for those of you who actually gave me some decent info, I appreciate it. The rest of you can tune out now, thanks for wasting page after page of nonsense.
Haven't had a chance to diagnose the hydros yet. We got slammed with another snow storm. I did quickly check the 4x4 last time I had it out. picked the front end up. Tires were rotated by hand. When I spun the left tire, the right one spun opposite direction. When I spun the right tire, the left went in opposite direction, but at a noticeably slower speed. That's what's making me think the prob is in the front end, but that doesn't make a bit of sense to me. This is why I was hoping somebody could explain the front drive assembly on this thing. Do the gears need to be re-shimmed if they're pulled out on these or can they be disassembled and reassembled easily?
You are the one that keeps posting looking for answers. So don't complain about posts that aren't the answers you want.
As for the 4x4. I explained it to you very simply. You claim to be knowledgeable about how a truck rear axle works. So I based my explanation of your tractor front driveline with that intellect in mind.
The fact that you can spin one tire and the other goes the opposite direction with no locking up or abnormal resistance should tell you that the ring/pinion hub assemblies are probably okay. Also the center section spider gears are probably okay.
Now the issue of the speed changing depending on which tire you turn can only mean one thing. The front driveshaft is able to turn freely. For whatever reason that's why you are seeing a difference in tire rotation. One direction the forces may be used to turn the opposite tire without turning the shaft. The other direction the shaft is absorbing part of the force and sowly rotating. Since you know how a truck rear axle works you should be able to understand this explanation.
The next thing I would test, with the front tires off the ground, is to wedge a block under one so it can't turn, then turn the other. Listen and feel for resistance from turning the various mechanisms. If you can turn either tire with the other blocked, and you hear feel no problems, again you've proven that the 4x4 is not engaged.
Next would be to turn both tires at the same time, the same direction. Again if you can do this with no problems, you've again proven that the 4x4 is not engaged.
At that point I wouldn't consider disassembly of the front end at all. Unless you just want to look at it for the educational value.
Now I would be looking at the lever, linkage, engagement process to make sure there's not something simple going on. I don't know how your tractor mechanism works for sure, but I think the lever is directly connected to a horizontal shaft coming out the side of the transzaxle. If that's correct, I'd engag/disengage while watching the lever on the shaft. Is the lever turning the shaft?? It's possibly a roll pin could be sheared there.
Once I've proven that's working correctly I have to assume the problem is inside the housing. At this point I'd want to see a detailed drawing of how it works. A parts diagram would probably tell you, if you can read such a diagram. That's for you to decide. If not, then a WSM would tell you with pictures and descriptions of assembly/disassembly of the housing. What I'm looking for a pin that could be sheared or a shifting fork that could be bent. The chances of this being a broken gear are extremely small. You've not mentioned an unusual noises or locking up or anything nasty like that.
Do these tests then post your findings and we'll go from there. Maybe someone on here has an electronic WSM that they can lend you??
