Gee, I feel stupid...or...that was easy

[rokryder]

I have made a post or two recently about the difficulty I have had trying to steer my new to me 2210 with a load in the bucket. I have been picking members brains about adding power steering and what all was involved. I again want to thank all for their help and suggestions. I got somewhat stuck this morning trying to dig a load of topsoil out of an embankment. I had to horse the tractor to get it out...sure wish I had 4wd!! I had no kind of engagement feel with the differential lock, either up or down...and the lever didnt feel like it was connected to anything...which is the way the tractor was when I got it. Both wheels were spinning together and I got it out. I remember seeing a post where it was mentioned to unpair the brakes and depress one while turning to free a stuck differential lock. Well, when I got the tractor it had no working brakes. I found the shafts were frozen in the front plate, that held the shoes. I have a hydraulic press and was able to press them out, clean them up and lubricate the shafts...eureka...working brakes! (Ironically, the prior owner had also advertised a YM1500...that needed brakes...so I wonder if he just didnt have access to a press)
I tried the braking/turning this morning... and my differential unlocked!!! Wow. Suddenly it was so easy to steer! 90 degree tight turns that previously required two hands and really honking down on the wheel with a full bucket were possible with one firm hand. This was a game changer for me I no longer feel the need for power steering. The steering is not effortless, but the effort is not prohibitive so I can live with it.
I tried locking the differential again and it worked, but its still not eager to unlock. I hit the point where the shaft enters the housing with penetrating oil, but it didnt make much difference. I also moved the lever back and forth trying to loosen it up...no change really.

I am open to any suggestions on making the lever move more freely.

But right now I am really happy to have reasonable steering!

Kim

 

[dfkrug]

I would stop using the diff lock entirely.

You have already discovered "redneck LSD", where you just apply a bit of one-wheel braking to the side that is spinning. To properly fix your problem, you will need to get inside the final drive pumpkin, a lot of work.

 

[CoyPatton]

I have made a post or two recently about the difficulty I have had trying to steer my new to me 2210 with a load in the bucket. I have been picking members brains about adding power steering and what all was involved. I again want to thank all for their help and suggestions. I got somewhat stuck this morning trying to dig a load of topsoil out of an embankment. I had to horse the tractor to get it out...sure wish I had 4wd!! I had no kind of engagement feel with the differential lock, either up or down...and the lever didnt feel like it was connected to anything...which is the way the tractor was when I got it. Both wheels were spinning together and I got it out. I remember seeing a post where it was mentioned to unpair the brakes and depress one while turning to free a stuck differential lock. Well, when I got the tractor it had no working brakes. I found the shafts were frozen in the front plate, that held the shoes. I have a hydraulic press and was able to press them out, clean them up and lubricate the shafts...eureka...working brakes! (Ironically, the prior owner had also advertised a YM1500...that needed brakes...so I wonder if he just didnt have access to a press)
I tried the braking/turning this morning... and my differential unlocked!!! Wow. Suddenly it was so easy to steer! 90 degree tight turns that previously required two hands and really honking down on the wheel with a full bucket were possible with one firm hand. This was a game changer for me I no longer feel the need for power steering. The steering is not effortless, but the effort is not prohibitive so I can live with it.
I tried locking the differential again and it worked, but its still not eager to unlock. I hit the point where the shaft enters the housing with penetrating oil, but it didnt make much difference. I also moved the lever back and forth trying to loosen it up...no change really.

I am open to any suggestions on making the lever move more freely.

But right now I am really happy to have reasonable steering!

Kim

To begin, I have not been inside of mines rear axle. Thus I will gladly accept someone with more knowledge input on any errors I may express.
My understanding is that the diff lock lever, slides over a gear to ‘lock’ the rear axle together. The unlock process is a combination of the lever moving out of the way allowing the gear to slide back. The only other factor to move this gear is pressure from the axle itself. I also understand that all of this area is basically a splash bath lube.
All that to just give you a simplistic ideal of how that works.
The causes of why it does not slide are more than I could list or wish to try.
Best suggest short of going inside the axle to try yo determine a cause, is frequent usage.
Engage the diff lock, and if necessary, use the one side brake to disengage it. Probably alternating which side brake you use. Then repeat. A hydraulic fluid change my help, especially if you notice any milky conditions.
Good luck!

 

[CoyPatton]

Oh I have a question that may play into your steering difficulty.
What type of tires are on the front of your tractor?
There was a reason that older tractors (almost always 2wd) ran ribbed front tires. Ribbed were less effective in muddy or really loose sandy soils, but deep ribs would dig much more traction than turfs, but you lose other advantages with weight distribution and footprint.
A spinner knob provides some leverage for steering if you do not have one already.

 

[stuckmotor]

When I bought my used MF there were problems with with it getting stuck in differential lock. The front tires had expensive no flat filling and the tread was pulling off the tires. I suspect the differential lock problems caused the tread separation problems. Differential lock has gotten me out of the winter mud many times with that tractor.

 

[California]

...I tried locking the differential again and it worked, but its still not eager to unlock. I hit the point where the shaft enters the housing with penetrating oil, but it didnt make much difference. I also moved the lever back and forth trying to loosen it up...no change really.

I am open to any suggestions on making the lever move more freely.

But right now I am really happy to have reasonable steering!

Kim

Oiling the shaft won't do much. I think there is a watertight o-ring as the first thing inside. (These are designed to run half-submerged in a rice paddy). The parts that engage to lock the two axles together are likely bound up with rust if they don't disengage easily. Simply using the tractor more with the diff lock engaged sometimes, should work those parts loose.

Here's an old thread with a diagram of what's in there.

And an advertising photo from Yanmar-Japan's export division promoting use of their equipment in other nations. Running half-submerged isn't an exaggeration.

 

[winston1]

Here is a picture of the mechanism in a an FX24D. Not the same as your 2210 but operates the same and as you can see, very plain to see. You can see how the shift arm cam is moved by the roll pin in the shaft. I agree with California, non use and age likely contribute to the binding.

 

[rokryder]

Oh I have a question that may play into your steering difficulty.
What type of tires are on the front of your tractor?
There was a reason that older tractors (almost always 2wd) ran ribbed front tires. Ribbed were less effective in muddy or really loose sandy soils, but deep ribs would dig much more traction than turfs, but you lose other advantages with weight distribution and footprint.
A spinner knob provides some leverage for steering if you do not have one already.

I have the turf tire kit, with some aggressive Duro Frontier 25 10r 12 tires on it. When I responded to the CL ad, I assumed that it was a 4wd... based on the photo showing the lug tires. I had associated the brutal steering with a combination of the fel, fat tires and no power steering.

 

[rokryder]

I will endeavor to use the diff lock as needed, now that I can ultimately get it to unlock. The hydraulic fluid was changed right before I purchased the tractor...perhaps it was pretty tired before that, leading to possible rust on the shaft. It is mind blowing at how much easier the steering is working without the diff lock engaged. All part of familiarizing oneself with a “new” piece of equipment. I goes without saying that all of you make it a lot easier...thank you!

Kim

 

[kthompson]

Of course you know to stop the tractor movement to engage and disengage the diff lock. Never used brakes to take pressure off the diff lock but have placed in reverse and remove the load off the lock. Just ease back pulling the diff lock up. May have shifted back to forward also. Odd, when you develop your habit on such remembering it step by step is not that easy.