Help with 4wd 6340

[pedrr]

I have a 1995 Zetor /John Deere 6340 which has recently developed a worrying noise from the front axle area. It can only be heard in 2wd and is the sort of clicking when moving which you often hear on cars when the UV joints are worn. It happens in a straight line and when turning.

If I engage 4wd the noise disappears.

Any suggestions would be welcome

 

[Renze]

clicking... how fast does it click ?
Could be the dog clutch scratching its claws... but because there is only a 3 to 5% overspeed of the front axle compared to the rear axle, i dont know how fast this would click..

Is the propshaft cover secured tight ? Those can make funny noises too...

Anyways, hard to tell without hearing what it does...

 

[pedrr]

I'd say about one click per revolution of the hub/wheel

 

[Renze]

hmmm....
What axle does yours have ? does it have pressed steel rimplates, or cast iron ones integrated to the front hub ?

If the noise appeared in 4wd i'd expect a missing tooth on one of the gearwheels, but because its in 2wd only, i am not sure where to look..

 

[pedrr]

It's the heavy duty front axle, with cast wheel centres

 

[Renze]

Well i really cant make any of it... i only had the light duty 5245 open, never a heavy UR1/UR3 or a Crystal...

 

[Renze]

Pedr, if you jack up the tractor and roll the wheels individually, can you pinpoint the noise down to left hub, right hub or differential ?

Oh, and did you check the U joints ?? Does it make a difference if you drive around a corner, or go straight ?0

If it only occurs in 2wd, jacking the front wheels up and moving things by hand is a good way to pin it down the location of the problem...

 

[pedrr]

Thanks for that, I'll try it tomorrow, if the rain stops for just a few minutes!!
Interestingly I was looking in the operator manual and it suggested something very similar for tractors fitted with an automatic front diff lock (p127). Could I have one fitted without knowing?

 

[Renze]

optionally were "no-spin" and "true-trac" self locking differentials.
One of them is a.k.a Detroit locker, dont know which one.
I have no experience with them as our 5245 had an open diff, but a clicking noise in a self locking differential doesnt sound weird to me...

What happens when you hook up to a tree, with one wheel on concrete and one on slick gravel ? will both wheels spin ? then you have a locker...

 

[pedrr]

Looks like your initial diagnosis was correct. The rain in Wales has stopped at last and I took a look today. The front propshaft cover appears loose and there are some marks of possible scraping.
I'll let you know how I get on.
By the way, the two front wheels do spin together when I drive the loader into something solid. Does anyone know how to identify a self locking diff on a Zetor ?

Thanks for the help
Pedr

 

[Renze]

push into somethin solid with one wheel on the pavement and one in the mud, if still two wheels spin its definately a locker.

P.s. if you really abuse a selflocker with a frontloader, in the long run the hub propshaft at the wheel could snap... It happens rarely but it can...

 

[pedrr]

Fixed the problem at last, 4 studs at front of propshaft have lost their nuts!
Fixed the problem for 5 and a lot of work
Thanks for all the help