Ford 1710 4wd problem

TomG · Oct 22, 2000

Dang. Tried to do some grading yesterday and the 4wd won't engage. It was working until I left it in 2wd while doing some fork work. I recently drove 10 highway miles, but in 2wd.

There is a feeling that something mechanical is happening at the lower (2wd) end of the control lever travel, but then nothing to the top of its travel. I'm guessing that a slide gear on a rear differential pinion shaft (which drives the front axle) is not engaging. It might be a control linkage problem, of a snap ring on the pinion shaft. Unfortunately replacing the snap ring requires removal of the differential assembly.

My problem is that I figure I might tear it down far enough to check if it's a linkage that can be repaired without a major tear down. However, I can't find an exploded diagram of the linkage or disassembly procedure in the repair manual. I'm not going to start until after I talk to the dealer, since I will need at least one gasket to reassemble. Maybe the dealer will have some advice, but any suggestions that might keeping me from having to ship the tractor almost 200 miles to the dealer would be appreciated. Thanks.

RickB · Oct 22, 2000

The most common cause for loss of 4wd in these tractors is failure of one of the couplers that connect the driveshaft to the front diff pinion shaft and drop box output shaft. If one of these couplers is broken, the driveline between the break and the sliding gear at the 2/4 wd shifter is NOT turning. This will make it difficult, if not impossible to get the sliding gear to mesh with the gear on the pinion shaft. Jack up one front wheel, rotate it by hand while listening for odd noises. Do this in both 2 & 4wd. Next, remove the front axle from the front frame and roll it out far enough to disconnect the driveshaft from both ends. Support everything well enough to be safe. Check the couplers, driveshaft, and if they are good, rotate the dropbox output shaft while attempting to shift into 4wd. Rotate the front piunion shaft, make sure it drives the front wheels. All this would apply if the shifter IS moving up as far as it normally has in the past. I am not real clear on your meaning of 'nothing to the top of its travel' Feel free to supply more info.

TomG · Oct 23, 2000

Thanks for the reply. By 'nothing' I mean that the operating lever seems to have only free-travel through most of its range. In the first several inches of travel, there is something that feels like linkage locking into place, rather than gears. After that, there is no feeling of anything engaging. If I remember, the 4wd used to engage when the lever was about 3/4 of the way to a vertical position. The operating lever now goes almost to a vertical position, and I'm not sure if it used to travel that far.

I sort of put myself in a bad position by building a camp, rather than an equipment shed, this summer. I don't have an adequate shop, and the tools I used to do this sort of work with are spread all over or lost.

I figured that if something useful could be done by removing the differential top cover, then I'd tackle that. The way I'm set up now, trying to do much more would likely turn into a disaster. It still seems surprising that I can't find anything about the differential top cover, or the 4wd operating lever in the Ford Repair Manual.

RickB · Oct 23, 2000

There is no differential top cover per se, the hitch cover/rockshaft housing covers the differential. The 4wd linkage & drop box is covered in the front axle section, 4wd chapters. This is from memory, not actually seeing it there. Sounds like you have a broken shift fork or something. The 2/4wd shifter shouldn't come up much further than 45 degrees or so. Is the rollpin sheared that attaches the shift handle to the rod going into the trans cover? That is, does the shift rod rotate with the shift handle as it is raised/lowered?

Anonymous Poster · Oct 23, 2000

Tom G. Checked My 1710 and found that lever rises about three inches for full engagement. Regards, Dave.

scruffy · Oct 23, 2000

Bummer, Not sounding good Tom. Hope it turns out to be relatively minor for you. Nothing like something you really like having a problem. Best of luck with it.

TomG · Oct 24, 2000

Thanks. You're reinforcing my idea. I don't remember the lever coming up to near vertical either. By differential cover, I mean the rear differential case, where the 4wd lever attaches near the hydraulic oil fill. Unfortunately, the shaft does turn with the lever.

I talked to the service manage who said that nothing much is accessible through the cover, so if it's a shifting fork, I think the differential assembly has to be removed. Not good. I'll survive, but I made arrangements to truck the tractor to the dealer. I just can't see trying to do a tear down in a dirt floor 25' x 14' arctic shelter tent.

TomG · Oct 24, 2000

Thanks. Your and Rick's recollections match my own, and it's off to the dealer for the tractor. The 4wd drive operating lever handle is welded onto it's collar. The previous owner may have abused the drive trying to jam it into 4wd on the fly, or something. Guess that should be a pointer for buying used tractors.