DK-40se/hst noise from left front wheel area

[Coyote machine]

Hard to hear the noise but it is clearly coming from some part of the left front wheel area. Sounds like a clicking, ratcheting noise and is apparent in forward and reverse. It is there whether going straight or turning, and without 4x4 being engaged. Sort of sounds like a CV joint click, but fainter and more like a ratcheting sound....
Note: my workhand who helps around the place said when he went to grease the fitting at the wheel which faces forward at the top of the axle housing it took a half a tube of grease and did not come out anywhere as one expects to see when greasing fittings?!:confused2:

Any ideas?
TIA,
CM

Oh, and on another note I broke the 3/8" winch cable on my winch today on the last pull of the day! Bummer...

 

[MotorSeven]

If your under warranty take it in. If not, pull the wheel and bearing & see what's going on in there.

 

[Coyote machine]

Yes, I'm under warranty, but it costs time and $ to get it to the dealer. Would like to have some idea what it might be before going that route.
Sorta need to use it now before winter comes knocking. Trying to get things cleaned up before the snow flies.

 

[Redneck in training]

Do the obvious first. Are the wheel lugs tight? Are the ball joints tight?

 

[mpham]

If he pumped in that much grease I wonder if he didnt displace a seal in there and now it is rubbing? I would think it has something to do with it.

 

[IndyIan]

If he pumped in that much grease I wonder if he didnt displace a seal in there and now it is rubbing? I would think it has something to do with it.

How much grease should you pump in there then? I did a few pumps and didn't see where the grease would come out so I quit.

 

[grsthegreat]

Have you tried to jack up the front end and spin the tires..try to locate the source of the noise?

 

[mpham]

Your first post says a half a tube was pumped in.
Most fittings should only get a few pumps. You shouldn't go
till you see grease as this could cause damage. Bucket pins and
such are ok. Not drive shafts or sealed front end joints.
I second jacking up the wheel to check it out.
Our ck20's run the axle and gears in oil. Not sure what yours has. Was just suggesting something to look for.

 

[DirtHauler]

I had a kind of "clicking" noise on my ck30 for awhile from somewhere in the front axle but never could figure out what was causing it. Then one day the left front wheel seal let loose and was leaking oil at a good rate. When I took it apart to replace the seal I discovered that outer bearing cage was gone and ground into pieces and I assumed that this is what the "clicking" noise was because since I replaced the bearings and seal I haven't heard it.
It might be worth checking out.

 

[Coyote machine]

Here's the skinny on the situ: I pressure washed the entire area of the front end to get it clean for inspection. Jacked up the entire front end and spun each wheel independently. Could hear the front diff turning while spinning either wheel- seems this may be what I've been hearing, but don't remember it previously.
One important note for everyone reading this: service manual says to keep front tires to MAX air pressure if using a loader! That's 45psi/tire!
I have been moving some very heavy loader loads to the point of having to dump some gravel prior to transporting it due to being at maximum capacity where the loader will not move another pound of anything. Also I've been using my log grapple to max capacity moving entire LARGE trees and boulders. Almost flipped the machine with one very large rock- had to dump it to right the tractor.
I checked the diff fluid and it was clear and smelled like a sewer,(like most diff fluid).:laughing: I meant to check the level after the inspection but the axle was up in the air on a tilt and I forgot- so will tomorrow AM. I believe it was a little low but will need to verify. There are no leaks.

I hear what those who replied to this post have said about possible bearing damage, seal damage, etc.
What I'm unsure of is if one should hear anything when spinning one wheel or the other withOUT 4wd being engaged?
It sounded to me like 'normal' drive shaft to front diff noise and gears turning while the wheel was moving. I have no reference to check to know if any noise is acceptable. Anyone who could clarify this would be greatly appreciated...as are all comments to date.
TIA,
CM

BTW, fixed the snapped winch cable with a die grinder and three cable clamps! Back to hauling huge trees, Yahoo!!

 

[Coyote machine]

Most recent findings. Currently have 250hrs on machine. Checked fluid level in front diff. It was low but no apparent reason- possibly was never high enough from the factory/dealer.
Found the sight glass with a white plastic ball on left side at back of axle tube. drained out some of the existing fluid to see what it looked like. Found it needed changing even though the fluid at the fill hole seemed much cleaner. Put some UTF in and the sight glass showed too much fluid so removed excess from each drain plug on right and left side small bolt at backside at bottom of axle 'tower'. Topped the fluid off again and got it closer to the hatch mark on the sight glass, where the white ball floats to the center of the red circle inside the sight glass. It is totally different than the owner's manual shows so exercise due caution when working on this part of the tractor.
Soon will drain out all fluid and change it with 2 gallons of fresh UTF.
Did note some very tiny metal particles, but this is the first change on this machine, even though the manual says to do it at 50 hr service. Meant to but missed it. No excuse - I will be keeping a closer eye on it from now on.

Had a guy who is welding some expanded metal on my brush guard listen to the diff and wheels turning when jacked up today and he said it sounded like normal planetary gears and axle/diff motion noise- so hopefully this potential big problem is squashed.

Thanks to all who had ideas, etc.

Now to figure out where all the grease goes when hitting the Zerk at the side of the tower like tubes out by the wheels?!:confused2:

Thx,

CM

 

[grsthegreat]

Most recent findings. Currently have 250hrs on machine. Checked fluid level in front diff. It was low but no apparent reason- possibly was never high enough from the factory/dealer.
Found the sight glass with a white plastic ball on left side at back of axle tube. drained out some of the existing fluid to see what it looked like. Found it needed changing even though the fluid at the fill hole seemed much cleaner. Put some UTF in and the sight glass showed too much fluid so removed excess from each drain plug on right and left side small bolt at backside at bottom of axle 'tower'. Topped the fluid off again and got it closer to the hatch mark on the sight glass, where the white ball floats to the center of the red circle inside the sight glass. It is totally different than the owner's manual shows so exercise due caution when working on this part of the tractor.
Soon will drain out all fluid and change it with 2 gallons of fresh UTF.
Did note some very tiny metal particles, but this is the first change on this machine, even though the manual says to do it at 50 hr service. Meant to but missed it. No excuse - I will be keeping a closer eye on it from now on.

Had a guy who is welding some expanded metal on my brush guard listen to the diff and wheels turning when jacked up today and he said it sounded like normal planetary gears and axle/diff motion noise- so hopefully this potential big problem is squashed.

Thanks to all who had ideas, etc.

Now to figure out where all the grease goes when hitting the Zerk at the side of the tower like tubes out by the wheels?!:confused2:

Thx,

CM

recheck that site glass in a few days..the level will go down as the oil shifts and settles.

 

[ikrywe]

Hard to hear the noise but it is clearly coming from some part of the left front wheel area. Sounds like a clicking, ratcheting noise and is apparent in forward and reverse. It is there whether going straight or turning, and without 4x4 being engaged. Sort of sounds like a CV joint click, but fainter and more like a ratcheting sound....
Note: my workhand who helps around the place said when he went to grease the fitting at the wheel which faces forward at the top of the axle housing it took a half a tube of grease and did not come out anywhere as one expects to see when greasing fittings?!:confused2:

Any ideas?
TIA,
CM

Oh, and on another note I broke the 3/8" winch cable on my winch today on the last pull of the day! Bummer...

I am not sure if you sorted this out, but I had the same condition on my 2020 Kioti DK5310 with ~250 hours. I called my local dealer (Addy's Power Equipment in New York state), they recommended I grease the center pivot of the axle and the steering pivots on both ends. I had already done that, but the other suggestion he gave was to check my lug nuts. Sure enough that was it. I was missing 1 stud on my front left wheel and the others were not tight (torque spec-wise). I snugged them up and the noise was gone. Silly, simple solutions are the best. I hope this helps others.