2310d 4wd problem

[kfin]

Ok, while watching a basketball game this afternoon, I brought the drop box in to work on it...wife was not overly thrilled about it but she let it slide.

The two parts I think are both, or one of them, messed up are the front shift arm (which I have been calling the lever) and the front shift block which is the little piece that fits on the end of the front shift arm and slides into the groove on the end of the lower gear and moves it back and forth when put in or taken out of 4wd.

It never comes out of the groove when shifting into and out of 4wd and I really don't think it is supposed to. It appears to me that it is designed to spin to stay lined up with the groove as it moves forward and backward. I pushed it back to go in 4wd and watched everything work properly again, then pushed it forward to watch it all lock up again. Began to take the shifting lever off. A bolt and roll pin later it was loose. I then tapped the front shift block out of the lower gear groove and voila! It spins as it should.

While it was pushed back I tried spinning the front shift block around 360 degrees. It catches on the pin it fits onto and will not turn all the way around. So I think I have a front shift arm that somebody fabricated themselves and it isn't quite right. Or maybe it worked for a while until the balls came out the front and jammed things up or maybe it finally jammed and that is what through the front balls out...don't know.

But I am going to get my parts ordered Monday for the rear end of the tractor that is all torn apart and I'm going to pick up both pieces (front shift block and arm). Then put them in and see what happens. There is nothing else that it could be in my feeble brain.

 

[California]

Sounds like you might have parts there made by some poor VN guy who was given a block of steel, a file, and a two week deadline ....

Or more realistically, a blacksmith.

 

[kfin]

Okay, tonight I finally had a few minutes to take the drop box apart. For anybody trying to take apart...take off the front collar and seal, I managed to save the collar but the seal will need replacing. Then you have to take off the top gear which is held on by a roll pin and another big pin. Once off you can push the gear and "axle stub" forward and backward and without actually taking the bearing off and removing it, you can get the front shift arm and block out.
Here are 3 pictures from slightly different angles. This may be original but I can't imagine that it is, looks to me like it was fabricating by one of the previous owners. The problem was the block was not fitting in the groove very well and was binding up so that it would not turn freely.

Might be able to straighten it out and I could try it to see if it works. I could test it while still off and see if the stub turns after straightening in 2 wd which is my problem. Or just order the front shift lever tomorrow when I call and order my axle, all my gaskets and some other assorted minor fixes that are going to happen now. I hate wasting money but am leaning toward just replacing it if the part isn't too bad and knowing what I have in there when put back together.

What are your guys thoughts?

 

[normde2001]

Replace the part. it's obviously bent and probably lost any tempering it might have had and would just bend again. According to pictures that's the OEM part.

 

[winston1]

In my opinion trying to force one of these in or out of 4 wheel drive when gears are not aligned or in a bind is what caused the bending. If gears are aligned and not in a bind movement should take very little push.

Looks like they are listed from $40 to $100. Not sure which yours uses. Normde is telling you the right way in replacing it but cheap skate me would straighten and if satisfied I would reuse it. Not the correct way, just my way.

After taking a second look at your pictures I am wondering if the the round part the block slides over is in good condition? Picture makes it look sort of flat. Does the block fit on it ok without excess wobble?

 

[kenmac]

Guess I'm like you winston.. I would put it in a vise, heat it if I had too ,and straighten it,but that's just me

 

[careyo63]

What a Ghetto Rig!! I'm not putting that back in my Tractor to find out it is weak and have to got through it and replace "IT" and the Seals Etc. AGAIN!!!! You 2 can do what you want.

 

[kfin]

Got all my parts ordered for both projects just now from Hoyes...only thing they did not have was the frigging front shift arm. They are looking around for me.

 

[kenmac]

What a Ghetto Rig!!

LOL.. I've repaired ,and made many parts that have worked just like new..
Making things work is nothing new to me...In my business,, you have to make things that will work all the time

 

[Neat 1500]

Looks like it's been in a vice before and had a whackin'. Yeah give it another touch up but if in doubt maybe replace it if you can find one.