Front Wheel Drive Not Working on My Bobcat CT445

[jhudson123]

The front wheel drive unit on my Bobcat CT445 does not work. I recently moved some dirt with the front bucket without a counter balance. This may have damaged unit. is this repair for a professional or can a handyman accomplish it? is there any on-line help available? Thanks for your help.

 

[ishiboo]

The front wheel drive unit on my Bobcat CT445 does not work. I recently moved some dirt with the front bucket without a counter balance. This may have damaged unit. is this repair for a professional or can a handyman accomplish it? is there any on-line help available? Thanks for your help.

Pick up a service manual is the first place to start.

I wouldn't be worried about moving without a counterweight, if nothing has broken on the front axle that you can tell. Drain the gear lube and see if there's metal/chunks/etc. in it.

Is the CT445 front axle hydraulic or mechanical? Either way, I would suspect the actuation over the actual mechanicals.

 

[jhudson123]

Pick up a service manual is the first place to start.

I wouldn't be worried about moving without a counterweight, if nothing has broken on the front axle that you can tell. Drain the gear lube and see if there's metal/chunks/etc. in it.

Is the CT445 front axle hydraulic or mechanical? Either way, I would suspect the actuation over the actual mechanicals.

Thanks for the reply, my tractor is a 2010 model and the front wheels engage electronically. I have noticed no other noises or problems other than they do not pull. I will check the fluid and the solenoid valve. Hopefully it will be something simple.

 

[ishiboo]

Yeah, start there. Make sure there is power to the solenoid is the first thing. Electronic actuators/solenoids go out all the time.

The reason I don't think you broke something expensive is without a counterweight, you are likely to break axle shafts, the axle housing itself, steering components, etc. as all the weight is on it. I move buckets of dirt all the time without a counterweight though, it's only when lifting heavy loads do I throw the blade on. A bucket of dry dirt isn't that heavy compared to the 4x5 concrete slabs I moved the other day

(Weight is of course not only the actual weight, but how far from the fulcrum... in this case the front axle. A bucket of dirt is centered what, 9" from the QA?)

 

[jhudson123]

Yeah, start there. Make sure there is power to the solenoid is the first thing. Electronic actuators/solenoids go out all the time.

The reason I don't think you broke something expensive is without a counterweight, you are likely to break axle shafts, the axle housing itself, steering components, etc. as all the weight is on it. I move buckets of dirt all the time without a counterweight though, it's only when lifting heavy loads do I throw the blade on. A bucket of dry dirt isn't that heavy compared to the 4x5 concrete slabs I moved the other day

(Weight is of course not only the actual weight, but how far from the fulcrum... in this case the front axle. A bucket of dirt is centered what, 9" from the QA?)

Makes sense. Thanks.