JD 4100 front axle

[DavenFla]

Tractor 4100 4x4 hydro has been flawless for almost 2K hours. However... looks like there's an issue with the front axle
gears or at least that's where I notice the issue. Tractor front axle jerks when in 2wd (front axle) and calms down after putting it in 4wd. When turning get the same result (jerks) in 4wd. Adding a load to the FEL exasperates the problem. I'm thinking I have a bad spider gear but wanted to illicit some sage knowledge from owners.

Seek to understand then to be understood.

 

[beenthere]

Might drain the fluid from the front axle and look for metal bits/pieces.

Also, might raise the axle/wheels off the ground and turn them back and forth by hand to see if you detect where a problem might be located.

Look at the pto shaft universal joint(s) for trouble.

I'd hesitate running the tractor in 2wd or 4wd until having a better idea what is wrong, to avoid a more expensive fix.

 

[Egon]

wheels off the ground and turn them back and forth by hand to see if you detect where a

Maybe get all the wheels off the ground and check it.

 

[DavenFla]

Yep... first thing I did was to lift the front axle using the FEL, put in neutral and check. No obvious issues. Spider gears usually come into play when turning with a load so that's what I'm thinking but that is only an educated guess. I'll get all the grass cut (+ or- 5 acres) then take it apart.

Any additional ideas?

I'm gonna have to fix it soon.

 

[joecdeere]

I have a PDF of the Deere Tech manual you're welcome to, if wanted shoot me your email,
I'm betting on a bad gear out at one of the front wheels. I'd be looking sooner than later!

 

[RitchElbe]

I can help you here. Since this has happened to me twice since owning mine ( bought new is 98 ) its the front wheel bearings. They wear out after 9 -10 years. If you go to jdparts you can see the exploded few. First time for me was just the bearings for the wheels.. took about 2 hrs to change both sides... the jerk is caused by pieces getting into the gearing in the hub. Mine is currently up on blocks because of this. My brother was using it and didnt notice the wheel was catching in the dirt and what resulted was the broken parts getting into the gears and worked up to the top bearing and ruined it.. which allowed the hub to set at an angle and "wallered" out the up hole which in turn allowed the axle to be pulled far enough away from the gears to not work properly. Thus I am waiting on a new HUB housing to install. Take my advice.. go ahead and replace all bearings fluids etc. on both sides

 

[DavenFla]

I can help you here. Since this has happened to me twice since owning mine ( bought new is 98 ) its the front wheel bearings. They wear out after 9 -10 years. If you go to jdparts you can see the exploded few. First time for me was just the bearings for the wheels.. took about 2 hrs to change both sides... the jerk is caused by pieces getting into the gearing in the hub. Mine is currently up on blocks because of this. My brother was using it and didnt notice the wheel was catching in the dirt and what resulted was the broken parts getting into the gears and worked up to the top bearing and ruined it.. which allowed the hub to set at an angle and "wallered" out the up hole which in turn allowed the axle to be pulled far enough away from the gears to not work properly. Thus I am waiting on a new HUB housing to install. Take my advice.. go ahead and replace all bearings fluids etc. on both sides

This makes sense... I'm gonna take it apart real soon. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[al3]

I can help you here. Since this has happened to me twice since owning mine ( bought new is 98 ) its the front wheel bearings. They wear out after 9 -10 years. If you go to jdparts you can see the exploded few. First time for me was just the bearings for the wheels.. took about 2 hrs to change both sides... the jerk is caused by pieces getting into the gearing in the hub. Mine is currently up on blocks because of this. My brother was using it and didnt notice the wheel was catching in the dirt and what resulted was the broken parts getting into the gears and worked up to the top bearing and ruined it.. which allowed the hub to set at an angle and "wallered" out the up hole which in turn allowed the axle to be pulled far enough away from the gears to not work properly. Thus I am waiting on a new HUB housing to install. Take my advice.. go ahead and replace all bearings fluids etc. on both sides

So, before you repaired, if you jacked up the front end and spun the wheels you could feel/see the run out caused by the worn bearing?