Close Call, Maybe

[Diggin It]

There's a big long story, but probably not worth typing out. This morning, it seemed my 4WD wasn't working. Pulled up to a stump to test and only the rear wheels were turning and they were spinning on the grass.

Did some checking with the feeling of dread at the possible expense.

Found that the collar of the drive shaft had come loose from the spline in the Front axle. Managed to get it back on, repeated the stump test and no wheels spun.

But WHY did it come off? And it doesn't look like it's back on as far as it should be. The end of the spine is just barely past that hole, not all the way to the end of the collar. I don't see any kind of retainer ring or pin. I can't see the other end of the shaft at the transmission either.

 

[ptsg]

Either one of those snap rings (#5) or roll pins (#4) came out and it allowing the shaft to pull back. You may want to inspect those a bit closer.

 

[Diggin It]

Is that saying there's an intermediate Universal between two shafts?

 

[ptsg]

Yes. There is one at the front differential and another one at the end of that shaft that connects to the support bearing #8/#9.

 

[Diggin It]

Part of the long story is that I was moving some loose gravel on an uneven surface. At one point I heard a loud repeated popping noise. Felt like I had bottomed out on something. Then the noise stopped and everything seemed to operate normally. I thought maybe it was the gauge wheels on the mower slipping across something sideways. But I suppose it could have been something (rock?) pushing against that shaft somehow forcing it backwards.

 

[ptsg]

Part of the long story is that I was moving some loose gravel on an uneven surface. At one point I heard a loud repeated popping noise. Felt like I had bottomed out on something. Then the noise stopped and everything seemed to operate normally. I thought maybe it was the gauge wheels on the mower slipping across something sideways. But I suppose it could have been something (rock?) pushing against that shaft somehow forcing it backwards.

It was most likely the U joint sliding to the very end of the splines and just popping out of the splines and engaging back in. Eventually, came out entirely.

 

[Diggin It]

From front to back, the first two clips are in place. The third one, closest to the transmission is very hard to see or get my hand on. With a mirror and a flashlight, it seems to be in place.

I shot all three areas with spray lube and drove it around for a while, even did some mowing. Did the stump test again a couple of times. Broke one stump clean off.

Pulled the boot on the frontmost one again (picture above) and the collar seems to have worked itself forward a bit.

So, I guess we'll see.

 

[ssuser]

You might still be missing the roll pin that goes thru the u-joint yoke and shaft. If it is missing, put some loctite on the new one before installing. Or if there is room, use a bolt with a lock nut installed just snug.

 

[onetonford]

Right now I have the same issue with my BIL L275 I hope this could be the issue I will need to check it out also. I think you might have the spline in the wrong position as there must be a hole for the Pin with a snap ring to hold it in from the looks of the picture.

 

[ptsg]

The spline shaft on the front differential end is meant to slide on the splines as the axle pivot left and right. There is no rollpin or snap ring that holds that yoke in place.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Considering that, the steering angle and off level I was working at might have been JUST enough to cause it to separate.

 

[Diggin It]

Popped off again this morning while mowing, so now I have to dig deeper and find out why.


But I also found a Cardinal nest with three eggs inside the shed about 10 feet from where I park the tractor ... and both mowers, one of which I need to work on also.

Guess I need to move everything out of the shed for couple of weeks.

 

[CPTKILLER]

Looks like a trip to the dealership.

 

[Diggin It]

Referring to the parts diagram on the previous page, this picture shows the pillow block and the universal forward of it.

Clearly, there is no Roll Pin (4) in there. I take it there is supposed to be? Where did it go? Why? How long has it been gone?

 

[ptsg]

That's what I thought the issue was.

Since they put a snap ring on top of it to prevent the roll pin from walking out, I'm wondering if there was a roll pin there ever and somehow lasted this long.

It also has splines so the don't pin doesn't really see any load at all. It's just prevents the yoke from moving axially.

 

[Diggin It]

Nearly 7 years is kind of long to 'just last'.

Maybe just eventual wear on the splines loosened up enough to float?


What bugs me though is there also is some movement of the shaft from there back, into the transmission.

 

[Diggin It]

Well, it definitely had one. No idea why it's in four pieces.

Put a temporary pin in for now, piece of threaded rod the same size. Dealer told me 30MM x 6MM.

I'll get a few of those and replace them all someday. Need a new pair of snap ring pliers too. These worked well enough, but not well.

 

[ptsg]

Interesting break but hey, at least you figured out the issue and got it fixed.

 

[dodge man]

If that the roll pin in four pieces I’m guessing it worked it’s way out and broke into pieces. The problem is you’d think the parts would be gone?

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ The snap ring prevents that. Pieces had no where to go.