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.