Massey 398 drive problem

[David Ferguson]

Hi I have a 1989 four wheel drive 398 she's in good shape for her age with only 6450 hours from new .
Most of her working it's done loader work
Resently out of the blue either one or two of the front wheels lock for seemingly no reason .
Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated
Regards
David

 

[Lincs Lass]

Planetary drive in the hub or axle diff

 

[David Ferguson]

I'm unsure!
When it happens I stop ,engage reverse and it disengages

 

[Fendtbro]

Have you drained your front diff oil to check for metal? Has that tractor got mechanical 4x4 engagement, (non electrical)? Ours had a really strange front diff with some kind of self locking that did all sorts of odd things..

 

[David Ferguson]

I haven't done anything yet as it just started doing this last week and I haven't needed the tractor.
The tractor is 4x4 drive non electric to engage you have to pull the leaver up this has been stiff for years to get out of 4x4 I have to stop and engage reverse

 

[Fendtbro]

I haven't done anything yet as it just started doing this last week and I haven't needed the tractor.
The tractor is 4x4 drive non electric to engage you have to pull the leaver up this has been stiff for years to get out of 4x4 I have to stop and engage reverse

Having to back up is normal and means dog clutch is good.

 

[David Ferguson]

What would you advise to do first

 

[Fendtbro]

What would you advise to do first

Drop the front diff oil, if no metal then drop the hub oils. When was the oil last changed? And was it clean? I am on 500 hour oil changes on the hubs, the oil should really be coming out pretty clean.

 

[David Ferguson]

Thank you I will let you know how I get on

 

[David Ferguson]

No. Metal in the oil and the hubs are fine someone said it could be a cenoid

 

[masseybreaker]

it could be the dog clutch in the drop box

 

[David Ferguson]

I think the dog clutch is fine because to disengage,4 x4 I put the tractor into reverse and it comes out

 

[Cowabunga]

There are only so many parts to a front axle. The hubs. The CV joints, which are visible. The diff and pinion. The propshaft. The transfer box in the transmission also counts.
It is one of those. If it doesn't seize when dog clutch disengaged, then its unlikely to be the transfer case. Unlikely to be the propshaft. Probably not the UJ's that make up the CV joints if they just look OK. That leaves the diff, crown wheel and pinion, both accessed the same way, and the hubs.

Have all the oils been maintained at a reasonable level and changed once or twice in its life? I've seen both hubs and diffs run dry and ruined.
My bet is that one of he hubs has failed. Do not run the tractor and force it or you will probably need massively expensive new housing castings including internally cut gears. If you are lucky you have caught it before too much damage has been done to whatever components are involved, whether diff or hub.

Whatever or which way, you need to put some serious effort into diagnosing the fault and it sound like spanners will be involved.

 

[David Ferguson]

Hi all
There was metal in the oil at the end it was much too big for me to tackle
So she went to a Massey dealer
£3,500 later and with a replacement differential lock and other parts shes home.
I have decided to restore her!!!
Can someone reply with the paint code?
She's a 1989 398 four wheel drive
Thanks in advance