L4330 front axle problem

[tcmike]

It has been a long time sense I visited this site, glad it is still here!

Today I had mowed (brush-hog) with my L4330 for about 5 hours. Parked the tractor for 1/2 hour and headed of to the hunting grounds to mow some paths. I have to drive on roads about 3 mile to get there. I was in 11 gear (gst trans) on luckely the only streach of dirt road on my trip when the front wheels locked up. I did not hear any noises before hand and was in 2wd. I did not want to leave it in the road so I backed up. While backing up the wheels started turning. I tried going forward - they locked up again. I finished backing to a wider shoulder, wheels turning in reverse and then thought I would try it in 4wd ( what the hey, something is already broke!) It seemed fine!?!? I headed home driving much slower and got almost home when it did it again. I backed up, the wheels unlocked ( some noise this time, BAD noises) and I was able to drive home, unload the loader and mower and drive it into the garage without any noise or trouble. What do I tear apart first? Anbody else experience this?
I have had this tractor 3 & 1/2 years, 635 hours with no trouble till now. All recomended services have been done.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Bigk56]

tcmike, I would put the tractor in 2wd and lift the front end off the ground with a floor jack. Turn each wheel by hand listening closely and feeling the bevel gear case on each side and finally the diff. Hopefully you can determine where the problem is by sound or feel. Sounds like a broken gear or a broken tooth or piece of a tooth that is floating around in the fluid and binding up in the gears. Typically putting the tractor in reverse unloads the gears and gets it out of the bind. Then your fine untill the broken gear binds again or the debri gets back in the cogs.
Ken

 

[design]

Tcmike,
I was going to make the saame suggestion about a piece of debris (gear tooth, washer, misc.) that has managed to find its way down into the bevel gear case.
-Design

 

[tcmike]

I jacked up the front end and turning either front wheel got a click that I can feel and hear that sounded like it was coming out of the gears at the top of the steering knuckle. I took it apart thinking I was going to find broken gear/ missing teeth. Nope. The bevel gears looked worn but nothing broken, no bad bearings. Looking in at the differential it looks ok but I can not see much of it.
I'll call the dealer this morning when they open and see what advice they have.
I am thinking that maybe the bevel gears are riding up on themselves and binding but I am not sure.
Thanks for the responses!
Mike

 

[tcmike]

Got a call from the dealer yesterday ( actually I had to call them twice) and was told a bearing in the front differential came apart and one of the pieces was getting stuck in the gears.
$900.00
Seems like alot of repair $$ for a tractor with 630 hours, but I am an auto mechanic and understand that things break, sometimes for no apparant reason.