Front drive line tube??

[Momboy007]

Hello All,
I was out working my little Jinma 304 this morning and somehow unearthed a huge chunk of cement that appears to have dented a small shroud/tubing around my front driveshaft.
I heard a strange noise after I ran over the cement and looked under the tractor and found what looked to be a small piece of muffler??? surrounding the front drive shaft, it looks like it is a 2 piece unit, anyhow, it does seem like it is rubbing. How do you remove this thing? or is it even a problem?

Thanks all in advance for any advice you can give,
Rick

 

[Momboy007]

Oops, sorry, not a piece of muffler, but rather a tube that looks like you could make an exhaust pipe out of (that type of Tubing) anyhow, it is dented and seems to make some noise when I am moving forward. How do you remove this? Is it difficult
Thanks all,
Sorry about the poor explanation in the previous post
Rick

 

[RonMar]

IF it is the front driveshaft cover tube, I think you will find it is a tube inside a tube. There ahould be something that look like hose clamps at the front and rear of the tube where it meets the front differential and the transfer case that protrudes down from the bottom of the transmission. There may be a rubber seal in the middle of the tube to keep dirt and water out. or perhaps I have that backwards and there are seals at the ends and a hose clamp like seal in the middle holding the tubes in place.

Either way:
Loosen the clamp(s) and slide the ends of the tubes toward the middle. the tubes should telescope together exposing the ends of the driveshaft. Unfortunatly, to remove the tubes to get the dent out or replace the tube section, you will have to remove the driveshaft. If the tube is really dented, sliding it together to get to the ends of the shaft may be difficult. I have seen a similar affair so badly damaged that it would not telescope and had to be cut off without damaging the shaft and joints inside.

The driveshaft has cup and spline type joints on the ends, similar to a CV joint used in a front wheel drive auto axel. One end will be spring loaded or held with a pin. You will need to slide that end toward the middle to get that end of the shaft to disengage. Then you can lower that end of the shaft with the tube and disengage the other end. There are several large ball bearings in each end that WILL fall out so this is best done on a clean clear floor or over a clean tarp so you don't loose any of the balls. When putting the assembly back together, use axel grease to hold the balls in their individual pockets while you install the shaft back onto the tractor.

As for the dent in the tube, I have seen bullet shaped devices turned from steel or hardwood and driven with a rod and hammer inside the length of the tube to pop the dent out from the inside. Gunsmiths do something similar to remove dents from shotgun tubular magazines. Know anyone with a lathe? Or you should be able to get a replacement tube from your dealer or a parts supplier..

 

[Momboy007]

Thanks Ron, It actually is not a large dent at all, but I think the drive shaft rubs against it when I go forward, in 2 or 4 wheel drive, would it hurt anything to leave the dent/tube in place and just continue to run?
Thanks for your advice,
Rick

 

[greg_g]

Thanks Ron, It actually is not a large dent at all, but I think the drive shaft rubs against it when I go forward, in 2 or 4 wheel drive, would it hurt anything to leave the dent/tube in place and just continue to run?
Thanks for your advice,
Rick

The shaft inside the tube is permanently connected to the front diff, but only connected (engaged) to the transmission when the 2wd/4wd lever is in the 4wd position. With regards to "will it hurt anything", initially only your nerves. But over time one or two things will happen;
1. the damaged part of the tube will score the rotating shaft, promoting rust (there is no lubrication in there)
2. the damaged part of the tube will eventually perforate, permitting moisture and additional air inside the tube, accelerating rust.

If you can live with varying degrees of noise and rust, you can leave it as is. Me ? I'd fix it.

//greg//

 

[Soundguy]

I've also seen round balls used to do this. Horn ( musical instrument ) people will force ball bearings into the 'pipes' of horns that are bent to correct them.. etc..

Soundguy

As for the dent in the tube, I have seen bullet shaped devices turned from steel or hardwood and driven with a rod and hammer inside the length of the tube to pop the dent out from the inside. Gunsmiths do something similar to remove dents from shotgun tubular magazines. Know anyone with a lathe? Or you should be able to get a replacement tube from your dealer or a parts supplier..

 

[RonMar]

I've also seen round balls used to do this. Horn ( musical instrument ) people will force ball bearings into the 'pipes' of horns that are bent to correct them.. etc..

Soundguy

I havn't seen too many ball bearings that large, the tube is around 2" But that would work all right.

 

[3RRL]

What about a "pipe expander" like used for mufflers? ... If you can get it in there to where the dent is. I know Harbor Freight has several sizes available, I just bought one.

 

[RonMar]

That is a good idea, if you can keep the expander from rotating and have a socket extension long enough to reach it, that might work pretty well.

 

[greg_g]

Well, those are some interesting approaches. But I bet if you took it to a body shop, they'd simply tap through a section of steel pipe with an OD that is slightly smaller than the ID of the tube. The pipe is the form, a hammer does the rest. This is one of those things that you really can try at home.

//greg//