Hi Mike,
very curious if there is something gone bad in the front axle. maybe it's just one little gear (most of them just $30-$50) and John Deere will give you a quote of a whole new component ( like differential $875, final drive $400) and to get to it they would charge you all the hours. If you would trade it in they quote you the whole deal and they just put a new little piece in and making big $$ selling it. a bigger tractor would be very helpful on your sloped ground, but me being a mom I pulled the whole front axle apart, so if you want to get your hands dirty you can do this too. Although you might not have the knowledge what really was bad you could pull the front axle from underneath and start unbolting the big pieces and bring those pieces to JD. By doing this yourself, I think this you would already save a ton. Since I have to put today my front axle back together i will make some pics in case you need them. Just let me know if it is something in the front and I will walk you through it. ( privately).[/QUOTE>
Ok Gentlemen, I think we have it pinpointed to the Tranny...
In 2WD everything works, works well, forward and reverse, FEL and MMM and the HST holds the tractor on inclines as it should.
In 4WD I have forward but no reverse, FEL and MMM work no problem, and the HST behaves like it's in 2WD.
Further Testing:
I used my bucket to raise the front wheels off the ground and found the following:
In 2WD:
In neutral Drive Shaft turns freely when front wheels are turned manually.
In lo gear drive Shaft turns freely when front wheels are turned manually.
Both conditions as to be expected.
In 4WD:
In neutral Drive Shaft turns freely when the front wheels turn freely and are NOT locked!
In lo gear drive shaft does NOT turn and front wheels do NOT turn when trying to move forward. Also front wheels turn freely when manually turned!!!! The tranny is not locking the Front Drive Shaft and Front Wheels.
So, the problem appears to be the 4WD linkage in the transmission! ****!
After Action Report:
After a fair amount of investigation I can only deduce the following which resulted in said "wild ride" with 2210 doing a wheelie:
I was mowing the turf in 4WD & Lo Gear going up the hill in reverse as I have for 8 years when the 4WD linkage or rod in the tranny got disconnected, broke, or something.
This resulted in the front wheels being "free wheeling", essentially turning the tractor into 2WD and I didn't know it... The broken/failed linkage was also preventing me from going in reverse, jamming something.
(In the 8 years that I have had the 2210 I don't think it has been in 2WD more than the very few times I found it to be life threatening to be in that mode...)
When I put the transmission into neutral and then back into lo gear and began a forward descent speed began to pick up and the rear wheels couldn't hold it just by themselves - too much weight with a 35 degree incline.. remember, my 2210 has foam filled front and rear tires which signifcantly add to the weight of the machine....
When I tried to apply the brakes the machine had too much downward momentum with the weight and began to slide, all the while gaining more momentum....
So gentlemen, I think that this is the best I can do in troubleshooting where the problem is and in trying to determine cost....
Best Case Scenario: Tranny has to come off, at best MFWD 4WD linkage gets put back on or replaced.
Anyone have a best case scenario cost estimate? Besides big bucks?
I think I may invest in a trailer hitch and rent a trailer to make the 2210 mobile which would save me $200. in having the dealer do a pickup/dropoff AND maybe I can get it to another JD dealer for a second opinion...
Do you gentlemen agree with the assessment and next steps?
Thanks again,
Mike