2320 hydro drive shaft just snapped off !!!

[RoyJackson]

Something was going on before the "bang"

Probably the drive shaft trying to turn before the failure...

 

[JDdude]

I too wonder if he was in 4 wheel drive when this happened..Does he always drive it in 4 wheel drive when dragging the area, turning all the time in 4 wheel drive.

 

[wdchyd]

I'll bet the initial failure was the u-joint which finally took out the shaft.

Yep, I'd bet the same.....the u-joint got tangled after the needles/caps came apart and stressed the trans shaft.......

A shot over the bow for other owners of this design model to inspect this often......it probably could've been avoided with an easy fix (new u-joint) had it been caught in time......

 

[/pine]

Probably the drive shaft trying to turn before the failure...

I assumed it had been turning when the "weird sound" started...?

You guys have probably diagnosed the fault correctly...I was just citing the OP because some replies seemed to have missed that part...?

 

[bill1369]

I have not changed any tires. However, all 4 tires were filled last year with soft foam (that is what they called it), because I kept getting small flats (Turf tires)

Yes I was in 4WD when I was dragging the arena. It was wet last night and I always drag in 4WD when wet as it will spin the back tires sometimes. BTW, I am very careful with my 4WD and try to do everything in 2WD and only use 4WD when back tires spin.

Yes, it didn't all of a sudden BANG. The tractor was starting to get loud for about 20 seconds while dragging ring (half way through dragging the ring...wasn't doing it at beginning), which caused me to shut engine to look underneath. I checked the U-joints and they looked fine. Then I started it back up again and that is where the BANG happened.

The shaft that connects to the front axle is fine. This was the shaft ABOVE that shaft that broke. (See attached Pic) Being a 2.5 year Newbie, Not sure what it really connects to as it is protected as it goes up under metal and I can't see where it goes.

 

[/pine]

is it not the front PTO shaft? if not the 4wd ?

 

[JDdude]

.Dragging all the time in very dusty conditions could take a higher toll on the ujoint after 700 hrs. Then the added stress of 4 wheel drive operation turning often , not just back and forth operation kinda makes sence to me..

 

[Red Horse]

I have not changed any tires. However, all 4 tires were filled last year with soft foam (that is what they called it), because I kept getting small flats (Turf tires)

Yes I was in 4WD when I was dragging the arena. It was wet last night and I always drag in 4WD when wet as it will spin the back tires sometimes. BTW, I am very careful with my 4WD and try to do everything in 2WD and only use 4WD when back tires spin.

Yes, it didn't all of a sudden BANG. The tractor was starting to get loud for about 20 seconds while dragging ring (half way through dragging the ring...wasn't doing it at beginning), which caused me to shut engine to look underneath. I checked the U-joints and they looked fine. Then I started it back up again and that is where the BANG happened.

The shaft that connects to the front axle is fine. This was the shaft ABOVE that shaft that broke. (See attached Pic) Being a 2.5 year Newbie, Not sure what it really connects to as it is protected as it goes up under metal and I can't see where it goes.

Just out of curiosity, who is your dealer? Sounds to me like you are someone who has given this thing reasonable care and don't abuse the "front axle assist". And there are no grease fittings on that ujoint correct?

 

[bill1369]

is it not the front PTO shaft? if not the 4wd ?

Nope, it isn't the front/mid PTO shaft. That is even further below the drive shaft that goes to the front axle. The front PTO shaft wasn't connected. I only use it for my MMM.

 

[diesel466]

The driveshaft goes between engine and trans. The shaft that broke is the input shaft to trans.