Jinma 4 wheel drive

[shsprings254]

I am desperate for some mod to my Jinma 254 wheel drive. The tractor is not very useful at all at my camp without FWD. I have replaced all the parts multiple times over the years, I use hardened steel rod made into slugs instead of the ball bearings, I am judicious in using it when it works but eventually it fails in the worst location. I know a permanent connection may damage gears, etc... but as of now the tractor is useless to me as it is. Can anyone suggest a fix, welding components together?? Adding universal joints?? something.
Thanks

 

[RonMar]

I would be curious what is causing stock components to fail... The driveshaft is probably the weakest link in the 4WD drivetrain, but I have I think about 800 hours over 12 years on mine now without an issue, and most all of those are with 4WD engaged including front-end loader work. They are all on soft ground however(sand, gravel grass/soil). When I forget to drop it out of 4WD and swing out onto the paved road to turn around at the end of my driveway, I can feel the drivetrain bind. Are you running it on ANY hard surface for any distance? The problem with shifting to stronger components in the driveshaft, like automotive U-joints/driveshaft, is that if the system is being overloaded by running 4WD on hard surfaces or with heavy weights on the front end, you are only going to shift the failure to someplace more expensive and troublesome to fix...

 

[mrmikey]

If I remember right on the 204 that I had, there wasn't enough room at the front to swing a u joint before hitting the oil pan..........mike

 

[OccDave]

I agree; it would be interesting on what is breaking and how you are using the 4wd. I have mine tractor run in 4wd most of the time and have not had any trouble. Have blown hydro pump; broken many other parts over the year but the drive train appears to be well built.

 

[shsprings254]

My tractor lives at our deer camp. It is was used for everything from mowing, food plots, road grading and retrieving deer. It has a Koyker 140 bucket and no ballast in rear tires. It does have 35kg wheel weights. Our land is wet and undulating, lots of hills. You can get stuck anywhere and have many times. I try to be careful with fwd, engage only when moving, no bucket work, keep it slow. I use hardened steel slugs instead of ball bearings nothing works for more than 12 -18 months. Without fwd it is nothing but a motorized wheel barrow around the yard. I have read that some think it is not 4 wheel drive, but 4 wheel assist and thus I am asking to much. So I am desperate. At this point if I ruin something and it no longer runs well then it is like Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Annie (my favorite children's book). I will park it and use it to power something.

 

[RonMar]

I rarely take mine out of 4WD. In fact I was moving a VERY heavy log(loader loaded to the point the rear wheels were wanting to come off the ground) very slowly in creeper gear and it bumped the ground. With that added drag, the torque(being transmitted thru the driveshaft) combined with all the traction provided by the added weight snapped the front wheel spindle shaft(1.25" diameter) clean in two...

How exactly does yours fail? Is the spring loaded slider functioning properly That sliding portion under spring pressure helps keep the cups properly engaged over the stub shafts at transfer case output and driveshaft input which in turn keeps the ball bearings in place. YOu should have to use a block and a prybar to force the cup back far enough to release the bearings... How do the stub shafts and cups look?. Are the grooves that the balls ride in smooth and no stripped/smeared channels between the grooves? Pictures would be great...

 

[shsprings254]

front wheels just stop turning with force, has failed at both ends and shaft. usually both cups are worn and usually shaft as well. this time the shaft grooves looked ok so did not replace. spring tension seems good to me

 

[erj]

Are there no pictures available of the shaft and cups?

 

[shsprings254]

no all parts at camp, will take some pics next time I am there