Left Front Wheel fell out. 4025 4WD with FEL

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Confused. Is this caused by the lug nuts not being properly tightened?

 

[RNeumann]

Check every 10 hours? You understand the bolts that failed are internal to the front final drive, right?

Several folks on here have had issues that seem to stem from the dealers not owning and or using a torque wrench. From the pics it looked like the bolts were internal- but I couldn’t give you a play by play of how to access them.
Maybe I should have prefaced my comment with “if it was mine, I would” check those bolts every 10 hours until I was sure nothing was moving and or loosening.

I do understand your point though- it sounds like a lot of work. And let’s be honest- a known bad design (that’s why they came out with the upgrade) that leads to the wheel falling off really isn’t that bad.

 

[ruffdog]

It seems odd to me that the wheel is supported directly on the splines? Straight splines like that have clearance for a slip fit so there would always be movement between the male and female splines. No matter what bolts they use, it looks like a funky design to me with no bearing directly inboard of the wheel flange.

 

[darmstrong2319]

It was a short time after initial fix it started seeping , maybe a month and they went back in and really couldn’t find anything that stood out. They replaced all seals gaskets and such, but about a week later it started seeping again. When they went back this time they replaced the only thing left it could be, the housing which I think was over four hundred bucks and had no problem since.
They told me that they had seen it twice before so it is known. They charged me for part only on the housing install because they didn’t fix it the time before. I will check my records and see if I can find the actual price for the fix. My front tires had water in them when this happened and not sure if it had anything to do with it but I had them drain the front tires.

 

[RickB]

Several folks on here have had issues that seem to stem from the dealers not owning and or using a torque wrench. From the pics it looked like the bolts were internal- but I couldn’t give you a play by play of how to access them.
Maybe I should have prefaced my comment with “if it was mine, I would” check those bolts every 10 hours until I was sure nothing was moving and or loosening.

I do understand your point though- it sounds like a lot of work. And let’s be honest- a known bad design (that’s why they came out with the upgrade) that leads to the wheel falling off really isn’t that bad.

The OP posted photos clearly showing the axle shaft attached to the wheel and the narrative accurately describes the failure. Regarding wheel attaching hardware, every op manual I have read in the last 10 years or more directs the owner to check wheel hardware torque on new machines at some interval. Few do.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

......My front tires had water in them when this happened and not sure if it had anything to do with it but I had them drain the front tires.

My dealer strongly advised against filling the front tires; said it could cause damage to....something in the front end.

 

[darmstrong2319]

I didn’t order it that way and expressed my concern about it. I was told that it was fine and wouldn’t cause any problems. After they got the water out you could tell a difference in steering. Now five years later they don’t put water in the front tires. Some people like the front tires filled but I don’t, does it cause trouble I don’t know.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I didn’t order it that way and expressed my concern about it. I was told that it was fine and wouldn’t cause any problems. After they got the water out you could tell a difference in steering. Now five years later they don’t put water in the front tires. Some people like the front tires filled but I don’t, does it cause trouble I don’t know.

Makes sense. Rear tires just rotate; front tires have to turn as well.

 

[radios1]

Confused. Is this caused by the lug nuts not being properly tightened?

NO, it's more like where it's made..(not getting Political, btw).. it was made poorly, though.. think of all the other brands of tractors that NEVER had this problem!.. it's not good to have your front wheels fall off, for NO reason!.. that don't normally happen, until recently, by a certain brand.. I think that at top speed, this problem MAY send you over the hood, or at least cause a big pain!..

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

NO, it's more like where it's made..(not getting Political, btw).. it was made poorly, though..

I thought all tractors had most of their parts made in Japan, S Korea, China, etc., etc., though some are assembled in the U.S. I was told there wasn't a single tractor under 100 HP that was manufactured (not just assembled) in the U.S.

I do appreciate "made in USA" and buy it whenever I can, not because it's always better, but just to support my own country's businesses. Even if it costs more. My business makes a point of sourcing our materials 100% from the U.S. even though it costs more. Just wanted to say all that because I do appreciate the "made in USA" ethic.