4wd quit working

[Gamemaster]

Doing some loader work with turf tires and get some 4wd spin now and then so I knew the 4wd was working but was on a down-slope dumping rock and could not back out. The rear tire was spinning and nothing up-front. I locked in the differential and put bucket down for rear-traction and backed out. Put the tractor in the air, supported it and engaged 4wd, but only have 2wd. Didn't hear or notice a difference when it lost the 4wd. Any comments/ideas ?

 

[ragman]

You don't say what model tractor you have. I had the fwd go out on a BX2200 a few years ago. It turned out to be the shear pin/roll pin that held the u joint yoke on the front end. The pin snapped, fell out , and the yoke dropped back off the splined shaft on the front axle. It didn't drop to the ground because of the plastic shield covering the assembly. Is the front drive shaft from the trans to the front axle turning?

 

[Gamemaster]

The model is L2350DT. I couldn't tell if the shaft was moving because of the protective casing surrounding it. This is my 1st tractor so I have not disassembled anything yet. Only thing I did for maintenance was change all filters/fluids + greasing.

 

[ragman]

I've been away from the computer for a few days. Don't know about any other models except BX2200 and the BX22 I have now. Any luck finding the problem?

 

[JEDsBX22]

Similar thing just happened to me today. The problem was a sheer-pin that sheered, letting the front driveshaft U-joint pull free (and fall onto my mid-mount mower). Exactly the same symptoms you describe.

 

[NYTrainer]

Funny you all mentioned the roll pin holding the u-joint. Happened to notice mine (BX-2200) was almost backed out fully. Tapped it in and will keep an eye on it.
Dave

 

[Junkman]

I would replace the bearing unless it is still fully intact and there is no damage to it. It surprises me that there is no retainer E clip on the shaft to keep the cross bearing from coming off the shaft when the shear pin breaks. Look for a groove in the side of the shaft near the very end. It might be cut into the shaft, but the E clip wasn't installed for some reason. I know that is how the cross bearing is retained on the grass catcher if the shear pin should break.