4115 Burnt Rubber Smell

[trlong]

"Is it the 4wd? Use the fel to raise the front wheels off the ground. Spin them by hand, engine off and see if there might be a lubrication issue with the seals there. I had a rubber squeak there and sprayed silicone lube in (on the advice of a JD tech) and it took care of it.." <font color="blue"> </font>

Yes, I almost always use the 4wd getting back up the hill to keep from spinning and chewing up my dirt ramp. I had not thought of the seals. I'll check the wheels as you suggest (except I may use some jack stands...I get a bit antsy trusting hydraulics to keep me from getting crushed...just wimpy that way, I guess /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

Whatever it is, if I figure it out, I'll let folks know.

Tom
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[rockyridgefarm]

Great, but before you go all out with the stands, you might want to do some checking without them (and do be careful, do this on a flat paved area...) With the wheels up you will be able to rock the axle and check the seals as well as the rest of the front end., once you have eliminated any situation caused by the axle pitch, you can put stands under there.

Does the 4115 have a lock on the DSCV to hold it in place? Not that you ever want to fully trust anything, but that also helps...

 

[keeney]

I just replaced the front spindle seal on my 4100. I cannot imagine how it could cause the smell unless it was running completely dry in whcih case your whole front axle and wheel greacases would be dry as well.

My 4100 has a rubber boot over the universal joint right behind the front axle. I don't think this boot is not actually on the driveshaft, but instead mounts to a cover sleeve on one end and the front axle house on the other. If the u-joint was rubbing on the inside of this rubber boot when the 4wd was engaged, maybe it could get hot enough?

- Rick

 

[trlong]

Thanks again. I'll check the axle and seals before I worry about getting out jack stands.

As for the DSCV, there is no lock that I know of. I re-checked the manual and didn't find anything on it either.

Tom

P.S. Sorry, my brother already said that if I kill myself, on or under the tractor, he gets first dibs. ...Said he could use the backhoe to dig the grave and save a few bucks! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

See that, with a brother like that, who needs friends like me, anyways..!

 

[jd110]

Another possibility is paint burning off of the exhaust manifold. If you work it real hard for an extended period, it should burn off all of the paint and get rid of the odor. You mentioned extra smoke when the odor was present. Was it coming out of the exhaust?

 

[bigpete]

Well, I'll throw my $ 0.03 in: I think you are smelling exhaust and un-burned diesel from the temporary lugging of your engine as others have suggested. I smell it too, and it is distinctive from exhaust from a normaly firing diesel engine. It's the timing of the odor that makes me say this. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what rubber would burn only during that brief lugging or strain. The odor I smell is kind of a sickly-sweet smell I could categorize as being in the same smell spectrum as rubber. I just throughly serviced and detailed my 4110 today, engine compartment and all. Everything is PERFECT /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif No burning rubber there.

 

[jimgerken]

I can add my experience as well: I notice this burning rubber smell (not diesel unburnt fuel or oil, it IS hot rubber smell) when deep tilling in low range, hydrostatic transmission working real hard, four wheel drive engaged. John Deere 4100, 2001 model, 200 hours.

 

[trlong]

I guess it could just be the diesel, or as suggested too paint burning off the exhaust. Even though I frequently work the 4115 harder than brining it up the hill in 4wd, and it has worked pretty hard for over 215 hr.s now, it is the only time I notice the smell. It could be just that it is lugging and I'm driving into the exaust and/or burnt paint smell.

I did check all the seals as suggested. Also, just had the snowblower installed and asked the dealer about the smell and to check out all seals. Clean bill of health and no suggestions from dealer, other than "...likely just deisel exhaust...". Guess I won't worry about it, for now, unless I notice something other than those short whiff's of "burnt rubber".

Thanks all for the thoughts. If I ever figure exactly what it is, I'll post it.

Pic.'s to come when I get a couple of good dumps of snow.

Tom

 

[horseman1]

After finishing up the 50 hour service the other night, I took the 2210 out for a spin in the pasture. This thread came to mind, so I put it in high and took off up the hill with the petal down after it was good and warmed up. I did notice the smell you describe. It does smell like burnt rubber. However, like Pete said, I think it was the smoke of the diesel under load, even though it didnt smell much like it. Not that I ever burnt any rubber when I was a young lad, or caused any smoke or anything /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Kurt