BX2200 Front Drive Shaft falling out of UJoint - need help

[DougA]

I bought a new Ujoint (#K2561-16820 or #160 on diagram) between the forward drive shaft and the front drive shaft after losing one while mowing in the late fall. I assume it fell off and got lost for the same reason the new one is.
The Ujoint is attached by a pin on one end but nothing to keep it attached on the other end according to Kubota parts manual. I'm assuming that it needs a bit of leeway when the tractor is in use.
After installing the new one (and it was the correct part), the front drive shaft (#170 on diagram) has fallen out a few times on the unpinned end from the UJoint. PITA. Yesterday I was plowing with a rear blade and the shaft fell out 3 times within an hour. Once was slowly driving back over a 1 ft. mound of snow, the other 2 times were even less rough. Obviously something is very wrong. Repairing it on a snow covered driveway in the winter is not fun.

I'd prefer not to drill a hole through the other end of the UJoint and put a pin in if Kubota is showing no pin is used. I checked as best possible and all parts appear to be the correct ones. When I put the UJoint back on, there is not much gap left for the shaft to come out but there's enough play that it does.

Easy to just use 2 wheel but plowing the driveway requires 4 and that's why I bought a 4x4 in the first place.

I'm looking for anything I might have missed before taking in to the dealer. The only solution I can see would be to try to a slightly longer UJoint but I'm not sure that I'll get both ends to match the splines. I'm beginning to suspect the frame might have a little more play than it's supposed to due to age of the tractor.

Suggestions?

 

[Volfandt]

1) Check item #210 and make sure it's secured tight to the frame. Theres been some that have worked loose and walloded out the mounting holes.
2) Check the torque on the center axle nut, I don't recall the torque spec but it needs to be very snug. There should be VERY LITTLE to NO fore/aft play in the front axle.

Either of the above being loose can and will allow enough flex to allow the front U joint to slide off.
Good luck
Dave

 

[Leejohn]

Yes on what Volfandt said. Can also add, check and make sure pin #180 is not broken also. It might not look like it is, so see if the shaft well move at the pin.

 

[SeymourBota]

You were unlucky!!

When mine fell off, it landed on the top of the mower, intact.

I had to tighten item #210 to complete the process- it was that component that caused the problem to begin with.

No problems since- ~2 years ago.

 

[DougA]

Thanks for the suggestions. I checked all of the areas mentioned and everything is tight and solid.

I was plowing yesterday, heavy snow but only 3" at the most. The joint came out 4 times. It seems to be when the front end is going up a small bump, but lots of times it will go up a bump without a problem. Perhaps it's one side higher than the other when doing it. Speed is not a factor. A few times, I was going very gingerly just to see if it would come apart again. Yup.

I'm pretty sure that the problem is in the front axle. I've looked through everything on the front that I can see and can't locate anything loose but I'm wondering if the gears are worn out, if that could cause the problem.
Front tires are new but not loaded and the tractor overall has seen better days. I bought it used for cheap and everything worked fine all summer while mowing, many times in 4x4 due to my rough terrain. The only difference would be the extra weight of a fairly heavy scraper on the back putting extra stress on the tractor.

Thoughts?

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

I would have bet #210 was bent or loose. You said you got it used - any chance one of the other components is simply the wrong one for your model?

Just tossing *stuff* at the wall...

Z.

 

[cannonfodder999]

lengthen 170??

 

[DougA]

We've had no snow since the last problem. I re-checked everything and just waiting to see how it is once we get some snow. Can't see anything that is a wrong part. No idea how I would lengthen the shaft.
I still think it is something loose in the front axle/gears that is causing it. Seems to be when the right front wheel is raised that the shaft comes out.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[310-510]

If Pin 186 is out or broken, it will allow enough for the shaft to fall out on rough ground. Jack it up and see how much movement is in the shaft.

 

[DougA]

Thanks but all pins are fine, I've gone over everything that is visible.

There is no - zero - movement. What I will do when I get some time is jack up the right front to see if I can replicate the problem I have when grading. Still kinda wonder if the extra weight from the heavy grader on the back is causing flex on the front.

The kind of problems I run into with everything always seem to be ones that no one has ever seen before. :confused2: If it was easy, I would have fixed it and not needed to post on the forum. I talked to the dealer and they are stumped as well. I'm headed to holidays in the south where I'm hoping it might be warmer. We're 40 deg here in S. Ontario today. Where has winter gone??????

I think it will have to sit until I get back.