Axles shafts on Jinma 354

[CajunFrog]

I have examined the diagram in my tractor spare parts manual carefully and see that it is not possible for the axle shafts to touch. There is the shaft for the spider gears in the middle of the differential housing which would make it physically impossible for them to touch.....but they could press against the spider shaft with the same results. This could be the concern on some models. However, in the case of my tractor I plugged the shaft with the full splines exposed (clip at end of splines) into both of the output gears on each side. The clip rested fully against the gear and there was no interference.

The splines are recessed in the output gears so it makes sense that more spline for full contact with the output gear on the differential side. The splines are not recessed in the gears on the wheel end. Seems like they would be ok either way without danger of broken clips....just a little more chance to strip the spline in the differential because of less contact length with the clip in the spline end plugged there. BTW the parts manual does not show or list the clips. These are just to keep the shafts from sliding back & forth.

So I am going to go with what Ronald says and leave it alone for now.
I think it would be possible that Tim's shaft came that way because the assemblers thought it was the right way.....and it will probably work like that forever without stripping a spline unless the front wheels are placed in a big bind and it may just break something else.
K

 

[CajunFrog]

OK,
This is just to affirm the above post. I pulled an axle housing just to check things out. Nothing broken or in any bind whatsoever. LiKe Roland said.....THE END WITH THE CLIP IN THE SPLINES GOES TOWARD THE WHEEL AND THE END WITH THE CLIP AT THE END OF THE SPLINES (FULL SPLINE LENGTH) GOES INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL.
If you do it the other way you only have about 1" of spline in contact with the differential output gear rather than the full 1 1/2". There is a slight chance you could strip the splines on the shaft. Either way there will be no problem with any interference.
K