Click click BOOM - Massey Rearend failure???

[blooper]

Ugh... just went out to plow. I thought I could hear something clicking as I was driving my 1648 Massey. Sounded like maybe coming from underneath but i have a winch on with chains and passed it off as that. After a few pushes (nothing major) the clicking got suddenly worse and then I couldnt move. The hydraulics all seem to be working fine but it will only move slightly then the hydrostatic sounds like its pushing on something and a horrible sound of gears grinding starts.
Waiting for a float to dealer now and hoping the damage wont be too costly.
Thoughts? Experiences? Please, make me feel better. Lol.

 

[ch1ch2]

Fix it
Do everything you can to keep those old tractors going.

I found a scrap tractor for $700. It has saved me thousands in repairs.

 

[George2615]

A friend of mine had the same problem but with another brand tractor. In his case the diff lock pedal had stuck in the on position and making turns caused stress on the gear reduction unit (he had one unit on each side) busting some teeth off one of the gears. Eventually once enough teeth broke off it stopped moving. Can't say for sure that is your problem but he had similar clicking sounds til it stopped moving.
Fortunately it was an easy fix replacing the gear.

 

[blooper]

I hope thats it. Does sound similar. The hydro pump sounds fine and all hydraulics are working fine. Fingers crossed.

 

[crazyal]

There's a reason why most brands put a stiff spring on the diff lock lever/ pedal.

 

[MHarryE]

If the hydro isn’t making a racket when stationary it shouldn’t be too bad. Is it about 6 to 8 years old? Front wheels engaged? My BIL has a tractor that started making crunching noises we swore came from the transmission but turned out to be a coupler on the FWD shaft.