240D front wheel drive not engaging

[bowinelk]

I was putt-en around on the old 240D, trying things out. It looks like the 4 wheel drive is not engaging. I pulled up to push some rocks. the back tires would turn on the wet ground but the front tires would not spin. So I pulled it in the shop and lifted the the front and rear tires off the ground. Then started it and put it in gear. The drive shaft was spinning all the way to the front differential. So something in there is wrong i think. Any ideas?

 

[winston1]

I am full of ideas. Engage the 4 wheel drive lever, raise one front wheel, turn it and listen. Then do the other wheel. Also notice for an abnormal slack or sloppiness.

 

[normde2001]

While you have the front end up, spin one wheel, if the other spins the opposite direction, the break is in overall drive, (ring and pinion, front drive shaft connection, etc.). If no connection between wheels, break could be in either side. The wheel with least resistance tries to drive, and that would be the broken side.

 

[bowinelk]

Ok. Frontend lifted. I can spin either wheel and nothing happens on the opposite one. I can actually make both wheels rotate in the same direction at the same time.

 

[winston1]

Did you engage the 4 wheel drive so front drive shaft could not rotate? If so, were there no unusual noises or slack in either side or middle?

 

[284 International]

I was a little confused when I read Winston's post. Here is what I think he wanted to know: Before you spun each front wheel, did you make sure to have the tractor in gear, with 4wd engaged?

Having the driveline in gear and in 4 wheel drive will let you isolate the front axle components so you can determine where the disconnect is. The front differential has a spider gear assembly. If those, or the axle, or hub mechanism's gears are messed up, then there will not be a connection from one wheel to the other through the differential. That at least isolates which side is the issue, and what type of part, to a degree.

If you can turn one side and the other wheel turns the opposite way, then the problem is between the front driveshaft and the ring and pinion. Keep the tractor's transmission in gear, and in 4wd. Lower one side so that one wheel is touching and the other is in the air. Now when you try to spin the lifted tire, there should be a little free movement, but it should hit solidly on the gears and be impossible to turn by hand. If it spins freely, or grinds, then the trouble is in the ring and pinion or driveshaft coupler or somewhere up there.

You said that you can turn a front wheel and both of the front wheels go the same way. Is that while the tractor is in gear and in 4wd? If you aren't in gear on the transmission and in 4wd it won't be possible to determine anything. I hope you get it figured out!

 

[bowinelk]

Good point. Thanks for the detail. I don't think that I did engage the 4wd now that you mention it. I will perform those tests tonight after work. I will get results back to you guys.

 

[284 International]

Have you been able to make any further progress on your 4 wheel drive? I hope you're able to get it figured out and fixed.

 

[bowinelk]

Well actually after further investigation with the front end off the ground, I found that the right tie rod end was shot.(not the problem with 4 wheel drive) Plus grabbing the wheel with both hands i could wobble the hub assembly around. Turns out the vertical spindle top bearing was replaced at one time with an american 1" bearing which was close to the right size but was actually loose on the shaft, even the race fell out( it actually had movement side to side too). Of course I found this on both sides. Of course all seals are shot (both sides).


I decided to pull the whole axle off and rebuild it. Other than being filled with a mud like grease. All of the pinion, axle, ring, and spider gears look to be good and reusable. Most all the axle bearings I cleaned up and are reusable. I replaced all of the spindle pinion and wheel bearings and seals. I have not found the actual problem as yet. I am still tearing down and inspecting and cleaning waiting for parts to come in. So far I am suspecting it was all the slop in the right side and the gears were not making contact. I have not even tore the left hub assembly apart yet. So will see whats in there next...

 

[284 International]

It's not great news, but it could definitely be a lot worse. At least the bearings are affordable and easy to find. The gears and internal parts would be a lot more expensive. Is the bore for the outer race out of round too? Hopefully the bearings were destroyed and left the bores true.