JD 4200 gears whine/drag

jleonardwv · Aug 10, 2020

I've had this machine less than a year. It has less than 900 hours. When I first bought it, everything was perfect. I mowed 5 acres field fine in May. No problems, no worries.

I notice that the transmission oil is not up to mid-way in the sight window. I added a quart or two to get it a little above mid-way in the sight window. In June, I went to mow the same field and 2nd and 3rd gears whined in all ranges A, B, and C. I finished mowing in 1st gear. I decided to do some maintenance--engine oil/filter, etc. including the transmission oil and filter. Again, I filled the transmission oil (brand new Tractor Supply that met JD specs) mid-way in the sight window. Still whiney gears. All ranges, all gears.

Idea! Maybe it's too full. (I had a JD gator that if you kept the engine oil at the correct level, it would go much slower and bog down, so I always kept it at the very bottom of the dipstick.) So I drained off about one quart. Now I get whine in all gears, but after the machine warms up, I get no whine in 2nd, and minor whine in 1st and 3rd.

Can you help me with a diagnosis? Do I drain another quart? Or is something else the problem?

ruffdog · Aug 10, 2020

Parking brake engaged?

Rebeldad1 · Aug 10, 2020

sounds like a trip to the dealer for warranty work. dont wait.
call they may pick it up. also may send a tech out first.

jleonardwv · Aug 11, 2020

Parking brake not engaged and this is a 1998 model, so way out of warranty.

I noticed today as a drained one more half quart of fluid that I had a ball bearing in the drain pan. When I did the full drain, change filter, and refill, I also had one ball bearing. What in there could be shedding ball bearings?

ruffdog · Aug 12, 2020

Being that you are having a "gear" issue and bearing parts are coming out of the drain, I think it is time to split and look at the insides. At least pull the pto if you can and look inside that way. Pull the filter and cut it open to see what kind of metal has been filtered.

jleonardwv · Nov 21, 2020

I'm splitting my tractor to find the problem, which I assume is a bad ball bearing. Never split a tractor. I've taken off most of the external stuff but can't get the hydraulic lines loose. They are so stubborn! I can get the nuts to turn, but they also turn the fitting. Most of them I can reach with two large wrenches, so I assume I'll be able to eventually get them loose. But the fitting that runs to the SCV under the seat from the rear gear pump doesn't have enough room for both wrenches. Any idea?