AWS problem on JD 425

[jcummins]

I've started to notice a bit of jerking with the steering in full lock either left or right, coming from the rear. Slowly been getting worse, and took the time today to look into it.

After getting it up on blocks and working the steering, it appears the inner rear wheel has a looseness to it when the steering is fully turned. This causes it to over steer. It can be either wheel....the left on left turns, the right on right turns. The opposite rear wheel will not have the same slop to it. I bought this 425 used some years back, has 708 hours on it. , and have never had to do any adjustment etc to the steering. Best I can determine, it just has slop in the linkage once it gets to a full turn. It has adjustments to all the linkage, but I cannot figure out what should be adjusted, especially since you turn the steering the opposite way and the slop moves to the other wheel.

Anyone with ideas how to fix this?

 

[jcummins]

No one with any ideas? Just mowed the yard...and made it a point to not cut real sharp because of this issue.

 

[bigtiller]

This happened to me a few years ago and it was the long stearing link from front to back that was comming lose where it bolts onto a bracket on the rear left wheel.

 

[85camaro]

Did you ever determine this steering issue? I have the same problem on my 425aws. 1400 hrs. Jerks on hard turns. If anybody is awre of problem/fix, please let me know.

 

[jcummins]

No I have not. I bought new tie rods for the rear steering, since I determined the rod ends where wore quite a bit. But very disappointed that it did not correct the problem.

The above post about the long steering arm front to back....I can't see that as a problem on mine. That was solidly bolted.

I ended up taking that front to back linked out, then locked the wheeles on the rear, by bolting the whole assembly to the rear end. This disabled aws. And I don't like this, but makes it usable without the jerking.

If anyone has an answer, I need it.

 

[Whitey]

I do not know if I completly understand what your problem is If I understand your post it sounded like a linkage problem. I own a 425 AWS and I also have a tech manual.........if you can take a picture and post with the problem being exposed........maybe I can help. I have heard of people complaining of these machines "crabbing" on soft ground and once and awhile while plowing snow this may occur on a slippery surface......are you experiencing that?

 

[85camaro]

Okay, heres what i can tell you:
anytime wheels are turned fully left or right and there is a load (on the ground & medium or higher speed) the inside rear wheel jerks when turning (left wheel on left turn & right wheel on right turn)-its a very violent jerking-if your not prepared for it could buck you off machine! if you can watch the wheel it actualy moves about 2-3 inches (as if your jerking steering wheel back & forth very fast) I spoke to several dealers & they act as if they have never heard of this(hard to imagine)-one mentioned maybe u-joint(s) are bad-i jacked up rear wheels, removed, ran engine & turned & checked the joints they seem okay-problem will not happen when wheels off the ground. There must be someone out there who has had this problem. Please let me know!
Thanks!

 

[mfreund]

It sound like the ball joints on the top are wore out. Check both the upper and lower ball joints. They are easy to overlook when greasing the tractor.

I had a x495AWS and loved it. It was too small for loader work. The dealer is likely not misleading you on the problems, I asked around ALOT b-4 I bought the x495. I found many AWS owners, not many owners with problems.

 

[Whitey]

WowThat's wierd..........so it sounds to me that it is a driven problem not a steering problem. No signs of interference due to incorrect lengths or stops on steering linkage? I would first check the ball joints.........I will look in my tech manual and see if this problem is listed.

 

[jcummins]

That is not the problem I have. With the 425 on stands, at full left/right steer, I can move each rear wheel, not top to bottom, but left to right, the way it steers. The problem is the inside wheel have just a little slop to it. The outside wheel has a lot. OR...it might be the reverse of that, it's been awhile, since I disabled the rear steering, but believe it was the outside wheel. Reverse the direction and the problem moves to the other side.

I was sure it was the tie rods, so I crack for the money for new ones?t help very slightly, but they were not the problem. When mowing at full steer either direction, the rear of the mower wobbles, jerks around.

I actually think 85camero, if you tested yours the way I did, you would come up with the same results.

 

[tuned4u]

Hey folks,

Just found this thread as I was having the same exact issues. I recently bought a used 425 at auction and didn't notice any issues on my first test cut. Then after setting the traction differential lock all **** broke loose. Yes I need bearings and found a loose tierod connection, and possibly the rod going from the front to back could use some new ends. With all that bad what was making my unit jump was the diff lock being stuck!!! Just think about all the erky jerkyness and what would force it to such an extreme. Notice how the outside wheel is turning way sharper than the inside? This means that the wheels if turning at the same rate with the diff lock on, will become unstable on the ground and fight each other, causing your grass to be chomped up and backlash even if everything is tight.

Anyway, check into it! and hope it helps!

tuned

 

[Gittyup]

the differential lock should only be used when going in a straight line. If engaged while turning, sooner or later something is going to break.

 

[number3456]

so how did you get it unstuck? I have the same problem.

 

[grass63]

hello, I'm having the same issue, The locked differential makes sense. My problem started this spring, after a winter when I was on the diff. lock most of the time to push some huge snows we had in the Northeast. How do you get it un-stuck, just move the trans. linkage/rod??
Thanks.

 

[AKfish]

the differential lock should only be used when going in a straight line. If engaged while turning, sooner or later something is going to break.

OUCH..!! No kidding! That'll leave a mark.. er, mark's all over your yard, too!

Whenever I've had a sticky differential lock - I've always been lucky that a little bit of rocking back and forth (in a straight line with wheels straight) from reverse to forward and lifting on the pedal has gotten it to release.

If that didn't do the trick - I'd guess that more detailed intervention might be called for. If you don't have the Technical Repair manual to better diagnose the problem -- go online to: https://jdparts.deere.com/servlet/com.deere.u90.jdparts.view.publicservlets.HomeUnsigned

AKfish