Max 28 rear wheels slipping

[rdwyer]

Hi all. I noticed today as I was driving in 2 wheel drive up my paved (but steep) driveway that the rear wheels basically felt as though the shaft that drives them was slipping. I dropped into low and got a bit more traction but ultimately the same thing...I could not get up the driveway. I could feel and hear the rear end trying but no luck. I dropped it into 4 wheel and the front wheels had now problem pulling me up. Fluid in the hydro is clean a full.

Could this be from the driveshaft that runs to the back of the tractor?....the rear axle itself?....hopefully not the hydro unit?!?!

220 hours on my max with all fluids and filters done in April.

Thanks,
由ick

 

[Peter 315]

Did you have a full bucket of dirt? do you have any rear ballast ? ..........

 

[Roadworthy]

Did you look at the rear wheels to see if they were losing traction? I mean, was the wheel spinning and you weren't moving?

 

[rdwyer]

Empty bucket, tires are filled with ballast and a 3 point chipper on the back. It feels very similar to a clutch slipping in a car or a belt slipping on a lawn tractor.

 

[rdwyer]

Tires were not spinning...I was on my paved driveway. Maybe tomorrow I will drop the drive shaft to see if the spline are stripped.

 

[s219]

A lot of times when this happens, the tire is slipping on the rim. It can be exacerbated by low tire pressure and having filled tires.

 

[MarkF48]

A lot of times when this happens, the tire is slipping on the rim. It can be exacerbated by low tire pressure and having filled tires.

This happened to me while moving snow a couple winters ago. I've put a couple of aligned dots of paint on the rim and tire so if the slippage occurs again I'll know the tire pressure may be low.

 

[rdwyer]

Bingo! Right rear tire is a bit low on air and the rim keeps turning but the tire doesn稚. Any harm in topping it off with air if it痴 a ballast filled tire?

 

[s219]

Bingo! Right rear tire is a bit low on air and the rim keeps turning but the tire doesn稚. Any harm in topping it off with air if it痴 a ballast filled tire?

Of course there is no harm, that is what you are supposed to do! You should be checking the tire pressure and topping it off with air at least seasonally, if not more often (regardless if it has fluid or not). Tractor/equipment tires like to leak more than typical car/truck tires, probably because they are so stiff and the rubber is thicker with sloppier tolerances. So it's important to keep an eye on pressure frequently. If it gets bad you can roll a tire off the rim and then you've got yourself a real pickle, especially if the tractor is somewhere out in the boonies.

 

[s219]

By the way, fluid filled tires are only filled 3/4 (about to the top of the rim) with fluid and the rest is air. That is necessary to retain compression and cushioning of the tire. It's that 1/4 air volume that is important to maintaining the pressure, bead sealing, and load carrying capacity of the tire. The fluid simply takes up volume and adds weight, but by itself it can only generate hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the tire. At the top you need the proper air pressure to set the overall tire pressure to specification and let the tire perform like it's supposed to.

 

[MarkF48]

If you should check the pressure with a gauge, my dealer had suggested getting the valve at 12 o'clock where there should be a cushion of air rather that liquid. Hit the valve a couple times to clear out any liquid before using the gauge.
My tires had been loaded with beet juice and the valve caps were stuck by dried sugars(?) Applying a little heat from a heat gun loosened them and I put a bit of silicone grease on the cap threads to hopefully make it easy next time.

 

[Peter 315]

Get yourself one of these.....Amazon.com: Milton (S-928) Air/Water-Filled Tire Pencil Pressure Gauge: Automotive

 

[rdwyer]

Mine were also filled with beet juice and the cap was frozen as well. As a result I can tell you what it tastes as I got sprayed. I used a razor blade to cut the cap off and then rotated the tires do the valve was at the 12 oclock position. Topped it off with air...problem solved.

Thanks to all for the quick responses.
Rick