Jerky movement in FWD B3030 HST

[samoht]

My 2009 B3030 HST has alway been garage kept and currently has 400 hours on the clock. For the last year or so when it is in FWD it will occasionally give a quick jerking motion in forward as it travels. It feels like something is catching and then releasing as it is being driven. If the FWD lever is off, the jekyness disappears.

The tractor has been meticulously maintained and had all fluids and filters replaced by Kubota parts and fluids by me.

Since I live in a high snow area, I need the tractor with the rear mounted blower all of the rest of this winter and I will carefully nurse it along until spring. This spring and summer I am intending to use the shop manual and my garage facilities to disassemble and inspect the front axle assembly for defects. If none are found, then my only choice seems to be to split the tractor and inspect the front drive output gears and shaft for damage. A job to which I'm not looking forward.

I'm posting this here in an attempt to see if others on this forum might have experienced this issue.

 

[retired farmer]

No expert here, but it sounds as if the tractor has mis-matched tires on the front or rear causing some binding when traveling in FWD. There could also be damage to the front end caused by being in FWD and operating on hard surface, such as pavement. JMHO.
rr

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's more than likely nothing wrong, and does not require tearing into it to fix it.
It's the front tires grabbing more than the rears and the ration is not exactly right.
First thing to check is tire pressures.

 

[TheOldHokie]

It's more than likely nothing wrong, and does not require tearing into it to fix it.
It's the front tires grabbing more than the rears and the ration is not exactly right.
First thing to check is tire pressures.

+1. Front tire wear altering the lead. And/or fronts hitting loose surface conditions. My 300 hour L3901 does it as well.

Dan