Four Wheel Drive stuttering

nckennedy · Jul 22, 2013

HI Guys,
I purchased a nice JD970 about six months ago. its a 1989 model year. Really nice and handy.
Recently we are having a little trouble with the four wheel drive when it is engaged. At first I though it was something wrong in the front end, because the front wheels tended to lock up, or kinda skip around as if not making a clean mesh in the gears.
We do not use it much, but do get into situations where we really need it. I am wondering now if it is more than just front end? It sounds like its trying to go into gear but missing as if contacting only the ends of a rotating gear. It seems to be worse when trying to make a sharp turn in either direction.
Any ideas what might be the problem and how to correct it?
Thanks for your thoughts,
nckennedy

cowski · Jul 22, 2013

that sounds normal if it only does it turning.

MHarryE · Jul 22, 2013

Does it do the stuttering when driving straight ahead under no big load, but to only a slightly noticeable extent? My BIL's Kubota L3000 did something like that, some stuttering when straight ahead on dirt, worse in corners. Turned out the splines were stripped on the front wheel drive shaft and the stuttering was the splines jumping teeth.

nckennedy · Jul 23, 2013

Yea, seems to alot less in driving straight, but when you turn a little it starts acting up again. Yesterday I tried to back up an incline with a half bucket of dirt and switched to 4 wheel. It really acted up had to stop and reposition the tractor so it could make it out of the low area. Seems to be getting worse.
Sounds like I need to disconnect the front Axle and take into JD to open up and figure out what is going on.

When everything is working ok, are you suppose to leave it in in four wheel, accept for road work of course, or are you suppose to leave it in two wheel drive all the time and just switch over when you need it? I have been leaving the JD 5425 in auto 4X4 most of the time, so whenever you need it its there.

Thanks for your input, appreciate it much.
nckennedy

reb · Jul 23, 2013

Most of the folks I have talked with leave it in 2WD except when 4WD is required. Running it in 4WD on hard surfaces puts a strain on the front end, especially when turning.