I hate it when this happens !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous Poster]

Differental lock repair on JD 4400.
Price : $550.40...parts /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
$1121.00.Labor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
$156.00 Misc.Charges /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
$118.39 Taxes /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
$1945.79 Total /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[DDT]

OH MAN that would make me CRY!!!
I will rember this every time I use mine.
Sorry for the bad luck

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Ouch!! Painful!! How many hours on the machine? Were there particular circumstances that caused the damage?

 

[thcri]

OH wow Steel,

I just had trouble with my differential. I locked it in when I shouldn't have, made a long clank and then had a heck of a time getting it back out. These things are expensive to run.

Murph

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I just reminded myself why I do not use the differential lock /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[rdbrumfield]

Differential locks are very nice when you need the extra traction. Just be sure when you engage that the the tires aren't spinning. Put the clutch in to cease movement before engaging. When disengaging, lightly tap each brake right and left to relieve the tension and it will come right out.
Several years ago I went brain dead after using the lock and tried to turn. Couldn't figure why the front was slidding and applied the left brake, Hard, there was a pop and there I sat. Realizing what had happened I then relocked the diff and drove it to the barn and replaced the primary final drive shaft in the left side. Fortunately I do my own repairs so the cost was minimal, around 350.
Bottom line, listen for the disengagement, I can hear mine as it comes out, and if you can't just touch either brake and you can tell if it is out. I learned the hard way.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I thought the diff auto disengage themselves?

For grins, when I first got my I engage it while stop,
went forward, both tires spin, got traction and went about 5 feet. I didn't need it anymore so i took my foot of the pedal.
I watch it as i moved foward, the lever slowly came up.

I used 4wd from then on, didn't see the point of using it.

Is that the normal way to disengage it?
John

 

[rdbrumfield]

Yes it is spring loaded and it will disengage by it'self. But!, if you are turning, or the interlock is still bound up by the rearend trying to spin, it will not come out until relieved. You have to take the presure off the locking dogs so they will slip out. Turning left then right or just tapping the brakes one side then the other will ensure this.

 

[tractorhal]

4000 series have a problem with the rear ends. Realize you folks are mentioning the dif. lock,but if you have other problems with noise, or breakage it may fall under the fix as fails program. Just had differential and other work done. See post

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The tractor has 596 hours on it.I was in a major landscaping project last year and I was really pulling some dirt(about 40 hours)cutting down a road bank...I may have overused the differental,I do not plan to tackle anymore jobs that big,I am going to try to avoind the differental unless I am in a bind.

 

[thcri]

RD,

I was going up a steep concrete driveway that was coated with ice. Tractor started slipping and the first thing I thought of was the differential. I pushed it in and heard a big clank. I had trouble getting it back out. Finally about the 4th day I pulled up on the loc with a real good yank and it came out. Then I had no trouble with it going in and coming back out. But today is a different story. I used it again and now can't get it back out. It use to go out on it's own.

What I did was stupid but sometimes you re-act before you think. I could not have stopped the tractor as I was already sliding back down the hill sideways. Oh well can't do anything about it now. Maybe take it back and complain that it just won't go out and it is still under warranty.

I did not want to take a chance of the tractor sliding down my driveway at an angle and then hitting the bottom and possibly tipping over.

Murph

 

[Anonymous Poster]

That is what I would do...you would be telling the truth.I had an old Beaver III Mitsubishi for 20 years....I NEVER had a problem with the diff lock,or anything else on the tractor other than some dry rotted hoses. Then again this JD 4400 will do a lot more than the Beaver did...such is life..live and learn...

 

[Molerj]

Murph, I did the same thing, going up the steep concrete drive starting to slide, stepped on the differential lock. I was lucky this time. Actually, I thought that is how you were supposed to use it. I remember yrs. ago working for a friend using a JD 4020 in the field. Started to spin & just tramped on the differential lock. Will make sure not to do that again. BTW it didn't help either. One thing I did do is ordered the chains. I really don't use the JD for removing snow that often & we don't normally get 16 inches of snow, but it sure would have made things easier yesterday if I had the chains.