Kobota B2400 Front wheels locked up

[Dookiechin]

First, I would like to introduce myself. I am new to Texas and owning land. This is my first tractor. I have very little previous experience working on mechanical equipment. I am an Electrical engineer and have worked on many things such as Radar/Communication equipment in the Navy, just not mechanical equipment. I am trying to start the learning process of fixing my own tractor. I can probably fix it, I just need to know where to start sometimes.

Here is my current situation. I was using my tractor over the weekend, mostly using the front loader to dig. All was fine until I went to drive it back to the barn. I was about half way back to the barn and something made a loud noise (at the front of the tractor, maybe around front axle). At this point the tractor came to a stop. The rear wheels have power and I can place it into either 4 or 2 wheel drive. Both front wheels seem to be completely locked up when the tractor is on. So I turned it off and lifted the front wheels off the ground with the loader. When the wheels are raised off the ground and tractor is off, I can spin them freely. They do sound like something might be loose on the inside though.

I am looking for where I should start to diagnose the problem. Does anyone have any advise on where I should start?

 

[aczlan]

My guess would be that something on the input side of the differential or in the transmission/transfer case area is broken. Can you spin both wheels in the same direction when they are off the ground?

Aaron Z

 

[Dookiechin]

I can spin both front wheels, in both forward and reverse directions freely when wheels are elevated and tractor is off.

 

[aczlan]

What if you put the tractor into neutral, engage the 4 wheel drive and try to spin the front wheels?
Edit: When you do this, see if the driveshaft going to the front axle is spinning

Aaron Z

 

[Dookiechin]

Not sure, I will try this later on tonight when I get home and post the results.

 

[oldnslo]

Dookie,
On my Branson 2400H the front axle input / drive shaft bearings went out causing a problem exactly like you are describing. No noise until suddenly the front wheels locked up. When you get a chance try wiggling the front axle input / drive shaft to see if you feel any play in it. On mine you could also jack up the front wheels and they would spin freely both directions with no noise. Once the bearings got bad enough the pinion gear tipped and jammed effectively locking the wheels permanently. If I had been in 4WD or under load when this happened I suspect there would have been some crunching sounds also. Was on gravel with no weight on the front so they just slid.

good luck

Roy

 

[Dookiechin]

I raised the front wheels off the ground. I then tried to spin the wheels myself under all conditions ( N, low gear, high gear, 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive). I could spin the wheels freely under all conditions; however, they would not spin in the same direction. The wheel on one side always forces the other wheel to spin in the opposite direction. Is this normal? I don't see how the tractor could move if the left wheel was spinning in the forward direction and the right wheel was spinning in the reverse direction. Something inside the axle also makes a loud sound when one wheel starts to move the other.

 

[oldnslo]

I raised the front wheels off the ground. I then tried to spin the wheels myself under all conditions ( N, low gear, high gear, 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive). I could spin the wheels freely under all conditions; however, they would not spin in the same direction. The wheel on one side always forces the other wheel to spin in the opposite direction. Is this normal? I don't see how the tractor could move if the left wheel was spinning in the forward direction and the right wheel was spinning in the reverse direction. Something inside the axle also makes a loud sound when one wheel starts to move the other.

This is a normal function with wheels off the ground. The pinion gears cause this to happen. If you allow one wheel to touch the ground will the other turn by hand.

If neither wheel is tipped or cocked I would suspect that something failed in the input portion of the front axle. I.e. the pinion gear assembly. Can you access the input shaft tp your front axle? If yes can you try shaking it to check for side to side play and also try and turn it to see how much freeplay or slop is in the gears.

 

[aczlan]

I raised the front wheels off the ground. I then tried to spin the wheels myself under all conditions ( N, low gear, high gear, 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive). I could spin the wheels freely under all conditions; however, they would not spin in the same direction. The wheel on one side always forces the other wheel to spin in the opposite direction. Is this normal? I don't see how the tractor could move if the left wheel was spinning in the forward direction and the right wheel was spinning in the reverse direction. Something inside the axle also makes a loud sound when one wheel starts to move the other.

In 2 wheel drive you should be able to turn both wheels in the same direction by hand or by during the 4wd driveshaft. If you cant (especially if you cant when you pull the driveshaft), there is a problem in the front axle.

Aaron Z