BN final drive noise

RalphL · Aug 30, 2011

I have isolated a noise to the final drive in my 42 BN. It makes a grinding noise and the tractor does not move along smoothly , it is jerky. My question is this, is there a common problem in the final drives of this series of Farmall? Maybe the bearings on the bull gear shaft? Thanks

Red Dave · Aug 30, 2011

No, they are generally trouble free.

Gear whine is one thing, but a grinding noise is something else entirely. Does it have gear oil in it?

If it was me, I'd take the pan down and look for water, oil, metal shavings, pieces of bearings, whatever that could give a clue to what is wrong.

I'd suspect a bearing, and the only way to fix it is to take it apart.

RalphL · Aug 30, 2011

Thanks for the reply. I am going to the barn and pull the pan. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks

Dave H (MI) · Aug 30, 2011

When you say final drive I think out toward the end of the axle. Is it there or at the differential? You have gearing which can be dirty/rusty and needs to have lubrication. You have bearings which can go south and can make a grinding noise. You have brakes which can need work or adjustment. None of it is really complicated and a problem in that area bad enough to hear and feel is probably going to be easy to spot. Try to isolate the sound to a place and start there. Sounds like a bearing to me.

RalphL · Aug 30, 2011

The sound is coming from the area at the end of the differential shaft. I took off the pan that covers the wheel axle drive gear. It had plenty of oil and the gear looked good and was not loose. I think the problem is at the end of the differential shaft. Do you know if the bearings at the end of the differential shaft can be inspected/seen after removing the cover plate. I do not want to remove the differential axle housing and axle from the transmission housing if I don"t have to. Thanks

Dave H (MI) · Aug 30, 2011

I'm going to have to refer you to the service manual unless someone else can weigh in. It has been at least 3 and probably 4 years since I did mine and two Fords and a Cub in between to confuse an already faulty memory. I am thinking that outer bearing is gone if you hear grinding. I would pull the axle and give the whole thing a once over with the intent of replacing the bearing and anything else I could get at while I was in there. You don't want to move it around too much until you get to the source of the noise. Could be the bearing but from your description it is pretty bad and could be the the surfaces that the bearing protects. Time to get dirty.

BN final drive noise

RalphL

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Red Dave

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RalphL

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Dave H (MI)

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RalphL

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Dave H (MI)

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