Mahindra 4550 front wheel came off

[svendawg]

Today I was out leveling a piece of my property when all or a sudden my left front wheel came off. At first, I thought it might have been the lug nuts that came loose, and the wheel came off the rim, but when I looked at the inside of the tire, I saw a splined shaft still attached to the rim. I appears that there are 3 bolts in the end of the shaf that look like they sheared.

I’m not sure how extensive this repair is going to be or what may have happened. I’ve never had the axle apart, but the dealer replaced the seals on the left front axle 3 years ago.

Tonight, I will start researching how to take the axle apart so I can see what I’m up against but if it looks like it may be above my skill level I might have to get it to the dealer.

Two questions:

How difficult is it to repair the front axle. Will I need specialized tools, or maybe a press.

If I decide I need to take it to the dealer, how do I go about getting the tractor on my trailer when it is missing the front wheel.

Any tip would be appreciated.

The tractor is a 2016 Mahindra 4550 4X4 with 1690 hours

 

[sandman2234]

Does it have a FEL? If so, you can lower the bucket flat and pick up the front axle. Then you can back onto your trailer. Going forward is possible but a little trickier.
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

Be careful if you back it on, as that changes the weight on the trailer and can make handling an issue!
David from jax

 

[RayIN]

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase I drove it till the wheels came off.
Seriously, this is the main reason I don't buy 4x4 tractors. All of them AFAIK state the 4wd is part-time use only, then explain why.

 

[CliffordK]

I've bought some project cars in the past. They get fork lifted onto my trailer, but then I always try to get 4 wheels under them before unloading.

If you take the bucket off, then you could get a tow truck to snag the front end of the tractor, and perhaps put the rear end on a dolly.

What I'd probably do... Jack it up and place the front wheel/axle stub in place. Then slowly winch or drive the tractor onto the trailer with one person watching the wheel. You could ratchet strap the right and left wheels together, and go 1/4 turn at a time. It would be slow, but you could do it. Then once loaded, put it on blocks and remove that wheel.

You have a lot of damage to that axle stub. You're probably looking at replacing most of the parts for that left hand planetary reduction, and you may wish to disassemble the entire front differential to clean it.

I think this is similar to your front end.

OIL SEAL, (FRONT AXLE SHAFT) (006504570D1)

billstractor.net

 

[CliffordK]

Thinking about moving the tractor. If your bucket will lift the front end of the tractor, then you could probably get a set of wheel dollies, lift the bucket, back the trailer under, then throw the wheel dollies under the bucket.

Lift up and slide your ramps under. Then either drive or winch the tractor onto the trailer. Perhaps driving would be best as angles would be changing as you load.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Auto-Dolly-M998036-Heavy-Duty-Car-Dolly-Set-4-16-x-16-Inch,497795.html

 

[svendawg]

Well, I started my field repair. I removed the front hub on the axle and found that the three bolts that hold the spindle into the hub were sheared. The retaining washer that holds the bolts from backing out were still in place, so I know that the bolts did not back out. They just sheared for some reason.

I have rotated the wheels to see if something further inside the axle may be seized but the wheels rotate freely. I definitely need a new spindle, but the hub housing looks undamaged.

In researching the parts. I see that Mahindra has a new spindle set-up now. My spindle has three bolts that hold the spindle in place, but the new spindle now has a single 3/4” bolt holding the spindle.

List price of the 3-bolt spindle is $1302.00. The price for the new one bolt spindle is $334.00. I thought great I’ll just put in the new one bolt spindle. NOT, the new one bolt spindle requires you to buy a new bevel gear and a new swivel housing. They sell a conversion kit that comes with spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear for around $650.00. but the conversion kit does not include the seals and bearings needed. I realize I need to get news seals but I’m not sure if my existing bearings will work in the new swivel housing.

There is a technical bulletin out on the conversion, but I do not have access to the bulletins, and I can’t find anything online. Technical bulletin # T4-25-H/08/2016.

If anyone has any information about this conversion kit or has access to technical bulletins please let me know. Worst case scenario I will have bit the bullet and buy a 3-bolt spindle.

Now here is my rant. $1300.00 for the OEM 3 bolt spindle. But the new one bolt spindle is only $334.00. The conversion kit to use the new spindle is $650.00 for new one bolt spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear. How does a company expect to keep customers with this type of price gouging for parts. Rant over.

 

[sandman2234]

Well, I started my field repair. I removed the front hub on the axle and found that the three bolts that hold the spindle into the hub were sheared. The retaining washer that holds the bolts from backing out were still in place, so I know that the bolts did not back out. They just sheared for some reason.

I have rotated the wheels to see if something further inside the axle may be seized but the wheels rotate freely. I definitely need a new spindle, but the hub housing looks undamaged.

In researching the parts. I see that Mahindra has a new spindle set-up now. My spindle has three bolts that hold the spindle in place, but the new spindle now has a single 3/4” bolt holding the spindle.

List price of the 3-bolt spindle is $1302.00. The price for the new one bolt spindle is $334.00. I thought great I’ll just put in the new one bolt spindle. NOT, the new one bolt spindle requires you to buy a new bevel gear and a new swivel housing. They sell a conversion kit that comes with spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear for around $650.00. but the conversion kit does not include the seals and bearings needed. I realize I need to get news seals but I’m not sure if my existing bearings will work in the new swivel housing.

There is a technical bulletin out on the conversion, but I do not have access to the bulletins, and I can’t find anything online. Technical bulletin # T4-25-H/08/2016.

If anyone has any information about this conversion kit or has access to technical bulletins please let me know. Worst case scenario I will have bit the bullet and buy a 3-bolt spindle.

Now here is my rant. $1300.00 for the OEM 3 bolt spindle. But the new one bolt spindle is only $334.00. The conversion kit to use the new spindle is $650.00 for new one bolt spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear. How does a company expect to keep customers with this type of price gouging for parts. Rant over.

Paint those parts JD Green and see what they cost!! I had the same basic issue with a Ford 1100 4x4, that had a bad design, and that part was cheap, but unavailable. The "replacement" was several parts to make it work, and a lot more money.
David from jax
D

 

[WranglerX]

Very first thing I would do is see if you can get sheared bolts out of spindle, repair may be easier than you think if you can .....

 

[WranglerX]

Well, I started my field repair. I removed the front hub on the axle and found that the three bolts that hold the spindle into the hub were sheared. The retaining washer that holds the bolts from backing out were still in place, so I know that the bolts did not back out. They just sheared for some reason.

I have rotated the wheels to see if something further inside the axle may be seized but the wheels rotate freely. I definitely need a new spindle, but the hub housing looks undamaged.

In researching the parts. I see that Mahindra has a new spindle set-up now. My spindle has three bolts that hold the spindle in place, but the new spindle now has a single 3/4” bolt holding the spindle.

List price of the 3-bolt spindle is $1302.00. The price for the new one bolt spindle is $334.00. I thought great I’ll just put in the new one bolt spindle. NOT, the new one bolt spindle requires you to buy a new bevel gear and a new swivel housing. They sell a conversion kit that comes with spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear for around $650.00. but the conversion kit does not include the seals and bearings needed. I realize I need to get news seals but I’m not sure if my existing bearings will work in the new swivel housing.

There is a technical bulletin out on the conversion, but I do not have access to the bulletins, and I can’t find anything online. Technical bulletin # T4-25-H/08/2016.

If anyone has any information about this conversion kit or has access to technical bulletins please let me know. Worst case scenario I will have bit the bullet and buy a 3-bolt spindle.

Now here is my rant. $1300.00 for the OEM 3 bolt spindle. But the new one bolt spindle is only $334.00. The conversion kit to use the new spindle is $650.00 for new one bolt spindle, swivel housing and bevel gear. How does a company expect to keep customers with this type of price gouging for parts. Rant over.

You either pay the piper or you cant dance....