4x4 Noise

Anonymous Poster · Jul 22, 2001

I have a new (20hrs) BX2200 with FEL and box blade that I have been using to landscape around my new home. Recently I noticed a clicking or binding noise from the front axle when I'm in 4 wheel drive. This happens on soil and is more noticable when you have a load in the FEL especially when backing up and turning. Everything is working when in 4x4 but the noise has me concerned. Anyone else notice this on there BX or is something wrong?

Thanks

r0GuE · Jul 23, 2001

How loud is it? The only times I have used 4wd have been at higher rpm and I can't hear anything but engine.

Rogue

SteveV · Jul 23, 2001

What are you running for tire pressure? Those fronts need to be pretty hard for loader operations. Fwd is all about matching diameters and axle ratios. SteveV

NYTrainer · Jul 23, 2001

I believe that anytime you're in Fwd and turning there is a "strain" on the front axle and the result is noise (either felt through the steering wheel or heard). It has to do with speed of the inner vs. outer wheel while engaged. That is why you will here members say "if you're on the lawn in Fwd be careful how sharp you turn as it will tear up the grass". You usually don't hear (or feel) the binding on soil or grass because the tires can more easily spin to compensate for the different inner/outer wheel speeds, but if you tried that on pavement (it also was true on a Jeep CJ-7 I had) you would get binding and sometimes tire chirp while turning sharply in Fwd. I think that a heavily loaded FEL would put a higher/direct load on the tires and, even though you are on soil and not pavement, it would cause similar results as it would be much more difficult now for the inner/outer wheels to compensate for the different speed.
That's my understanding.
David

art · Jul 23, 2001

when running a hydro in that type work you should be about 1/2 throttle at a minimum to prevent oil starvation to the hydro. I can feel that you might have the binding problem due to air pressure. The clicking is something else and unless the air pressure is off a great deal I do believe you might have a problem. First to do is check the tire pressure and make sure you have enough in the front tires and they are not soft when carring the load.

Anonymous Poster · Jul 31, 2001

Sorry for the delay, I've been traveling for work. I really don't hear the noise over the engine, I feel it through the pedal and floor board. I looked under the machine and noticed the front drive shaft slip yokes were dry so I'm going to try lubricating those. Has anyone changed their front end lube from Kubota hydro fluid to 80-90 weight gear lube? The manual shows both as proper fluids. The hydro fluid seems too thin. Thanks

Bird · Jul 31, 2001

<font color=blue>Has anyone changed their front end lube from Kubota hydro fluid to 80-90 weight gear lube?</font color=blue>

Yes, I did when I did the 50 hours service because the heavier gear lube is what I've always been accustomed to using in gear cases. However, since it appeared to have come with UDT in it, and I figure there's some pretty small passages and tight places in there that the thinner oil might get into better, I've changed back to UDT. And I'm not a mechanic and don't really know whether one is better than the other.

Bird

r0GuE · Jul 31, 2001

I think I have to go with bird on this one for sure.
The engineer who designs the equipment gets to choose what he has calculated and undoubtably tested to be the best lube for the job. Who are we to second guess. Perhaps it makes no difference but it may, and the consequences could be dire.

Rogue