Rear wheel(s) freeze up

[TuckerMagee]

I don't know much about tractors, but here goes:
When I mow with my Kubota L175, it only runs for 20 to 30 minutes, then I hear a pop and one or the other rear wheels freeze up (not always the same one). The wheels will turn if I put it in reverse, but not in any of the forward gears. After it sets a while, it runs fine again for another 20 to 30 minutes. If I'm using the tractor to do something that doesn't involve the PTO, this doesn't happen. I've had the tractor and mower for quite a few years and never had this problem before. Any ideas?

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I would have to guess that you have a bearing going out on the PTO. When the wheel locks up does the PTO still work. Is there plenty of fluid in it.

 

[TuckerMagee]

Yes, the PTO still works even when the wheel locks up. I checked the fluid and even added some until it ran out the other hole.

 

[TuckerMagee]

Update: The rear wheel is now stuck full-time - will not go forward, but will go in reverse.

 

[kevincook]

I wish I could help but I just don't have a clue. It sounds to me like something is wrong with the differential.

Good Luck,
Kevin

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

A thought just hit me. Could your brakes be adjusted to tight or the lining came off a shoe. I know the pto shouldn't affect this but my pickup did this and I thought the rearend was out of it.Started taking the rearend apart and when I took the brake drum off the lining fell off one of the shoes and was getting wedged between the other shoe and the drum.

 

[js5020]

Tucker, sent you a PM

 

[js5020]

Hooked, had that happen to my Jeep this year

 

[js5020]

For those who may run into this problem and are searching for a possible cause, Tucker and I inspected the tractor today. In our inspection we jacked up the rear, one side at a time, just enough to take the weight off the axle but not lift the tire and sure enough the left side has a fair amount of wobble. So at this point without opening things up for a visual we seem to have some failed bearings in the outboard drive housing causing things to bind up.

 

[rbargeron]

Here's a theory -

What if there is a broken gear segment in the differential that stays put while the oil is cold and stiff (each time it gets upside down it stays in position because the oil is viscous) but after the oil warms up, it can drop out of position when it gets upside down, and it jambs the diferential from turning. Depending on what it blocks, it makes one wheel turn and the other go opposite (or stop). It doesn't happen when the PTO is off because the oil takes much longer to heat up ?

The looseness you noticed in your final drive wheel bearings might be normal wear and not a cause of the jamming problem. As always, prompt cheerful refund if theory is bogus.