Deere 4400 hst

[therebarely]

I hope I can find some help. I purchased this tractor last week and have everything working except the drive system. The only way the tractor will move is in 4 wheel drive with just the front tires pulling. Any suggestions what to look for?

 

[sisupower]

I hope I can find some help. I purchased this tractor last week and have everything working except the drive system. The only way the tractor will move is in 4 wheel drive with just the front tires pulling. Any suggestions what to look for?

What’s the hours?

 

[therebarely]

What’s the hours?

1119 hours. Loader and backhoe function perfectly

 

[sisupower]

You said it’s hydrostat? Pull the hydraulic oil filter and cut it open look for metal. All internal stuff on hydrostat

 

[therebarely]

You said it’s hydrostat? Pull the hydraulic oil filter and cut it open look for metal. All internal stuff on hydrostat

I put all new filters in it and cleaned the sump filter. There were a few very small metallic particles in the sump filter but nothing excessive. I thought that it was linkage stuck or not working correctly but I can't find anything.

 

[sd455dan]

I hope I can find some help. I purchased this tractor last week and have everything working except the drive system. The only way the tractor will move is in 4 wheel drive with just the front tires pulling. Any suggestions what to look for?

Does the tractors front axle that is working pull with authority? If the Hydrostat drive is (OK) then it seems likely that something has failed in the rear axle
it may be a broken spider gear /3rd member cross shaft or other failure in the rear differential
Seem to remember a thread sometime back with similar symptoms with a 4--- Deere compact that did have a rear axle failure
I believe member dfkrug has a lot of experience with the 4200-4400 Deeres may be able to help with some troubleshooting advice.

Here is hoping it is something simple

 

[therebarely]

Does the tractors front axle that is working pull with authority? If the Hydrostat drive is (OK) then it seems likely that something has failed in the rear axle
it may be a broken spider gear /3rd member cross shaft or other failure in the rear differential
Seem to remember a thread sometime back with similar symptoms with a 4--- Deere compact that did have a rear axle failure
I think member dfkrug may be able to help with some troubleshooting advice.

Thank you for the responses. The front does move the tractor well, but with the weight of the backhoe on the back it lacks traction.

 

[Egon]

Lift up the back wheels and see if one is a little loose. Might also check out the rear drive with the tractor in two wheel drive.

 

[therebarely]

Lift up the back wheels and see if one is a little loose. Might also check out the rear drive with the tractor in two wheel drive.

Lifted the back end up yesterday with the backhoe and the rear tires did not turn when activating the hydro pedal in either direction. They did turn freely when the engine was shut down.

 

[sisupower]

Like someone said it’s probably in the rear. I would check the rear diff and final drives. You will have to tear it down to be sure

 

[therebarely]

Like someone said it’s probably in the rear. I would check the rear diff and final drives. You will have to tear it down to be sure

That makes sense unfortunate. I guess I will take it to the dealer, I just thought I was overlooking something. Thank both of you for trying to help it is deeply appreciated.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Before you take it to the dealer at least take the backhoe off. They are going to do that anyways and there's no reason to pay them to do that. I would also take the loader off as that's not hard to do either.

Now since you have the backhoe off you might as well take the rear cover off and have a look inside. I spent about an hour looking at the parts diagrams and as near as I can figure the front driveshaft drives off of the front of the pinion shaft. So that means that either the pinion shaft is broken or there is something wrong with the spider gears in the differential. I'm inclined to think that it's the spider gears over the pinion shaft. If it's something simple with the spider gears you can fix that yourself. In any case the rear cover is easy to remove to have a look.

 

[therebarely]

Before you take it to the dealer at least take the backhoe off. They are going to do that anyways and there's no reason to pay them to do that. I would also take the loader off as that's not hard to do either.

Now since you have the backhoe off you might as well take the rear cover off and have a look inside. I spent about an hour looking at the parts diagrams and as near as I can figure the front driveshaft drives off of the front of the pinion shaft. So that means that either the pinion shaft is broken or there is something wrong with the spider gears in the differential. I'm inclined to think that it's the spider gears over the pinion shaft. If it's something simple with the spider gears you can fix that yourself. In any case the rear cover is easy to remove to have a look.

Thank you for responding. I will take the backhoe off as soon as it quits raining and photograph the it with the pto cover off. I will see what you think, and again thanks.

 

[waycoolmarine]

I had a 4400 open last fall , its very straight forward drain the 9 gallons of oil and the rear pto is a plate and opens the whole rearend , I had broken gears from dif lock -looked up parts ,google the part numbers and the was a guy stripping a tractor sold me the used gear for like $25 if that was a dealer repair $700 plus , the hardest part would be if you have to pull the axle housings is the bolts that hold the roll bar on are super tight I ended up taking the top of roll bar off and leaving the lower legs on axle housings , while you have it apart pull the brake shafts and clean and lube them and replace the o rings - I think there was 4 total on the rear end -I would have to look at parts diagram don't be afraid of it -just jump in- very straight forward

 

[therebarely]

I had a 4400 open last fall , its very straight forward drain the 9 gallons of oil and the rear pto is a plate and opens the whole rearend , I had broken gears from dif lock -looked up parts ,google the part numbers and the was a guy stripping a tractor sold me the used gear for like $25 if that was a dealer repair $700 plus , the hardest part would be if you have to pull the axle housings is the bolts that hold the roll bar on are super tight I ended up taking the top of roll bar off and leaving the lower legs on axle housings , while you have it apart pull the brake shafts and clean and lube them and replace the o rings - I think there was 4 total on the rear end -I would have to look at parts diagram don't be afraid of it -just jump in- very straight forward

Thank you way cool, I will attempt it as soon as the weather cooperates.

 

[therebarely]

Thank you way cool, I will attempt it as soon as the weather cooperates.

Got the backhoe off and the pto rear cover and found what appears to be 3 spider gears broken in half. Is it possible to replace them, or does the whole diff assembly need to be replaced? One gear has internal splines.

 

[sisupower]

You can replace the spider gears without replacing the whole diff. I think. If not then you need a differential. And it will come with everything but ring Gear. Check ring and pinion good. I’ve done several but I think it was cheaper to get the whole diff. I really don’t remember. I’m not a tech with deere anymore

 

[therebarely]

You can replace the spider gears without replacing the whole diff. I think. If not then you need a differential. And it will come with everything but ring Gear. Check ring and pinion good. I’ve done several but I think it was cheaper to get the whole diff. I really don’t remember. I’m not a tech with deere anymore

Thank you for responding. I think it is going to the dealer, or may part it out.

 

[ovrszd]

If you can't see any chipped or missing teeth on the ring gear and/or pinion gear, just replace the spider gears. Not sure what you'll get into in regards to parts. Sometimes spider gears are only sold in kits. The kits include all the parts needed to replace all four gears, the pin and the thrust washers. Sadly, this will require removing both axle shafts. The gear with internal splines runs on the axle shaft, one for each side. The gear that's smooth on the inside spins on the pin, one for each side.

A trip to your local JD dealer will clarify all the parts questions. While there I would get a mechanic involved. He'll tell you all the other things to replace while there such as axle shaft seals, etc.

He can also offer any suggestions in regards to things you should do to minimize chance of future failure.

 

[therebarely]

If you can't see any chipped or missing teeth on the ring gear and/or pinion gear, just replace the spider gears. Not sure what you'll get into in regards to parts. Sometimes spider gears are only sold in kits. The kits include all the parts needed to replace all four gears, the pin and the thrust washers. Sadly, this will require removing both axle shafts. The gear with internal splines runs on the axle shaft, one for each side. The gear that's smooth on the inside spins on the pin, one for each side.

A trip to your local JD dealer will clarify all the parts questions. While there I would get a mechanic involved. He'll tell you all the other things to replace while there such as axle shaft seals, etc.

He can also offer any suggestions in regards to things you should do to minimize chance of future failure.

Thank you ovrszd for the help. I will go to the dealer for some input as soon as I can to see if there are spider gears available.