Strange Noise in front end of Max 22

kootch88 · Sep 17, 2013

A week or two ago I noticed a strange noise when I was in 2wd and going at max speed. I went on vacation and was using the tractor today for the first time and pinpointed where the noise is coming from, or where it sounds like it is coming from. There is a shaft that goes to the front axle inside a protective cover right in front of the axle. The sound is there regardless of the engagement of the 4wd or not, hi or lo. I called the dealer and may be taking it in, but he is researching the issue. Anyone have any clues what it is? It almost sounds like a loose metal to metal rattle but I see nothing on the outside that is loose. There is no grinding or gnarly sound but I don't like rattles.

Sysop · Sep 17, 2013

After a vacation, weather is cooling off, things are looking for a winter home. I'm betting you had a visitor that started to call your tractor home.

kootch88 · Sep 17, 2013

He must be a relentless visitor to be inside there!! I am hoping it is something minor because I have all my fall work coming up real fast

Sysop · Sep 17, 2013

It's amazing what nuts a chipmunk packs in sounds like inside some inspection covers. Not saying it's 100% certain, but odd noises after being parked for a week or so during this time of the year, it happens often. I'd check with the dealer again and see what they've learned. If they don't have a pretty good idea what it is, I'd pull any covers and do a good inspection before taking it in. It could save you some time without your machine.

kootch88 · Sep 18, 2013

Found the problem today, well Triipps did. A protective. Cover had come loose. Tripps fixed it on the spot and sent me on my way. Great job and really good service. They are now selling Kioti too. He told me the dealers are seeing some sharp increases coming very soon just an FYI.

gswallow · Sep 22, 2013

I had the same problem on my Max 25 this spring. I made an appointment at Tripps to get the noise checked out. I figured out the noise was coming from that loose drive shaft shroud before I took it up there but took it up there to have them fix it anyway to avoid any warranty issues. I showed them the loose bolt and they removed the shroud checked everything out and bolted it back together. A couple days later the sound came back. I checked it out and noticed some of the bolt holes in the shroud are elongated allowing for some adjustment. I loosened it up, moved it slightly and it has been fine since. I called them up and told Bob what I had done to fix it. They are great people to work with there, I picked up a 5 foot box blade a couple of weeks ago.

Charlie175 · Sep 24, 2013

Same issue on my 2015

kootch88 · Sep 24, 2013

Hmm. That is kind of strange we have three documented cases. It is easy enough to fix, but a pain in the arse!. I guess locktite is in order.

Charlie175 · Sep 25, 2013

Shot a video of the noise and wobble. :50 mark on both videos is when you hear the most noise. This is all from the cover being loose.

Charlie175 · Sep 25, 2013

here is the other video

kootch88 · Sep 25, 2013

That was it! So is the an ongoing problem Charlie? Seems like tightening of the bolts and some loktite should do the trick, no??

Charlie175 · Sep 26, 2013

I put the camera there to try and find the noise and had thus taken off the drive shaft to inspect it. Put it back together and then no noise. Looked closer at the cover but due to the absence of any rub marks I was dumbfounded but what the noise was. I guess it is the drive shaft moving around at that speed causing the cover to rattle. It's been quiet now for a week!

kootch88 · Sep 26, 2013

I have 100 hours on mine and it just happened when I made the post, so I am guessing it is not much of a big deal. I seldom drive in high gear, which is the only time I heard it rattle so maybe it was that way for a while. Anyway, it is an easy fix. Thanks for the video, that was pretty cool.

flyboy65 · Oct 6, 2013

Same issue here at about 60 hours on my 2012 Max 25. A buddy found it while we were loading tractor and was a simple fix.LOCTITE. As the manual states check all bolts and nuts after so many hours. Still I can't
complain after what I put it though. One tough tractor.

RipNC · Sep 8, 2019

This old thread and TBN got me going again on my post Dorian cleanup. This tractor newbie heard this awful racket that sounded like the front axle disintegrating and had visions of spending BOAT unit$ (for non-boaters that means Break Out Another Thou$and). Quick search on TBN and a 5 minute fix! Hopefully I'll be able to pay it forward one day...

Thanks everyone!
Rip

darmstrong2319 · Sep 8, 2019

Was that what your problem was Ripnc

RipNC · Sep 9, 2019

Exactly, tightened the bolt (will add Loctite when I can get to it in my shop) on the metal cover over the front end of the front axle drive shaft and racket disappeared. Finding this possible answer allowed me a good night's sleep (hard to come by before, during and after hurricanes) and after breakfast the next a.m. I fixed it in 5 minutes and off to the edge of the swamp to retrieve our 120 gallon propane tank so we can cook and have hot water...