MY JD 4400 axle housing ....ouch.....

Ole_Hickory · Aug 11, 2004

I was using my Franguard skidder winch and I snagged the top of a culvert in the mud and it broke the piece off of the axle housing where the lift arm is attatched to the housing.I had to remove the wheel and axle and buy a new axle housing. The one on the other side has a crack in it and shows lots of wear.
I compared the new axle housing to the original that had not broke (opposite side) and noticed the new one had about a 1/2" more cast aluminum around the hole than the original housing on my tractor.There must have been some problems with some of these or they would not have made a change to the replacement housings. I thought about welding the original one on my tractor(beef it up) but there is not a whole lot to weld to and my luck the other side would eventually brake.

slowzuki · Aug 11, 2004

A Kubota L4610 (the previous model) had the same plight using a skidding winch. The new models have revised this area of the housing. There are pics in the kubota forum.

Ole_Hickory · Aug 12, 2004

This is the only cast aluminum I can find on the tractor. I wonder why the would use metal on the rest of the tractor IE: front axle...

Ole_Hickory · Aug 21, 2004

Well 2 new axle housings are installed on my JD 4400,it was a job my cousin helped me on ( or I helped him) I would put him up against any of the JD mechanics at my local dealership. I bought a JD 4200/4300/4400 and 4500/4600/4700 manuals on ebay that was made for JD mechanics servicing these tractors,it is a step by step guide on everything and anything on working on these tractors. I feel confident he could fix anything on these tractors down to rebuilding a hydro. We have been inside this tractor more than once. He never touched a tractor before he started helping me. He always worked on cars/trucks/boats/lawnmowers/guns/carpentry/construction in general. Makes one feel good to have that kind of help when needed. Of coure I pay him well and he never goes home hungry( he knows where the dinner table is in my house) not to mention he has hunting privelages here as well.

rockyridgefarm · Aug 21, 2004

Does he need an apprentice?

Glad you got it going... and now there's more "beef"...

Ole_Hickory · Aug 21, 2004

( Glad you got it going... and now there's more "beef"... )

Thanks,
we worked about 7 hours today finishing up on some things,a few worn parts on the front ( tie rods ) we are going to be able to weld them and beef them up(old style axle),they had a lot of play/slop in them, they will be good when after he welds them.A little welding on the Fransgard winch and it will be time to head back to the woods