7520 4wd Front hub knocking

[jrchafin]

Hello,
My 3 year old 7520 is making a clunk/knock sound in the right front when I have the wheel turned either direction. It doesn't do it when it's straight or only slightly turned. It seems to do it more when it's in 4wd. The knock is variable with the speed the tractor is moving.
I am coming up on 400 hours, which calls for repacking the front bearings. But I don't think this sounds like a bearing. What is more likely?

Thanks!

 

[SPYDERLK]

I havnt experienced that on mine. ... Or at least not localized it to a specific wheel. Mine has always had a sort of clunking gear groan from the front when turned hard in 4wd on good firm surface. It is due to the natural front/back mismatch that occurs when turning. At close to 900hrs its the same as ever. Have you checked the oil in the front diff and in the planetary gears in the front hubs? Does it do it on loose ground as well as firm ground?
larry

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Sounds to me like it may be a universal joint.

 

[bindian]

Sounds to me like it may be a universal joint.

I agree with Galen.:thumbsup: When a front wheel drive car makes sounds only in a turn, it is the constant velocity joint which is a fancy universal joint.
FYI..........my 6520 does not make sounds in a turn in 2wd or 4wd.
hugs, Brandi

 

[jrchafin]

Yeah, I was thinking a U-joint myself. It does it on any ground type. I did check the oil in the front axle and hubs, and all are ok.

Actually though, that raises a question. The hubs have a fill plug and a stamped section that says "oil level". Is the correct oil level with the writing horizontal, so the hub would be about half full, or with the full plug all the way at the top?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yes. Writing horizontal. Good if its a ujoint instead of inside. Low hrs for someting to go bad tho. Sounds like youre just out of the warranty period.
larry

 

[bindian]

I am coming up on 400 hours, which calls for repacking the front bearings.

Thanks!

I think this 400 hours mark is for repacking 2WD front bearings.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Yeah, I was thinking a U-joint myself. It does it on any ground type. I did check the oil in the front axle and hubs, and all are ok.

Actually though, that raises a question. The hubs have a fill plug and a stamped section that says "oil level". Is the correct oil level with the writing horizontal, so the hub would be about half full, or with the full plug all the way at the top?

I was told, by a reliable tech source at Mahindra, who doesn't deal with the public, to check the front hubs with the fill plug in the 3 or 9 o'clock position. This is what I used when I replaced the oil back 200 hours ago.
hugs, Brandi

 

[jrchafin]

Yeah, that's how I checked it, and it was full.

So now I have to decide what to do about it. It's not affecting function, and will likely continue working like this for some time. Do I wait until it gets worse? Hmmmmmm....:confused3:

Thanks for the advice all.

 

[bindian]

Yeah, that's how I checked it, and it was full.

So now I have to decide what to do about it. It's not affecting function, and will likely continue working like this for some time. Do I wait until it gets worse? Hmmmmmm....:confused3:

Thanks for the advice all.

You can let it go for a while and then see if one side has more play than the other. Just raise the front axle off the ground (now?) and wiggle the tire forward and backward on both sides to see if there is more play on the noisy side. Too much play can cause more damage.

I can't really say about now or later. I don't know how that axle joint comes apart, so it is hard to say if it is an easy R&R or a hard one.
hugs, Brandi