Well rear axle broke on 09 4720...

Ramairfreak98ss · Jan 30, 2015

I had another post 6+ months ago about something hanging up in the rear axle.. eventually it got stuck and we couldn't move the machine, then suddenly i couldnt get it to repeat the rear axle locking up at random issue.. been fine for a while now.

First snow storm we pushed a push box with it and it got stuck, eventually, was able to move it, but in 4x4 only, and ONLY the front axle is being powered, rear axle has no power in 2wd or 4wd... will have to dissasemble the entire thing and find out whats broken next week

Has 515~ hrs on it.

oldtimer 66 · Jan 31, 2015

I would like to know what the problem is and maybe some of the other members would also. Keep us posted thanks

arlen4720 · Jan 31, 2015

oldtimer 66 said:
I would like to know what the problem is and maybe some of the other members would also. Keep us posted thanks

Ditto on that. I believe this is the first powertrain failure that I've heard of on the 4x20

JDTank · Jan 31, 2015

Ramairfreak98ss said:
I had another post 6+ months ago about something hanging up in the rear axle.. eventually it got stuck and we couldn't move the machine, then suddenly i couldnt get it to repeat the rear axle locking up at random issue.. been fine for a while now.

First snow storm we pushed a push box with it and it got stuck, eventually, was able to move it, but in 4x4 only, and ONLY the front axle is being powered, rear axle has no power in 2wd or 4wd... will have to dissasemble the entire thing and find out whats broken next week Has 515~ hrs on it.

So, if I read this correctly, you had a bad symptom of a possible serious mechanical malfunction in your rear axle, yet you continued to use your machine for 6 months....really? At the slightest indication of problems this serious, you stop, immediately, until you can figure out exactly what is happening. The fact that you continued to use the machine without diagnosing your problem 6 months ago, tells me that you just cost yourself a lot more money than you needed to.

aginn · Jan 31, 2015

I believe he already knows that. A whipping besides the cost of this repair probably isn't needed at this point.

Kyle_in_Tex · Jan 31, 2015

aginn said:
I believe he already knows that. A whipping besides the cost of this repair probably isn't needed at this point.

It might have been easier to diagnose what caused the initial problem if it was torn down immediately, but I might have kept using it myself too. Hard to say.

Do you use the rear differential locker frequently?

SamSpade · Feb 1, 2015

I heard about a 4700 with similar symptoms.

front wheels had power, but rear wheels freewheeling.

Turned out it was some kind of snap ring or retainer clip on the drive shaft I think.

Ken · Feb 2, 2015

I have a 4520 reverser type utility and it is locked into 4 whl. drive.
JD say a 50 cent roll pin has snapped in engage lever shaft . Now 2 days @85 per hour ea. for 2 employees to replace.
Mine never gets on black top so will continue until another need to separate the transmission.

Walk into the service dept. look around those tractors are not parked because of cold weather.
something internal has broken.
ken

AKfish · Feb 3, 2015

Ouch...this is probably gonna hurt for awhile! Sorry about your problem. Hopefully, we can all learn from your experience. This is a new deal as I haven't heard of any other rear-differential problems in the 40x20 series, either.

Could be a bolt worked loose on the ring gear (or maybe a roller or needle bearing) dropped a chunk and locked everything up. Could get lucky and not have to replace the whole shootin' match!

AKfish

jenkinsph · Feb 3, 2015

I would pull the 3ph top casting off the tractor and have a look at the differential. Had to pull mine two years ago when a bolt came off the 3ph linkage. Found the bolt in the bottom of the housing and reinstalled it, no problems since then and 500 hrs of use after the fix. Whole job took me about 2 to 3 hours total.