Traction New Holland 1720 front wheels won't turn

[Meltd0wn]

I was using a 3 point hitch mower deck on the lawn in 4-wheel drive. Parts of the lawn are steep which is why I needed the extra traction. I heard a popping noise and suddenly the front wheels were being pushed along by the rear wheels. I lifted the front wheels off of the ground with the front loader and found that they will spin in opposite directions, just not in the same direction at the same time. Any ideas?

 

[jimmysisson]

Any regular differential will behave that way. Did you try with 4wd disengaged? In that case the driveshaft might spin instead of the other wheel.
Not sure what you meant "pushing the front end around". Like no drive to front tires?
Jom

 

[Meltd0wn]

Any regular differential will behave that way. Did you try with 4wd disengaged? In that case the driveshaft might spin instead of the other wheel.
Not sure what you meant "pushing the front end around". Like no drive to front tires?
Jom

Front wheels won't spin in the same direction at the same time, forwards or reverse. It doesn't matter if it's in 4 WD or 2 WD, the results are the same. I'm removing the drives haft to see if the front end is locked or if something happened in the transfer case. Thanks for the reply. I will post the results of removing the drive shaft.
:drink:

 

[pedalstomper78]

Did it do this on the ground? If so...something before the axles is the problem. Driveshaft, differential carrier, etc is locked up. Im wondering if something got wedged between the ring and pinion

 

[Turbys_1700]

I run my 1720 in 4 wheel assist while I mow also...
Just keep in mind that even with the front axle engaged you still only have 1 rear and 1 front tire pulling...
It is not a true 4 wheel drive since the front axles don't pull both front tires...

 

[Meltd0wn]

Okay, let me see if I can explain this better. While going forwards or backwards, the front wheels won't turn. The front wheels just push furrows into the ground. I removed the drive shaft (after a lot of cussing) and found that the transfer shaft spins free. The pinion shaft in the front axle is locked tighter than a bug's pooper in January. There's something very wrong in the front differential. With the front end off of the ground, however, if one tire is spun, the other tire spins in the opposite direction as expected. It's obviously the pinion shaft that's stuck...I'm thinking the pinion bearing. :thumbsup:

 

[Meltd0wn]

I think I'm confusing y'all by saying "turn" instead of "spin" :banghead:

 

[WilliamBos]

So the front axle has locked up?

 

[pedalstomper78]

It could also be a carrier bearing. Hopefully its cheap and fairly easy once you get in there......

 

[Meltd0wn]

Hopefully its cheap and fairly easy once you get in there......

That sounds so wrong