mf1250 4x4 problem

[dbail]

jeepcj7 is right. they had .008 space before it would start pushing the shaft throught the bearing. that not much wearing on the bushings. i shortend the shaft by 3/8

 

[Workstead]

jeepcj7 is right. they had .008 space before it would start pushing the shaft throught the bearing. that not much wearing on the bushings. i shortend the shaft by 3/8

Thanks Dbail and jeepcj and California.

Do you have any pictures of what you did and how you did it?

Clem

 

[dbail]

workstead the 4 wheel drive goes in and out by sliding a gear back and forth. i don't think the shaft is your problem

 

[Workstead]

workstead the 4 wheel drive goes in and out by sliding a gear back and forth. i don't think the shaft is your problem

I didn't know if they were related. I do have an FEL and I don't want to go through what you just went through. There may be 2 different issues dealing with 4WD.

1. Shaft is too long. Needs to be shortened.

2. 4WD shift lever is hard to operate. I'll look at the linkage when I lift one front wheel to see if it will slide in and out of 4WD.

Clem

 

[lmalcomb]

May 2007 shaft lentgh was shortened in production from 470 mm to 468 mm. Can shorten a little more if you want to. When tractor has loader on it and there is a load in the bucket it puts the tractor under compression and causes the front drive shaft to bottom out a, hence the reason to shorten the shaft.

May 2007 was the Massey 1250 still in production in May 07 or was this may of 97 ? My tractor is a 99

 

[Workstead]

May 2007 shaft lentgh was shortened in production from 470 mm to 468 mm. Can shorten a little more if you want to. When tractor has loader on it and there is a load in the bucket it puts the tractor under compression and causes the front drive shaft to bottom out a, hence the reason to shorten the shaft.

My MF1250 is a 1998. I wonder if dbail has an earlier model. Maybe I dodged a bullet on my purchase.

Clem

 

[wrenchturner]

I also have a MF 1250 and was wondering about the driveshaft clearance problem. I know there is some flex in the engine and transmission assembly but I would not think more than a couple of throusandths of an inch max. I believe a more plausible explanation for the lack of clearance between the driveshaft and the transmission has to do with the front axle. The front axle pivot has a tapered bushing and as the bushing wears this causes the axle to to be able to move farther back during certain conditions such as when the front wheels are being overdriven in 4wd or when backing in certain situations. Perhaps the engineers did not forsee this problem when allowing for driveshaft clearance. If this is not the case, then the engine to transmission bell housing bolts would have to be loose.

 

[dbail]

you hit the nail on the head. front bushing wearing more than .008 and now the shaft will start pushing on the rear bearing. I'm going to look at the front axle next. my 1250 is a 1994 with 960hr. on it. by shorten the shaft you should no problems with the rear bearing.

 

[dbail]

i took the front axe off today, the bushing look good. i had the dealer look at them. i'm going to replace the knuckle seals slight leak. $60 a piece! when i'm done this tractor will last me a life time. I really like this tractor. its the right size for snowplowing and pulling out wood

 

[wrenchturner]

I really like my 1250 although there are a few design issues I do not like. My knee hits the front end loader lever while mowing and causes the bucket to lower. The hydraulic hoses on the back are a little cluttered. The enigne cover is not easy to remove. On the other hand it is just the size and weight I need and has done everything I have asked it to do. I plan on this being the only tractor I will ever buy.

The bushing you were refering to, is it the axle pivot bushing?

 

[masseytrouble]

I joined this forum yesterday and posted a question, but don't know if I did it correctly. I saw this thread today and it seems related to my problem. Last year, my MF1250 started to make noise when in 4X4. THe noise came from under the center of the tractor. I quit using 4X4. This past weekend, I was realy stuck in some mud. I engaged the 4X4 and then the differential lock. When I applied the throttle, I heard a grinding or rumbling sound in the rear end. Two days later, when in 2 wheel drive, turning a circle to the right, I heard that noise in the rear end again. I tried to engage the PTO, the light on the dash illuminated but PTO did not work. The mechanical PTO engagement lever is actuating the lever into the rear end. I also checked the fuses and the fuse for the PTO is good. I removed the 4X4 drive shaft to examine the couplers, and they were fine. I am wondering if this worn front axle bearing or long shaft situation initiated all of this. Have you guys learned anything more about this situation? THere are no massey dealers in my area and I will need to fix this on my own. Thanks

 

[dbail]

you will have to drain the tractor fluid. then remove the filter on the left side.if its damaged then the drive shaft has been driven throught the rear housing. you will have to split the tractor to fix.this is not fun!

 

[srb@mr-happy.com]

I have a MF 1250 with a grinding noise under my seat. The 4 wheel drive shaft runs all the way to the rear end. Pull out the transmission filter. There is a plug on both sides you can look straight through. Pull out the filter and you might see a shaft with the inner race on it( from the bearing) sticking through into the filter chamber. The shaft is too long and pushing the shaft all the way back from the front axle I've read. You have to work your way back to that bearing through the intermediate transmission housing. Fairly big job but doable. If you need any help contact me and I can walk you through it as best I can. Not everything worked like the service manual says. I managed but I struggled a bit at times trying to figure out what the manual was suggesting I do.

 

[Dmacleo]

I have a MF 1250 with a grinding noise under my seat. The 4 wheel drive shaft runs all the way to the rear end. Pull out the transmission filter. There is a plug on both sides you can look straight through. Pull out the filter and you might see a shaft with the inner race on it( from the bearing) sticking through into the filter chamber. The shaft is too long and pushing the shaft all the way back from the front axle I've read. You have to work your way back to that bearing through the intermediate transmission housing. Fairly big job but doable. If you need any help contact me and I can walk you through it as best I can. Not everything worked like the service manual says. I managed but I struggled a bit at times trying to figure out what the manual was suggesting I do.

its 9 year old post.....

 

[dbail]

its 9 year old post.....

I still have the tractor. Its a big job to fix

 

[Dmacleo]

I still have the tractor. Its a big job to fix

LOL I know what you mean. been meaning to redo shingles on my oil tank cover for 4 years. damn shame LOL