My Tractor Seems Unstable

GeneSimm7 · Aug 6, 2018

TractorNH said:
Your thread title led me to believe the appropriate remedy for your tractor situation was to medicate it. Almost seemed like you were concerned about your tractor heading off and tearing up a field or crashing into other tractors or something.

Generally it doesn't run off by itself!

3930dave · Aug 6, 2018

GeneSimm7 said:
Generally it doesn't run off by itself!

He was thinking of the Tesla version !

Back to regular programming

....

Gene - operating hours on tractor ?

All fluids (esp. HST, rear diff, hydraulic as applies....) are at proper levels ?

Rgds, D.

9973720wb19 · Aug 6, 2018

I use to like amusement park ride when I was a kid...

PILOON · Aug 6, 2018

LOL, aging and new eyeglasses tend to re calibrate the 'pucker meter'.

GeneSimm7 · Aug 7, 2018

3930dave said:
He was thinking of the Tesla version !

Back to regular programming ....

Gene - operating hours on tractor ?

All fluids (esp. HST, rear diff, hydraulic as applies....) are at proper levels ?

Rgds, D.

Tractor has ~300 hours on it. Engine and hydraulic fluid are OK. It is a 12 speed so no hydro trans. I wonder about rear diff fluid, but I don't know where or how to check it. Any suggestions? Thanks

countrybumpkin · Aug 7, 2018

The rear diff fluid is your hydraulic fluid.

3930dave · Aug 7, 2018

GeneSimm7 said:
Tractor has ~300 hours on it. Engine and hydraulic fluid are OK. It is a 12 speed so no hydro trans. I wonder about rear diff fluid, but I don't know where or how to check it. Any suggestions? Thanks

I don't know your particular model - I'm assuming it has wetbrakes <- why I was asking about fluid level. Short of one of your brake pedals/linkages hanging up, the other other (remote) possibility with weird wheel action could be the brake disks not releasing when they should.

I've seen weird action in hydraulic systems that turned out to be nothing more than water contamination....why my first question was about hours. Any chance of abnormal water ingress ? Tractor in high water, implements hooked up that had been sitting a long time, or submerged themselves ?

Check what your's specifically says, this Branson seems to be looking for hyd fluid change at 350hours.

http://www.branson-global.com/service/03.%20operators%20manual%20for%2025%20SERIES%20tractor.pdf

If you're not that far off the recommended interval, wouldn't hurt to change the hyd fluid and filter now.

Rgds, D.

52wej · Aug 8, 2018

Gene, I have the same tractor and the pausing does not sound normal at all. Is that still happening, or has it stopped? Were you on level ground, or going up or down a hill? As others have suggested you should change the rear transaxle/ hydraulic fluid.Every 300 hours is the recommended frequency.
Also I would have both rear wheels jacked off the ground and see how much play is in the drive train. And you could see if anything is binding when you turn one wheel and watch what the other does. Is it possible that the differential lock is somehow still engaged? It is usually hard to engage and sometimes does not disengage very easily when your foot is removed from the engagement pedal. I have > 1100 hours on mine and the differential locking mechanism is still quite stiff. W. Jones

SPYDERLK · Aug 8, 2018

GeneSimm7 said:
I have had my tractor for 5 or 6 years now and this year it feels like it wants to flip over when sideways on a hill. The same hill I have driven on often before. Anyone got any ideas why? I also had a problem a short while ago where one of the rear wheels would lock up briefly while traveling. The wheel would be turning and then stop for a fraction of a revolution and resume turning again. My tractor is a Century 2535 (similar to a Branson 3510) with 4WD.
Thanks - Gene

52wej said:
Gene, I have the same tractor and the pausing does not sound normal at all. Is that still happening, or has it stopped? Were you on level ground, or going up or down a hill? As others have suggested you should change the rear transaxle/ hydraulic fluid.Every 300 hours is the recommended frequency.
Also I would have both rear wheels jacked off the ground and see how much play is in the drive train. And you could see if anything is binding when you turn one wheel and watch what the other does. Is it possible that the differential lock is somehow still engaged? It is usually hard to engage and sometimes does not disengage very easily when your foot is removed from the engagement pedal. I have > 1100 hours on mine and the differential locking mechanism is still quite stiff. W. Jones

Yes. I share the thought that the problem is in one of the transaxles.

Whether from diff lock, front or back differential itself, or a bearing in one of them.

It appears that the problem is in the rear from your description.

.. To be kinda silly: Youve checked the wheel and hub lug bolts right?

GeneSimm7 · Aug 8, 2018

SPYDERLK said:
Yes. I share the thought that the problem is in one of the transaxles.

Whether from diff lock, front or back differential itself, or a bearing in one of them.

It appears that the problem is in the rear from your description.

.. To be kinda silly: Youve checked the wheel and hub lug bolts right?

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm suspicious of the differential as well. Can anyone tell me how and where to check the differential fluid and what sort of fluid it would require?
Thanks again to all!! Gene