Traction BX-24 Transmission Failure??

[jgiacchi]

BX24 Update
I'm back from vacation and received my manual. The manual confirmed my thoughts on the difficultly of checking out the differential so I spent about 6 hours pulling the tractor apart. I've attached some pictures. Basically the differential and diff lock were toast. My guess is the diff lock broke and the pin destroyed three of the spider gears.

Disassembly was straight forward with 2 exceptions. First the bolts holding the rear fender on just spun the nut embedded in the grab bars. I removed the fender by using my engine hoist to pull up on the grab bar while turning the bolts until the nuts ripped right out of the rubber. I haven't figured out how to put it back together again. Second, it took a bit of tapping and prying to pull the drive shaft to the front axle off the spline on the trans-axle.

I'm currently putting together a parts list, can anyone recommend an online parts dealer to compare with my local dealer?

Jim

 

[Deano]

I use these guys

Messick's | Dealer for New Holland, Case IH, Kubota, Cub Cadet and More | Online Parts, Sales & Service.

Wow, that thing grenaded!!

Deano

 

[RTII]

BX24 Update
............. My guess is the diff lock broke and the pin destroyed three of the spider gears...............................

Jim

Jim,

Any idea why the diff lock failed?

Reily

 

[Deano]

Jim,

Any idea why the diff lock failed?

Reily

If I am not mistaken, I think other TBN people have said their diff locks have failed to work or broken...something along those lines.

I know since reading tose posts, I us my diff lock only when I absolutely have to where I use to use it freely.

Deano

 

[bird1968]

If I am not mistaken, I think other TBN people have said their diff locks have failed to work or broken...something along those lines.

I know since reading tose posts, I us my diff lock only when I absolutely have to where I use to use it freely.

Deano

Deano is right on this one, since I'm also a member of this misfortune.

I was pushing the BX to get the job done faster, having the lock engage all the time, loading on soft terrain, but backing up on hard terrain. this put an end on the lock.
I got the parts under warranty, but it's still not a job I want to redo anytime soon.
Attach is my member mug shot to prove it.

 

[jgiacchi]

I use my diff lock fairly often when I'm pushing into a pile, scrapping off loose soil or plowing snow. I'm not sure when the initial damage was done but I think the final straw occurred one day when I tried to engage the lock and had to push down hard on the pedal to get it engaged. However, that still was 20-30 hours before the differential gave out.

Does anyone know how many pins the diff lock should have? The parts diagram calls for 2 pins. Examining the broken part two adjacent pins were sheared flush with the ring and the other two adjacent pins were sheared off at 3/16 from the ring. It sort of looks like it was designed for four pins but that two of them, not symmetrically, were replaced by plugs at the factory. I only found two broken pins in the case. My thinking is it will be stronger if I put it together with four pins.

 

[jgiacchi]

Upon further disassembly I found additional damage to the differential housing. Here are some more pictures. It is also apparent that there were four diff lock pins and they came welded into the diff lock. Not anything like the parts breakdown. If you look carefully at the picture of the lock hole in the housing you can see a stress crack forming. This looks to be in the same relative area as the edge of the hunk that is already missing. I'm now wondering if the housing failure was the root cause of destruction.

Jim

 

[radioman]

wow, its sure a good thing you were able to find those pieces. Looks like there were more then one thing going wrong in the gear box

 

[jnjpream]

I've always had good luck with theses guys:

Coleman Equipment - Case, Kubota, Stihl - Sales, Rental, Parts & Service

That break make's me nervous.. I use the diff lock a lot due to digging in hard dirt which often causes a tire to loose traction (which half the time results in three wheels spinning if you count the front wheels).

 

[KubieTwo]

If the pins were sheared it makes me think the diff lock was engaged while the wheels were spinning. The amount of damage further supports this in my opinion. I do not have a BX but I do have other Kubota tractors that I use the diff locks on frequently. However, I do not engage them when the wheels are spinning unless they are spinning very slowly and I back off the throttle even then. I may be overly cautious but I did know they use pins in holes instead of clutches, so have always been careful. The gears have to turn enough to allow the pins and holes to align, the pins slide in under very light load, then I proceed. I hold the pedal until I have traction again, I release, it disengages, and I use the diff lock again as needed. Hopefully I will never have that kind of damage and any slight delay will have been well spent.

Another good source of parts is TractorSmart.com is your online source for Kubota online parts.

Hope you get running soon.

 

[jgiacchi]

Most times I engaged the diff lock in anticipation of needing it, but it's quite possible I've engaged it while the wheels were spinning. Now that I understand the design I'll be extra careful when engaging it.

I've also realized that my diff lock may have not been engaging properly since I purchased the tractor. When engaging the lock my peddle would only go about halfway down, then if I kept in engaged for a minute or so it would drop all the way in. Is that normal behavior?

I'm asking this because as I was checking for damaged parts I noticed that the diff lock peddle was hanging up on burrs in the fork sleeve slot and shaft, causing it to stick when partially engaged, then engage fully when pressed harder. A few minutes with a needle file and 600 paper made it slide smooth as silk. When I put the tractor back together I'll find out if the diff lock engages smoother and completley.

After checking prices at Messicks, Colemans and my local dealer I ordered the parts locally. The local dealer was actually the cheapest by a couple of dollars. Messicks was the highest, Colemans was about 10 percent lower. I checked a couple of parts at Tractor Smart and they seemed the same as Colemans

The parts were delayed by the holiday but I should have them by the end of the week. Meanwhile I've been touching up, cleaning, polishing lubricating and organizing the pieces for reassembly.

 

[fish6942]

...I've also realized that my diff lock may have not been engaging properly since I purchased the tractor. When engaging the lock my peddle would only go about halfway down, then if I kept in engaged for a minute or so it would drop all the way in. Is that normal behavior?

I'm asking this because as I was checking for damaged parts I noticed that the diff lock peddle was hanging up on burrs in the fork sleeve slot and shaft, causing it to stick when partially engaged, then engage fully when pressed harder...

My diff lock engages the same way. Some times the pedal goes right down and other times I have to wait a bit. However, any time I'm waiting for it to engage (go down) I'm always very gentle on the fwd/rev pedal.

 

[KubieTwo]

My diff lock engages the same way. Some times the pedal goes right down and other times I have to wait a bit. However, any time I'm waiting for it to engage (go down) I'm always very gentle on the fwd/rev pedal.

You are doing they right thing by allowing it to engage before applying full load. The pins have to align with the holes then slide in to be engaged. When you push the pedal, do so with authority, move slightly to align, and it should engage smoothly. Keep the shaft and linkage clean and lubricated, and push hard. Your diff lock should last the life of your tractor...

 

[jgiacchi]

Final Report:

I'm back to work with my BX-24.

I've completed the repairs to the differential in my BX-24 and have been using it the past few days. The diff lock actually works better than when I purchased the tractor. It fully engages within a few feet of movement and releases immediately when I release the pedal. When the tractor was new the binding in the pedal mechanism prevented full release, sometimes I'd be driving 30 seconds or more before the pedal released. It actually took me a few weeks before I realized the pedal should drop to the floor when engaging the diff lock.

The repair was fairly easy even though it involved stripping the rear of the tractor down to the metal rails to get to the transaxle. Only standard mechanics metric tools were needed, plus a couple of strong
helpers, an engine hoist or a transmission jack to remove the transaxle. The entire differential is accessible through the side of the housing when the right axle is removed. The differential parts just slip out and the new parts slip in. I had a bit of trouble replacing the right axle because one of the two brake plates was inserted with sharp corners towards the spline that had to be pushed in when reinstalling. I took the brake assembly apart and turned the disk so the rounded edge was out to work the axle back in.

Parts Requiring Replacement.
Prices from my local dealer.

Differential Assembly $275 (See note below)
Differential Lock Shifter $35

Parts Replaced just in case
Large Ball Bearing $25
Small Ball Bearing $20

Maintenance Items
Hydraulic filter $11
5 Gal SUDT $102

Grand Total $468

Note: Despite what the parts diagrams show this include the gears. Strangely the gears alone sell for $364, while the complete assembly with gears sells for $275.

All together my BX-24 was out of service for about 6 weeks, most of that was time spent on vacation, figuring out what to do, waiting for parts and cleaning the tractor. Overall I could have done the job in 1 long day or 2 days taking my time.

Jim

 

[rjkobbeman]

I do not look forward to the day I have to make repairs to my tractor like that.

One thing that has been on my mind lately is... how long does it take to get major parts?

I ask this because I recently bought my new Kubota. Took about a month to get... special order. I am still waiting for four items: ballast box, bucket tines, pallet forks and 3rd function valve for the FEL.

None of the items I am waiting on are holding me up. They will show up when they show up. I'm fine with that. But it has been over two months.

What if I had a breakdown and needed some internal parts? How long would that take? Kubota dealers what say you? How does this compare to other makes? I see this being an issue with growth and competing with the "big boys"... other than property owners that want tractors to play with.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Kubota and would not have done it differently. However this delay in getting my "accessories" has had me thinking about this lately.

 

[jgiacchi]

Ordered repair parts from my dealer here in NJ usually arrive at the dealership in three business days. For example a parts order I telephoned in Monday morning arrived at the dealer noontime on Thursday. From what I have overheard they order parts from a distribution center in Atlanta Ga.

Whenever I have needed maintenance parts, filters, lubricants, etc the dealer has had them in stock.

Jim

 

[jcy110]

The BX24 is similar to the BX22. Mine just went in the BX22 during the big 24" snow, broken differential gear was pushed through the case by the final gear. Saw a large stripe of fluid in the snow and thought I lost a hose.....I was able to use a pressure bandage so I could fill the trans with fluid to remove the backhoe and loader. The larger part of the case is 1500.00 alone. Ask me if I am thrilled. Total tab for parts and labor is 4200.00

PICS THE DEALER SENT ME BELOW
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer01.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer02.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer03.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer04.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer05.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer06.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer07.jpg

 

[RaydaKub]

The BX24 is similar to the BX22. Mine just went in the BX22 during the big 24" snow, broken differential gear was pushed through the case by the final gear. Saw a large stripe of fluid in the snow and thought I lost a hose.....I was able to use a pressure bandage so I could fill the trans with fluid to remove the backhoe and loader. The larger part of the case is 1500.00 alone. Ask me if I am thrilled. Total tab for parts and labor is 4200.00
View attachment 456894View attachment 456900View attachment 456897View attachment 456901View attachment 456898View attachment 456902View attachment 456899View attachment 456903
PICS THE DEALER SENT ME BELOW
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer01.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer02.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer03.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer04.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer05.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer06.jpg
http://www.1pcmedic.com/bx22/dealer07.jpg

Kudos on the pressure bandage, that's quite a contraption. Nice work.

You might wanna edit your post though, cuz you have thumbnails of each picture, then say you link to all the pictures the dealer sent, but all 7 of those links point at just the first picture.