Front drive shaft problems

Tdog · Jul 24, 2008

OK, I'm going to show my ignorance here. While mowing today with my BX-22, I began to hear a clackity-clackity noise coming from the vicinity of the mower deck. I stopped & looked underneath, expecting to find a branch or something wedged under the deck, but it was clear. I got up, started it up - - no noise. But as soon as I began to move, it started again. The noise was not related to the mower blades, just tractor motion. I crept back to the shop and took a better look and find a universal joint just lying there loose on top of the deck along with the rear of the front axle drive shaft resting on the mower deck. I really wanted to finish mowing as we are expecting some company this weekend and then we are going to be gone for some time ourselves. Seemed like I should still be able to use the machine OK, I just would not have 4 wd. I removed the drive shaft fairly easily [for me!] and went about cutting grass the rest of the afternoon [till a thunderstorm drove me in].
What puzzles me is what the rear of that front drive shaft fits into? I assume that the rear end of the drive shaft fits into that universal joint that was lying on the mower deck, but I cannot see what that universal joint connects to. There has to be a spline shaft somewhere, doesn't there? I cannot see too well under there right now as the MMM is still attached. Does anyone have drawings or photos showing what connects to what.

Like I said - - I'm going to show my ignorance here.

Thanks,

Jack

Berniep · Jul 25, 2008

If it's anyting like a 23 It is a mirror image of front section where it attaches to the axle. If the universal is intact and doesn't have the broken end of a spline shaft in it then I wonder how it came loose.

Egon · Jul 25, 2008

There may be a missing roll pin that allowed the universal joint to slip off the splined shaft.

Tdog · Jul 25, 2008

How did it come loose is a good question - - I had not used 4wd at all yesterday. The previous day, I used it almost all day, however. Still, I didn't hear the noise of the shaft spinning on top of the deck till I had been mowing for over a half hour.
I still don't have an understanding of what that loose universal joint fits into.

Jack

rbargeron · Jul 25, 2008

The closest thing I have a diagram for is a B7610 - which may be a similar setup. On the B7610 the front driveshaft connects to the transmission above other stuff so it may be hard to see with the deck on.

Volfandt · Jul 25, 2008

Heres a pic http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...6937d1216922353-bx24-4x4-clunky-universal.jpg by berniep from another thread just down the page, you should get a good idea on how the splined shaft, u joint and pin look.

My guess is that the cotter pin or whatever type clip was used on the pin worked loose which allowed the pin to drop out which then allowed the rest of the assembly to fall out. You should do some back tracking where you were mowing to locate the missing pieces.
Good luck

Eric Egland · Jul 29, 2008

T Dog,
The same happened to my BX-1500 a few months ago. the roll pin should be 6mm, and a 1/4" pin will not fit. I went to hdw store, got 6mm hex head bolt, nylon insert anti-shake nut and put it back together. No more trouble.
It seemed like they used a 1/4 pin and it wasn't driven in far enough at assembly.
Eric

Tdog · Jul 29, 2008

Thanks all - - after posting, I've had company and have not had time to look at it since. And as soon as the company leaves we are hitting the road for a road trip. It's going to be 3 weeks before I can tackle it again. Frustrating.

Jack

teachdocs · Jul 31, 2008

Tdog said:
How did it come loose is a good question - - I had not used 4wd at all yesterday. The previous day, I used it almost all day, however. Still, I didn't hear the noise of the shaft spinning on top of the deck till I had been mowing for over a half hour.
I still don't have an understanding of what that loose universal joint fits into.

Jack

Tdog - the front axle, U joint and shaft will turn all the time the front wheels are moving, regardless of whether you have it in 4WD. The 4WD is engaged back at the transmission area.
This happened several times on my BX2200 and also several times on the BX23 as well.
I did the same thing as Eric and went with a bolt and nylon nut. No problems since.

Tdog · Jul 31, 2008

Thanks - - I finally had a chance to take the mower deck off & lay my eyes on where it connects to the transmission. I actually think I can fix it.

Jack