My Branson 3520R 4WD went out yesterday. The tractor has 25 hours on it. Anyone have any ideas what I could check before hauling it 100 miles to the dealership? I crawled under it, and removed the shaft housing, and the shaft seems to be tight and intact. The oil level is full in the front axle and transmission.
By "went out" you meant WHAT is no longer working ?
Looking at the drive shaft for WHAT ?
OK, now I've read some of the other replies - I don't quite know where they got their ideas from, but THEY seem to be following your mention of the driveshaft.
I'm still bit confused, but at a guess a linkage may be off, or SERIOUSLY out of adjustment (new tractor syndrome, lock nuts not tightened on adjustable length linkage shafts, etc.) i.e. you have an unexpected neutral.
Unfastened lock nuts, 20 or 25 hours of vibration - as I said a GUESS.
As you know there are (at least) three places for that; fwd/reverse, range and gears - plus clutch.
I would get someone to work the three levers for these while you watch the linkages - from the side, NOT underneath with the tractor running.
A disconnect should be obvious, check the lock nuts for tightness as a clue to adjustment problems.
If you find a loose one don't just tighten it up, follow the manual's adjustment procedure.
Sorry, that is all I have for you, I hope it helps and I do understand your reluctance to haul it 100 miles.