M5400 Front Pinion Shaft Broken

[Maine Kurby]

Hi all, new user/tractor owner here! Have a Kubota M5400 SU up in Maine.

Last year while bush hogging we got stuck on a boulder - which at the time I thought broke the propeller shaft, disabling our 4WD. Finally got around to taking a look and it was actually the pinion shaft that broke right at the front axle casing.

I pulled the casing off and I’ve been removing the various clips and collars around the broken shaft. Now I’m stuck trying to get this bearing out (picture below). I’ve tried a gear puller and slide hammer but in both cases no arrangement of the “fingers” can fit around the bearing to pull it...what are my options here to pull this out?

My hope is I can pull the broken pinion shaft out and replace it without having to pull apart the whole front axle to do so / replace the gear as well. If it isn’t obvious I am 1) very new to tractors and 2) very new to any kind of mechanical repairs...thanks!

 

[SidecarFlip]

You need to invest in a Workshop manual or find a local dealer and let hhm repair it.

 

[kkk]

wag....every pinion gear I've seen besides a 9" ford ...comes out the other side.

 

[whitetiger]

Hi all, new user/tractor owner here! Have a Kubota M5400 SU up in Maine.

Last year while bush hogging we got stuck on a boulder - which at the time I thought broke the propeller shaft, disabling our 4WD. Finally got around to taking a look and it was actually the pinion shaft that broke right at the front axle casing.

I pulled the casing off and I’ve been removing the various clips and collars around the broken shaft. Now I’m stuck trying to get this bearing out (picture below). I’ve tried a gear puller and slide hammer but in both cases no arrangement of the “fingers” can fit around the bearing to pull it...what are my options here to pull this out?

My hope is I can pull the broken pinion shaft out and replace it without having to pull apart the whole front axle to do so / replace the gear as well. If it isn’t obvious I am 1) very new to tractors and 2) very new to any kind of mechanical repairs...thanks!

The pinion shaft comes with a matched ring gear, so you will need to disassemble the axle assembly. With the differential removed you can push the pinion shaft and bearings out the back as an assembly. A long bar and a block of wood stuck inside the axle tube from the LH side work very well.

 

[GeoHorn]

I’ve never done this on a tractor.

But in my younger days I was THE differential specialist at a Toyota dealership, trained at Gulf States Toyota (the factory training center) and that’s worth nada in this particular case (pardon the pun.)

But regardless of the age of this tractor, that’s a manufacturing defect which caused that pinion to snap. There was a ‘bubble” in the forging when it was made and Kubota should warranty it. Whether they will or not is an entirely different matter. (In the 1970’s Toyota would warrant their gears regardless of age as long as they didn’t fail from lack of lube, but the customer had to ask for a review.)

 

[SidecarFlip]

I wouldn't hold my breath on any kind of compensation George but anything is worth a try.