Massey 1529 front diff - 4wd not working

Guilford Horseman · Jan 31, 2015

Hi All:

I own a horse farm and have a hard working Massey Ferguson 2010 1529 with loader. (700 hours) Bad snow lately. No front wheel drive anymore -- the driveshaft to the front axle is not spinning when I push down the yellow lever on the left beneath the seat. (Nor does it spin when lever is up, as designed). I can spin the shaft easily with my hand in either position. I know I have to get it to the dealer, but this is a 'blank check' repair and I don't like those. I work on machinery. Any chance I'm missing something? An adjustment? I can feel the yellow lever 'bump' in at the bottom of its travel. Big snow coming Monday -- tractor is in my shop. I don't want to mess with the driveshaft connection to the transmission, but what about if I try to pull the front plate where the axle goes into the diff? Any suggestions, warnings, etc. appreciated.

mddorange · Jan 31, 2015

:welcome:
To the forum form Alabama. Can't help on that problem but there are a lot of MF owners here and I am sure someone can. How many horses? Are they all yours or do you also board?

Guilford Horseman · Feb 1, 2015

Hey mddorange: We have 12 horses right now, all ours. We run a riding school, 21 years now.
OK. I've got the MF 1529 in the shop. You can't adjust the yellow handle/shaft next to the seat. I feel the tranny clunk in when I push down, so the rear might be OK. At the front, there is a shaft dust cover/pipe. I slid that back and I found the drive shaft. There is 3 inches unsplined into the diff, and then four or more inches splined, toward the rear. Why are there splines there? I need a diagram. Front diff oil was very low btw. Anyone have a diagram? Probably similar for 1530 and up.

millfarm · Aug 26, 2019

Guilford Horseman said:
Hey mddorange: We have 12 horses right now, all ours. We run a riding school, 21 years now.
OK. I've got the MF 1529 in the shop. You can't adjust the yellow handle/shaft next to the seat. I feel the tranny clunk in when I push down, so the rear might be OK. At the front, there is a shaft dust cover/pipe. I slid that back and I found the drive shaft. There is 3 inches unsplined into the diff, and then four or more inches splined, toward the rear. Why are there splines there? I need a diagram. Front diff oil was very low btw. Anyone have a diagram? Probably similar for 1530 and up.

I had the same problem. I found a splined connector that slides back and forth connecting the front drive shaft with the front differential shaft. This connector is secured by a snap ring. Mine had lost the snap ring which let the connector slide back away from the differential shaft therefor losing the front wheel drive power. I hope this helps.

countrybumpkin · Aug 26, 2019

millfarm said:
I had the same problem. I found a splined connector that slides back and forth connecting the front drive shaft with the front differential shaft. This connector is secured by a snap ring. Mine had lost the snap ring which let the connector slide back away from the differential shaft therefor losing the front wheel drive power. I hope this helps.

Well I would hope after 4 years he would of had it fix already.