Mahindra 7010 broken front pinion

[Gascozark]

We have a 7010 with a broken front pinion. The gear itself is broken off the stem. We’re not sure what caused it, but there was no gear oil in the housing, so that may have done it. Oddly enough, the ring gear and differential look unharmed. We did get a new pinion gear and all the bearings, just to be safe.
Can someone tell me, what keeps the ring gear and diff. in place on the pinion side of the housing? There is a snap ring on the outer end, but it appears that the diff. and ring gear just float against the pinion gear?? Does this sound right? This really doesn’t seem like a good design if so….
Thanks in advance for any help and/or insight that you can provide.

 

[Agvg]

Pictures?

 

[Gascozark]

I don’t have any helpful pictures at the moment. I do however have the parts illustration. The scale is a bit deceiving though, since the diff. carrier bearings are just slightly larger O.D. than the ring gear. You would think that there would be a step cast and machined into the axle housing on the pinion side of the differential to prevent inward movement, but on ours there is not. The only apparent thing that stops the inward diff. movement is the pinion gear itself. I guess I’m asking if this is normal, or do we have a housing that is improperly machined from the factory? I hate to get it all together and have it break again later.
I’m a 30 year ASE Master Tech on cars and trucks, but the design of this tractor axle just has me scratching my head wondering how on earth it’s supposed to survive…? Definitely doesn’t appear to be designed for sustained engagement….

 

[Gascozark]

View attachment Illustration_02_20_2022.pdf

View attachment 734478

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Well, you run any 4x4 engaged on hard surfaces, you're gonna have to buy things. Looks like a crush sleeve type setup.

 

[Gascozark]

Well, you run any 4x4 engaged on hard surfaces, you're gonna have to buy things. Looks like a crush sleeve type setup.

I agree 100% on running in 4x4, especially for times where it isn’t necessarily needed. My step father purchased this tractor a couple of years ago, so we don’t really know how it was operated previously.

We haven’t removed the remaining stem of the broken pinion yet from the axle housing, so I can’t say for certain if the spacer between the pinion bearings is a collapsible spacer or just a solid spacer. I’m hoping that someone who has had one of these axles apart can clarify on what controls movement of the differential/ring gear assembly within the housing, on the pinion side/end.