B1700 Knocking sound. Goes away when clutch in

[Moby]

I have a 1996 B1700 with 1008 hours. I haven't started her in a couple months so I'm not 100% sure this is a new sound or not. That said, I wanted to get ready for the 12" of snow we are supposed to get today. When I fired her up and let the clutch out there was a knocking sound coming from the back of the engine. When the clutch is in, it goes away. It was very pronounced on start up. As the tractor warmed up and I drove it to the lower shop to change the oil and remove the belly mower, it got better, but is still there.....

Throw out bearing? The million dollar question is will it self destruct if I run it with the knock? I have lots of driveway that will need to be plowed. I'm to old and fat to do it by hand........

 

[Diydave]

My guess would be pilot bushing/bearing. As to whether its safe to run, would need to have a listen to the knock...

 

[Moby]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have been doing some reading and saw where the B series has a zerk for the release bearing. I'm going to see if I find it and give it a couple shots of grease.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Moby,
If it's the Pilot bushing/ bearing making the nice (highly unlikely) then no you can not grease it (it's in the end of the crank).
If it's the throw out bearing that's causing the noise (more common) then greasing sounds good, but you can't do that via the grease zerk, that only greases the slide holder that the bearing rides on and doesn't put grease into the bearing, very common misconception that that's what that grease zerk does.
Now more commonly the problem your having is a worn or damaged ball couplings on the propeller shaft, where the b7100 has one of them, the b1700 has two of them, they will look a little different depending on HST or geared but they work the same.

If that is the problem, you can run it for a very short amount of time, but get it fixed soon, as it can do more damage as it wears more parts as it spins.

 

[Moby]

Fixed... A roll pin had slid out of a retaining bushing thingy on the drive shaft and was hitting a plastic cover when it was spinning. Couple wacks with a hammer and it seems to be fixed.

 

[hodge]

Better keep an eye on it. It came out once, it will come out again.

 

[Moby]

Better keep an eye on it. It came out once, it will come out again.

Yup... Had that exact thought as I was pounding it back in with the hammer...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yep that was the joint I was pointing too.
Put a safety wire thru it, that will stop it from backing out.

 

[Moby]

Good idea... Thanks Wolfman