Broke Drive Shaft Universal?

vabiker23518 · Mar 15, 2011

While cultivating with my T233 this past weekend, I experienced a sudden "thump thump thump"...turned the engine off and jumped off; found what I think is the drive shaft laying on the ground. There appears to be two shafts, one coming from engine and one from transmission; the transmission shaft is the one that fell off. This is located directly above the HST filter and hard to get at. Was unsuccessful getting it back on. Have sent emails to the dealer with pictures, but understand they are having a dealers meeting this week so may have to wait for a response....has anyone else had a similiar issue?

ALKY · Mar 15, 2011

I have lost mine twice but never put it back because of warranty. I do know my 233 has an access hole through the floor hope this helps.My 233 likes to break the tension pin holding the front shaft to the hst. STEVE

vabiker23518 · Mar 16, 2011

Thanks Alky...I did a google search and didn't find any similiar issues. My dealer is sending the new part (he's about 200 miles away) so I'll try to install myself. Appreciate the info on the access under the mat...I didn't think to lift it and look!

Airedale · Mar 16, 2011

Hey Guys,
I see broken universals and drives shafts at Tractor Pulls where they are beating the **** of the drive train, but in my opinion doing normal tractor work like cultivating should not be having these parts fail.

I suspect that the components that are breaking are bad for whatever reason, and hopefully TYM has diagnosed what the problem is on your model and have come up with a reliable fix.

Al

vabiker23518 · Mar 22, 2011

As an update, my dealer sent me a new universal, and there is more to it than I found lying on the ground. Hope to go up this weekend and get it installed. More to follow!

Airedale · Mar 25, 2011

There is a huge thread up in the John Deere forum with a couple of members having the similar type of universal-drive shaft failure, Deere ended up covering the the cost of the fix. Cause is believed to be lack of grease.

I will be very interested why this happened to the TYM and how TYM handles it.

Al

vabiker23518 · Mar 28, 2011

Thanks for for comments, ideas and support.
I went up this weekend to replace the new joint; sadly I failed. Got the forward end of the U joint on, but could not get the back end onto the transmission end. Lots of skinned fingers and hands. Removing the access panel under the floor mat helped and I also pulled the HST filter to get better access to the joint location, but my big hands still couldn't get in to do it. Email into the dealer asking for assistance, so more to follow.

vabiker23518 · Apr 11, 2011

It only gets worse...
Been advised the dealer will make the repair IF I pay to get the tractor to the dealer. Based on the distance, it will be $450 out of pocket to transport to/from the dealer.
As this is my first new tractor, is this standard practice? I'm thinking it might be cheaper to get a local dealer to come to the house to effect the repair.
Just wondering?

pete-mi · Apr 12, 2011

If you have a pickup or suv you could check if there are any local rental shops that rent car or utility trailers. This would cost less than hiring it done. That is one option but having your local dealer repair it may be the cheapest. Check out both options and go with what gives you the best value.

Airedale · Apr 12, 2011

Most tractor dealers can and will perform service on the farm if the job is not too formidable. Repair on the farm should be cheaper because the expense of trailering is not there although there will probably be some kind of service charge for coming out.

Ask your dealer and see what he has to say about it.

Al