Front Drive Shaft - Hard to Work On?

[DJG]

Hello Guys:

I'm getting a very irritating whining/ratcheting from below my B7800 seat and the dealer told me it's the damaged plastic cover rubbing against the universal assembly joint when moving.

Anyway, I cut away the worst area of the plastic cover that I assumed was rubbing but the noise is simply different now but still annoying to the point where I choose to wear hearing protection whenever I drive my tractor anywhere.

Also, I'm told this cover is important or debris below the tractor can get wrapped up in the universal joint, which would be worse than the noise.

The dealer tells me it's a $500 job to replace this part, which costs $50.

My question is this: How difficult a job is it to disassemble and reassemble a front drive shaft? I'm handy and some of my neighbors are tractor reconditioning fanatics, so I imagine I can get this done without using the dealer.
Any suggestions, pointers, warnings, from anyone who has worked on the front drive shaft?
Thanks in advance.
PS - I tried putting in the exploded view as a Microsoft doc file but it's apparently too large. Maybe I can learn how to put photos into OTT postings some day. I know there's a how-to in this site, but I never take the time to learn it. I'd rather be playing with my Orange buddy.
Dave

 

[Butch]

DJG.... you'll love me for this! I replaced my drive shaft universals WITHOUT splitting the tractor... a B2410. You may have to ask Vic to assist you in researching my previous posts. You will fall over when you see how easy this is the way I did it.

 

[DJG]

DJG.... you'll love me for this! I replaced my drive shaft universals WITHOUT splitting the tractor... a B2410. You may have to ask Vic to assist you in researching my previous posts. You will fall over when you see how easy this is the way I did it.

Hey Butch:
I already loved you from many of your previous posts and of course, who wouldn't love a guy with a face like that. I'll send an email to Vic about researching previous posts and I hope you're right. An easy fix for what appears a tough problem - how could it be better?

Thanks again.

 

[B7100]

Is this what your looking for?
dave
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4217&page=2

 

[DJG]

This looks very promising. My neighbor is coming over tomorrow. We'll look it over with your very helpful hints and let you know if we can use this totally cool way of avoiding a really big hassle of a job with a smarter solution. Thanks all!

 

[DJG]

Hi Guys:

Here's the update on this problem.

My tractor "expert" friend who restores old tractors came over yesterday to inspect the front drive shaft and the cover that I thought was causing the ratcheting/whining noise when driving.

He tells me the cover is protecting the universal joint for the 4-wheel drive shaft but the sound is occurring with only 2-wheel engaged.

He says fixing the cover isn't going to solve the problem and not to worry about the cover.

He thought maybe I've got a bearing going out since the noise, which was occasional before, is now pretty constant.

Granted, he isn't very familiar with hydrostatic transmissions. He's used to working on tractors that are 50-75 years old.

So....I've got two questions.

#1 ... Is my friend right?

#2 ... Do I go back to my local Kubota dealer who told me earlier this year (when my tractor was still under warranty) that the problem was the plastic cover and that it would cost $500 to fix replace the $50 plastic cover? Because now it's out of warranty.

Do I ask them instead to replace a bad bearing and have the warranty cover the cost? I didn't buy the tractor from them, but hey, a warranty is a warranty, right?

Any other ideas?

PS - What are the consequences of running my B-7800 with a bad bearing in the drive shaft?

Thanks in advance.

KubotaBall Dave

 

[Butch]

Here is the deal... if it is the universals the tractor will "chatter" in high gear on smooth level pavement as speep increases. Universal issues are vibrations that increrase with speed over the road. Noise from bearings are a different animal....

 

[DJG]

Here is the deal... if it is the universals the tractor will "chatter" in high gear on smooth level pavement as speep increases. Universal issues are vibrations that increrase with speed over the road. Noise from bearings are a different animal....

Thanks, Butch. Sound is a difficult thing to quantify.

The universals appear perfect. The tractor only has 350 hours on it.

The noise is fairly constant once I'm driving. It doesn't seem to change based on speed although at very low speeds I don't hear anything - only when I'm doing about 5mph does it start and then it doesn't seem to change all the way to top speed of what, maybe 12mph.

So...if it's a bearing, what would it sound like? How would it be different?

Dave

 

[eserv]

Have a look at this thread http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694&highlight=b7800+whine
And by the way, that drive shaft is turning whether you are in 2 or 4 wheel drive!
Ed

 

[B7100]

And by the way, that drive shaft is turning whether you are in 2 or 4 wheel drive!
Ed

Yep! in 4wd the prop drives the wheels and in 2wd the wheels drive the prop
dave

 

[DJG]

Have a look at this thread http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694&highlight=b7800+whine
And by the way, that drive shaft is turning whether you are in 2 or 4 wheel drive!
Ed

Thanks, eserve. I will give that a try and let you know. Sure hope that's the fix.

And you're right, the universal spins in both 2 & 4-wheel drive
I took a Sharpie and put a mark on the universal, drove two feet in 2-wheel drive and then climbed under the tractor to look. Sure enough, the universal had spun into another position.
My tractor buddy thought that universal was only engaged in 4-wheel drive. He knows how to rebuild the old tractors but apparently isn't as knowledgeable about the newer models.

Thanks again.
DJG

 

[Butch]

In any case, when you pull the drive shaft be sure to check for yoke play of any kind. If there is play... replace them while you have it out. You'll be way ahead of the game if you do....

 

[DJG]

Have a look at this thread http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694&highlight=b7800+whine
And by the way, that drive shaft is turning whether you are in 2 or 4 wheel drive!
Ed

OUTSTANDING! The whine is gone so I can stop whining too.

Ed (eserv) wins the "scratchin-my-noggin" search for the simplest, cheapest 100% correct solution to the irritating whining sound coming from under my B7800.
Just like you recommended, cutting out that little plastic bushing eliminated the noise. Fantastic!

And I didn't have to pay the dealer $500 plus parts to replace the plastic collar which would have had a new (and soon to be worn) plastic bushing at the end.

Thanks to all of you who helped along the way - Butch, Vic B7100 and especially Ed.

PS - I'm having a metal screen built to be hung off my ROPS to protect me from potential snapped chains/tow cables. It won't involve drilling into the ROPS or compromising it in any way. Photos to follow when it's done.

In the meantime, I can use my tractor without that horrible whine.
I can't thank you guys enough.

Adios, amigos.
Dave

 

[DJG]

Have a look at this thread http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694&highlight=b7800+whine
And by the way, that drive shaft is turning whether you are in 2 or 4 wheel drive!
Ed

Ed:
You were exactly right! The dealer was wrong. My tractor expert was wrong. You are Da Man!
Thank you Thank you Thank you.
I cut out the plastic bushing and the sound is gone.
I can run my Kubby without that damned whining which was maddening.
Life is good!

 

[eserv]

Thanks for the kind words! I am here to help!
Ed