Wheel unit making noise?

ernemats · Nov 6, 2004

Several weeks ago while mowing with my 422 it started making a noise on different occasions, (sounds like left front wheel motor) mostly going along a steep grade of 20 degrees with the left side downhill. At first I thought it was the parking brake, I pushed the brake lever down and still it made the noise. I got on the level and the noise stopped and also going across the same slope in the other direction no noise. It only seems to make it when the left side wheel is down hill or when going straight up a steep hill and it only does it certain times. There is no sign of any leaks in wheel motor and it does not look like the parking brake has rubbed. I talked to Terry and he thought it might be the parking brake but I am almost certain it isn't. He just said to keep running it and if it gets worse to pull it off and they would check the wheel motor. He said usually when a wheel unit goes bad you have no power. Mine seems to run fine just an occasional noise. Anyone have any ideas?

MossRoad · Nov 7, 2004

<font color="blue"> mostly going along a steep grade of 20 degrees with the left side downhill. </font>
As you describe it, the noise is only when there is inward pressure on the tire, as when the weight of the tractor is on it on a side slope.

What type of noise is it?

I would pull the wheel off.
Clean out any debris in and around the motor mount.
Check the nut that holds the wheel mounting plate to the motor to make sure the safety pin(cotter key) is still in place.
Check the four bolts that hold the motor to the mount.
Check the parking brake return spring.
Put the wheel back on and test.

I had mine off this afternoon and there was plenty of debris in there.

ernemats · Nov 7, 2004

I have done everything you mentioned and everything is tight and looks good. There was a great amount of grass built up in there I cleaned it out and still the noise on occasions. The noise sounds like a clunking sound .

pequeajim · Nov 7, 2004

Moss:

Is there a way to adjust the parking brake? I wonder if the little stub is contacting the holes that it slides into when the brake is applied?

MossRoad · Nov 7, 2004

I'm not sure. I think you can tighten it up so that the brake handle does a better job of holding the brake in the off position. But I don't know if you can actually adjust the distance the pin travels in and out. I'd pull the brake all the way to the off position with the wheel removed and see how much clearance the pin has.

It is curious, though, that Erne only hears the noise when the left front wheel is on the downhill side going cross slope. I would think if it was the brake pin you would hear it no matter what the position. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif