Front Drive shaft has alot of play...

Hd883chopper

Member

Equipment
2006 Kubota L4330 w/ FEL - Kubota Zero Turn ZD21 - 2010 Kubota RTV900X
Apr 17, 2021
31
4
8
Covington, LA
2010 RTV900

I've been posting and asking alot of the past few days. Machine is new to me and I'm doing some basic maintenance.

In any case, I was changing out the knuckle oil in the front and was grabbing and shaking things looking for play. Grabbed the drive shaft that powers the front gear box and man, that thing seemed to move alot! This can't be by design right? I can easily move it a half inch both side to side and up and down. How much play is supposed to occur if any?

Thanks in advance!
HD
 

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
3,241
1,670
113
Kansas City, KS
2010 RTV900

I've been posting and asking alot of the past few days. Machine is new to me and I'm doing some basic maintenance.

In any case, I was changing out the knuckle oil in the front and was grabbing and shaking things looking for play. Grabbed the drive shaft that powers the front gear box and man, that thing seemed to move alot! This can't be by design right? I can easily move it a half inch both side to side and up and down. How much play is supposed to occur if any?

Thanks in advance!
HD
Does your machine have the one-piece shaft or the segmented shaft with a carrier bearing?
 

Hd883chopper

Member

Equipment
2006 Kubota L4330 w/ FEL - Kubota Zero Turn ZD21 - 2010 Kubota RTV900X
Apr 17, 2021
31
4
8
Covington, LA
Does your machine have the one-piece shaft or the segmented shaft with a carrier bearing?
Looks like one long white shaft running from the front gear box back to the engine/transmission. There’s a boot on each end, surprisingly no Universal joint. Anyway, the amt of play seems to be the same at the front boot as the rear boot. What do you think?
 

lugbolt

Well-known member

Equipment
ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
5,501
2,207
113
Mid, South, USA
splines may be worn a little. It really isn't a big deal until the splines are completely gone. Then your 4wd won't work very well.
 

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
3,241
1,670
113
Kansas City, KS
There is a CV-type joint under each of the accordion boots at each end of the propeller shaft, a little play is normal.
 

Hd883chopper

Member

Equipment
2006 Kubota L4330 w/ FEL - Kubota Zero Turn ZD21 - 2010 Kubota RTV900X
Apr 17, 2021
31
4
8
Covington, LA
There is a CV-type joint under each of the accordion boots at each end of the propeller shaft, a little play is normal.
Yes they look just like cv joints. I was just floored with the amount of play there is. But if you all say some slop is normal, that’s good for me. It just surprised me. Thx!
 

Hd883chopper

Member

Equipment
2006 Kubota L4330 w/ FEL - Kubota Zero Turn ZD21 - 2010 Kubota RTV900X
Apr 17, 2021
31
4
8
Covington, LA
There is a CV-type joint under each of the accordion boots at each end of the propeller shaft, a little play is normal.
Hey I noticed your equipment list shows RCK60. That same number is posted on my ZD21 as a model number. Does the RCK60 indicate the 60” deck or something else? Just curious. Thx.
 

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
3,241
1,670
113
Kansas City, KS
Your ZD21 has an RCK60-21Z deck
My Bx2370 has an RCK60-B23BX deck
They are the same thing only different. :giggle: They have different mounting fixtures on them basically is the only difference.
 
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