Front differential locked up while I was driving down the road and now it's stuck and won't move

[TxStyle513]

After fixing or thought I had fixed my Massey Ferguson 1233 and I was driving it down the road cruising second gear and all sudden my front differential locked up and I nearly endowed over now it's stuck and I can't get my tractor home and it's about a mile down the road from my house any tips on what I can do besides call the wrecker

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I'm thinking you're going to need a wrecker to get it out of the road and get it home. If you're sure it's the actual differential, there really isn't any easy way to get it to freewheel the diff while working on it in the road. Sounds like broken gears and a diff teardown to me.

 

[Torvy]

Welcome! Wish it were under better circumstances. Wrecker or similar makes sense.

 

[plastikosmd]

I’d probably try something stupid like strap the 2 front tires onto 2 of those wheel dollies that you (put under all 4 tires) to move a vehicle around and limp it home (if on asphalt.)

Likely wouldn’t work out well but the video would be worth it


(Safer would be one of those towable car dollie/trailers that you put the front wheels on and tow-
Wife would be calling AAA while I’m trying this)



Gl!

 

[lilranch2001]

I’d probably try something stupid like strap the 2 front tires onto 2 of those wheel dollies that you (put under all 4 tires) to move a vehicle around and limp it home (if on asphalt.)

Likely wouldn’t work out well but the video would be worth it


(Safer would be one of those towable car dollie/trailers that you put the front wheels on and tow-
Wife would be calling AAA while I’m trying this)



Gl!

I agree with the video while you were trying it, then post it on the “towing things wrong” thread here on TBN!

 

[Tinhack]

I think you were in four-wheel drive and the ring gear gave up the ghost. Shame, shame, shame. Rent a dolly to get it home. Or tell the dealer where it is and have them pick it up and fix it.

 

[5030]

I think you were in four-wheel drive and the ring gear gave up the ghost. Shame, shame, shame. Rent a dolly to get it home. Or tell the dealer where it is and have them pick it up and fix it.

Better yet, hope someone 'creams' it and collect the insurance and buy a Kubota....lol

Never, ever, ever run on dry pavement or dry hard packed stone in FWA.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Better yet, hope someone 'creams' it and collect the insurance and buy a Kubota....lol

Never, ever, ever run on dry pavement or dry hard packed stone in FWA.

They don't listen. I've said that from the get go.

 

[rScotty]

Better yet, hope someone 'creams' it and collect the insurance and buy a Kubota....lol

Never, ever, ever run on dry pavement or dry hard packed stone in FWA.

They don't listen. I've said that from the get go.

Wouldn't running 4wd on asphalt be more likely to take out the front driveshaft than the ring and pinion?
Maybe he got lucky.

First thing I would do is look underneath to see if it is some obvious front drive shaft problem and if so then disconnect the shaft. Then drive home.

Alternatively, that is a very small tractor. Most anything will lift the front. Take a larger tractor down there and lift the front of the MF up with a chain to the larger tractor's 3pt. Tow it home.

 

[Harry in Ky]

I'm still curious about the problem that was recently "fixed' just prior to this incident. What conditions/symptoms were experienced and what repairs constituted the "fix"? We haven'r heard that part yet.