What? No way to check the front axle oil level other than just looking in and finding some? No dip stick?

Am I reading this right? Seems highly unusual...
 

Nicfin36

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Equipment
L2501 HST, BH77 Backhoe, SSQA Loader ZD1011 Mower
Jun 19, 2019
1,014
457
83
Decatur, AL
What? No way to check the front axle oil level other than just looking in and finding some? No dip stick?

Am I reading this right? Seems highly unusual...

Yeah, old school of sorts. I would have checked the oil level shortly after receiving the tractor if it had a dipstick. It has a 27mm fill hole and a smaller (14mm I think) hole on the opposite site that you can take out and oil will dribble out the hole when filled.
 

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River19

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601, RB1560, BB1260 and BX2830 blower
Sep 10, 2020
323
475
63
NH/VT NEK
Threw some Kubota Super Magical Spendy fluid in the axle this morning before use, I'll check it again tomorrow after it settles out etc.

I'm sure I landed in the same place everyone else does "Would be nice if the dealer topped it off, but either way after some use it all settles and needs to be checked".

Not sure why they just don't add a line to the Maintenance table for Front Axle Oil "Check" at that first 50hr maintenance level (if not sooner). The first mention of the axle oil is at 400hrs.
 

Bmyers

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Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
May 27, 2019
3,151
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Southern Illinois
Mine (L2501) had very little in it after checking at 30 hours....like none in the upper axle case. Mine just has a fill hole and no dipstick. So, you were doing much better than me. It seems to be more common than it ever should be.
Yep, no dipstick on my front axle either. Just open the side hole and make sure a little comes out, otherwise fill it.

After my last service, the dealer told me to run it 10 hours and then most likely it would need a little more to top it off. He was right.

From the manual:

5. Run the vehicle a few minutes in order for the oil to flow through the front axle case.
6. Remove the oil level check plug and check to see if the oil flows out of its port. If not, add the oil through the filling port until it flows out of the oil level check port.
7. Reinstall and tighten the oil level check plug and filling plug.
 
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RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,282
3,865
113
Chenango County, NY
River - - it's kind of a common thing. We've mentioned it here on OTT for a while.

I changed mine early-on, but it sat on a sales lot for quite a while. It was very low, and that was 8 years ago....

The new tractors now haven't sat around, but they commonly are low or dry, as others mention.
 
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vanhanz

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Equipment
Kubota L3301 HST, Hustler SD60, Kawasaki Mule 3010 Trans 4x4
Aug 1, 2018
27
4
3
GA
Mine was low on delivery. I sent it back to have them add something to my tractor and told them to fill it up then.
 

nbryan

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B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
Jan 3, 2019
1,161
705
113
Hadashville, Manitoba, Canada
1/3 up between the fill level marks on the dipstick is fine. A change of tractor levelness or fluid temperature can make a sometimes big difference. And always pull, wipe, and reinsert the dipstick to take an accurate reading. Air trapped below the dipstick seal o-ring can keep the oil from rising to its natural level.
 
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ken erickson

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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
Nov 21, 2010
974
1,485
93
Waupaca Wisconsin
This might be a silly question, but here goes.
Tomorrow I am going to check the front axle lube as many have suggested.

My question is this, my owners manual says either Kubota Super UDT-2 OR SAE 80-SAE-90 gear oil.
Which lube should I expect to have in mine from the factory/dealer (L2501 purchased new Nov of 2019. ) and does it matter when topping off if the two products are mixed? I do have both products on hand in the shop but curious more than anything. Less than 50 hours on the meter now, so not planning on doing a change, which is recommended at 800 hours.
 

thebicman

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Equipment
B2601 + BX2755HD + 50" box blade
Feb 2, 2017
328
89
28
Ottawa, ontario
If it was never replaced then the factory uses the super udt-2. Don't mix them. If you want to have 80w90 then drain and fill with it only.
 
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