Removed plow now steering issues

[moejr]

Recently removed the plow from my B2150 and now having issues with the steering, the front wheels won't go in the direction of the steer, they turn ok but the tires just slide along scuffing the surface. If I put some weight in the bucket it turns ok. Never did this before, it's like something shifted with the ballast.?
Can't find anything damaged, tires got the correct psi...........any ideas on what might be happening?

 

[NCL4701]

View attachment 58014 Recently removed the plow from my B2150 and now having issues with the steering, the front wheels won't go in the direction of the steer, they turn ok but the tires just slide along scuffing the surface. If I put some weight in the bucket it turns ok. Never did this before, it's like something shifted with the ballast.?
Can't find anything damaged, tires got the correct psi...........any ideas on what might be happening?

So I take it you took the front plow off and now have the loader on it with bucket since you can get it to steer with some weight in the bucket. If that isn’t right, feel free to stop reading now.

With front loader on, unless you have an ENORMOUS amount of weight on the three point, the front end shouldn’t be too light to steer. Only thing that comes to mind would be if at some point you locked the rear differential and it stuck so it’s still locked.

I would:

1) Whatever you have on the three point, take it off.
2) Try it again and see if it will turn with the loader and nothing on three point. If it doesn’t, put some weight in the bucket if that’s what it takes to get it to turn, then take a tight turn on loose dirt, mud, or sand.
3) While going through the turn, observe rear wheels. Maybe get a spotter to watch them, too. If they turn same speed through the turn, the rear diff is locked and that’s why you can’t turn.

Edit: Sorry, looking back I see you have a backhoe. That’s not enough weight to cause a steering problem if you have the loader on. Still would check to make sure rear diff lock isn’t stuck.

 

[moejr]

Thanks for the the response, will check to see if the locker diff is disengaged.... I did have to use it this past winter a few times, maybe it never went back to open biff mode.

 

[DustyRusty]

Jack up the front axle, and spin the wheels, listening for issues with the front universal joints located inside of the front axle housing. Also, drain the front axle housing and check for metal chips. This is what it sounds like to me. When you put weight on the axle, you are changing the plane that the universals are traveling on.

 

[mikester]

Too much rear ballast. Remove the BH and try again.

 

[moejr]

NCL4701, thanks! Checked the rear diff and found it locked & not disengaging, seems the lever that attaches to the diff is frozen and not moving so I taped it down with a hammer..... that did the trick, tractor now steers normal like it should. Will lube it up and see if I can restore it back to normal operation. Appreciate the help and suggestions from you guys.