Close Call, Maybe

[Diggin It]

There's a big long story, but probably not worth typing out. This morning, it seemed my 4WD wasn't working. Pulled up to a stump to test and only the rear wheels were turning and they were spinning on the grass.

Did some checking with the feeling of dread at the possible expense.

Found that the collar of the drive shaft had come loose from the spline in the Front axle. Managed to get it back on, repeated the stump test and no wheels spun.

But WHY did it come off? And it doesn't look like it's back on as far as it should be. The end of the spine is just barely past that hole, not all the way to the end of the collar. I don't see any kind of retainer ring or pin. I can't see the other end of the shaft at the transmission either.

 

[ptsg]

Either one of those snap rings (#5) or roll pins (#4) came out and it allowing the shaft to pull back. You may want to inspect those a bit closer.

 

[Diggin It]

Is that saying there's an intermediate Universal between two shafts?

 

[ptsg]

Yes. There is one at the front differential and another one at the end of that shaft that connects to the support bearing #8/#9.

 

[Diggin It]

Part of the long story is that I was moving some loose gravel on an uneven surface. At one point I heard a loud repeated popping noise. Felt like I had bottomed out on something. Then the noise stopped and everything seemed to operate normally. I thought maybe it was the gauge wheels on the mower slipping across something sideways. But I suppose it could have been something (rock?) pushing against that shaft somehow forcing it backwards.

 

[ptsg]

Part of the long story is that I was moving some loose gravel on an uneven surface. At one point I heard a loud repeated popping noise. Felt like I had bottomed out on something. Then the noise stopped and everything seemed to operate normally. I thought maybe it was the gauge wheels on the mower slipping across something sideways. But I suppose it could have been something (rock?) pushing against that shaft somehow forcing it backwards.

It was most likely the U joint sliding to the very end of the splines and just popping out of the splines and engaging back in. Eventually, came out entirely.

 

[Diggin It]

From front to back, the first two clips are in place. The third one, closest to the transmission is very hard to see or get my hand on. With a mirror and a flashlight, it seems to be in place.

I shot all three areas with spray lube and drove it around for a while, even did some mowing. Did the stump test again a couple of times. Broke one stump clean off.

Pulled the boot on the frontmost one again (picture above) and the collar seems to have worked itself forward a bit.

So, I guess we'll see.

 

[ssuser]

You might still be missing the roll pin that goes thru the u-joint yoke and shaft. If it is missing, put some loctite on the new one before installing. Or if there is room, use a bolt with a lock nut installed just snug.

 

[onetonford]

Right now I have the same issue with my BIL L275 I hope this could be the issue I will need to check it out also. I think you might have the spline in the wrong position as there must be a hole for the Pin with a snap ring to hold it in from the looks of the picture.

 

[ptsg]

The spline shaft on the front differential end is meant to slide on the splines as the axle pivot left and right. There is no rollpin or snap ring that holds that yoke in place.