b7100 4x4 problem

[badbowtie]

I have a older b7100 4x4 that is gear drive and I was out moving snow yesterday for acouple hours. I was in high side using 4th and reverese in high side. I want to back up one time and it made a weird noise from the front end. I clutched it real quick and just went forward instead. I made one more push forward about 400 feet to the pile and went to back up and it did it again. Like a popping noise if you back up and you can watch the front tire jurk like at a certain spot during the revolution. I tried reverse in low side and same thing. I had one more push and know it is doing it in forward also in low side and high side. If I put it in 2wd it will not do it at all but 2wd is pretty much usless around here I always have to use 4wd. I need to see what you guys think happened so I can start to tear something apart and see what I did.

 

[Thomas]

Can you grib the drive shaft see if theres play...turn also push/pull.

 

[carpenter383]

If it's just one front tire that "jerks" It sounds like it may be a bad u-joint at that wheel.

 

[badbowtie]

I will check the driveshaft in about a hour but I just moved and it and it is also doing it in 2wd so I guessing that it would have to be something like a ujoint. I think it is only the right wheel sitting in the seat. Is their a way to check for a bad u-joint but what is weird is I set the front end loader on the ground and raised the front wheels and they seem to spin fine.

 

[badbowtie]

It really doesn't look like there are u joints, it looks like knuckles. With the front tires off the ground, I removed the front drive shaft completely, and if you spin 1 wheel at a time, it is fine. If you spin both at the same time, it hits a real hard spot. If you hold 1 front wheel and spin the other, it will do the same thing with the hard spot. I marked the outside of the tire, and the hard spot is in the same spot. Any ideas from where to go from here?

 

[carpenter383]

It really doesn't look like there are u joints, it looks like knuckles. With the front tires off the ground, I removed the front drive shaft completely, and if you spin 1 wheel at a time, it is fine. If you spin both at the same time, it hits a real hard spot. If you hold 1 front wheel and spin the other, it will do the same thing with the hard spot. I marked the outside of the tire, and the hard spot is in the same spot. Any ideas from where to go from here?

Did you try this on both sides? If so it sounds to me like the problem is either the teeth on the ring and pinion or the bearings that support the pinion and or the carrier
If you reach down and grab the end of the pinion where the front driveshaft bolts to does it have any slop in it?
Does the front axle leak oil?

When you spin one wheel at a time (with both off the ground) it's just turning the spider gears, the other side should spin in the opposite direction. when you hold one wheel or turn them both in the same direction you're turning the whole carrier/ring gear and pinion.

 

[badbowtie]

Yes is it does it on both sides the same. Correct about spinning one and not holding the other side. Were the drive shaft slips in and the boot goes over the housing that holds the tube the splined shaft is in. That piece that is in the the housing that is splinned in side is loose it has about a quarter inch play all around. So It looks like I can maybe unbolt it their and see what I have.

 

[badbowtie]

Nevermind about the spot where the drive shaft goes in about being loose, I took the 3 bolts out and there is a universal in there. I removed the universal off the spline, which I would the pinion, that bearing is not loose. It seems like the clunk is worse when you are spinning the tires in reverse than forward. I guess next it to pull the front light cotter pin that is on the pivot bolt, but how do you get that bolt out to get the front end to be sitting on the work bench. Just looking for a quick how to get the front differential out.

 

[carpenter383]

Are you talking about removing the whole front axle or just the center section?
I don't have any experience with your particular tractor, so I can't give you an accurate answer about removing the pivot pin. BFH? LOL
It sounds like you're gonna need a service manual because you need to know torque specs, proper shimming methods, etc.

 

[BotaBigot]

From your description, sounds like ring/pinion gear, or possibly carrier bearing. Based on what you were doing when it started, my money's on ring/pinion. Had similar experience with a B6000 pushing FEL into spoils pile. Chipped ring gear...

You'll need a shop manual and maybe a used parts source...