Clunking in front axle?

[patchfarm]

Our 4110 has developed a clunking that seems to be coming from the front axle. It only occurs in 4WD, and it occurs roughly every 2 seconds, in forward and reverse. It clunks, and the tractor kind of skips/lunges slightly with each clunk.

I drained the front axle gear oil and did find some metal shavings in it. Thoughts?

 

[RNeumann]

Time to lift the front end and spin the tires manually to see if you can isolate the noise. Front drive shaft, front axle u joint etc.

 

[mikester]

Our 4110 has developed a clunking that seems to be coming from the front axle. It only occurs in 4WD, and it occurs roughly every 2 seconds, in forward and reverse. It clunks, and the tractor kind of skips/lunges slightly with each clunk.

I drained the front axle gear oil and did find some metal shavings in it. Thoughts?

Possible chipped or damaged ring gear. Lift the front end in 2WD and spin the tires manually and feel for the clunk. Mark the sport on the tire. If it is damaged you will likely need to pull the axel and replace the ring and pinion. Dont ignore the problem it will get worse. Good luck.

 

[patchfarm]

Okay, I'll raise it and spin the front. Excuse my ignorance, why am I marking the spot of the noise on the tire? How will I know it's the ring & pinion vs. something else?

 

[RNeumann]

In my experience it will be obvious what and where the noise is coming from. I didn’t follow marking the tire either. The odds that it is a ring and or pinion gear are very slim......but it is possible. Let us know how it goes.

If it is something in the front axle the final drives should be fairly easy to take off. They are typically shipped from the factory without them on.

 

[patchfarm]

Well granted I am doing it in a snowstorm, but I put it in 2WD and lifted the front end up and spun the tires. I did not hear any greatly noticeable sounds, but perhaps I need to keep an ear to the axle itself and have someone else spin? Or, could not hearing anything offer any further proof in a certain direction?

 

[RNeumann]

Can you reach up and spin the front drive shaft. Wiggle it back and forth. That won’t spin with tire movement unless you spin both tires at the same time ......typically.

Can you try to wiggle the tires and try to move the tires in both directions.

Sorry u r working on it in the snow.....boo!

 

[DirtHauler]

Our 4110 has developed a clunking that seems to be coming from the front axle. It only occurs in 4WD, and it occurs roughly every 2 seconds, in forward and reverse. It clunks, and the tractor kind of skips/lunges slightly with each clunk.

I drained the front axle gear oil and did find some metal shavings in it. Thoughts?

Mine did that too and the damage was quite extensive, here's what I found on the right side:

 

[RNeumann]

Mine did that too and the damage was quite extensive, here's what I found on the right side:

Looks like a bearing failure. This that what happened?

 

[ovrszd]

I always apply the KISS principle. Start with the front driveshaft.

Identify this problem before further use. In regards to drivelines, the failure will multiply if not corrected very soon.

 

[skipmarcy]

As mentioned, check the front driveshaft first. Collapse the tube between the front axle and front trans case and see if either coupler on each end has broken or slid down the shaft allowing the driveshaft to flop around in the tube. I've never broken one but it is certainly possible.

I have had to replace the bolts holding the ring gear to the carrier in the front diff once, then a couple years later I had to replace the whole diff assy. - not cheap but made the tractor whole again. I think the diff assy was around $750 +/-. If that's your case, be sure to remove the whole axle housing out and thoroughly clean it out with a solvent of your chosing before putting any new parts inside. Your outdrives will be off the housing anyway to r&r the diff and it's not much more to remove it from the tractor where you can move it around to clean it GOOD. Any metal left in nooks & crannies WILL destroy your efforts eventually.

 

[DirtHauler]

Yep, it's the bearing that supports the end of the wheel shaft. When this failed it allowed the bevel gear to "walk" and grind into the final gear case (see metal grindings 3rd photo). The grindings got into all bearings on that side. This "walking" of the bevel gear was the cause of my "lurching" when in 4WD.
If this is the problem with yours, you'll know which side it is because when you pull the lower drain plugs, the side with the issue will have the metal shavings. In the end after replacing the gear case, bearings and seals I was a little over $1,350 for parts and did the repair my self.

 

[ch1ch2]

All agree, the sooner you fix it, the less damage you will have to fix.

 

[Oldpath05]

How many hours on these tractors and what kind of fluid is being used in the front ends?

 

[patchfarm]

So I finally have a decent morning to take a look at things. I collapsed the tube on the front driveshaft, and have put up a few images on this post of each end. The collars are not broken but they do slide some. Is that normal? Again, this is the first time I am looking at this so I have no point of reference of what is "normal".

 

[RNeumann]

That all looks fine. You are trying to isolate where the noise is coming from and or feel where the clunk is.

Grab that shaft and try to turn the tires- chalk the rear wheels and put tractor in neutral. Hold the shaft lightly and have some helpers spin both front tires. You are just trying to isolate it to one of three places- right side l, left side or drive shaft.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Grab that shaft and try to turn the tires- chalk the rear wheels and put tractor in neutral. Hold the shaft lightly and have some helpers spin both front tires. You are just trying to isolate it to one of three places- right side l, left side or drive shaft.

chalk or chock? Or both?

 

[RNeumann]

chalk or chock? Or both?

For u both

 

[ch1ch2]

For u both

If you put a chalk mark on TOP on the tire then chock it, it will insure that the tire does not move.

 

[patchfarm]

I did as instructed, but perhaps I am missing something. I have it in 2WD, and whether I have diff lock on or off, both the front wheels spin in opposite directions. The wheels can be spun in tandem direction to begin with but then one side locks up, and starts to push backwards. Similarly, the shaft spins initially but then stops spinning after a second or two of pushing on the tires. Forgive my ignorance if I am doing it wrong or missing the obvious. I'm accustomed to wrenching on cars but not our tractor just yet.