4440 HFWD and 158 loader

Hi, I just joined but I've been reading on here for years. Love the forum!

We recently purchased a 4440 with HFWD (FWD blows oil out of one motor) for our hay operation, and I have a couple questions that I hope some of you might be able to answer. We don't need front-assist and if we did, I don't think this would be the tractor. I've convinced myself that the heavier front axle will be better for a loader and bigger tires will be better for flotation. Price was right and came from a local farm. We generally run between 80-150 acres of alfalfa on sand, and currently use our 4020 or IH 544 to feed rounds through the winter (heated cab sounds nice). 4440 will be running the discbine and baler, as well as feeding rounds through the winter and assorted small loader work.

Can we just cap off all hydraulic ports on the front wheels and free-wheel the front end indefinitely? I've never worked on a HFWD, and have been too busy and am a little nervous about taking this apart just yet. I would think that if we were going to free-wheel it, we would want to remove the planetary gears, but I'm not sure if it's necessary. Should I be concerned about bearing lubrication if we go this route, or would I be making a decent oil bath if everything were capped with no leaks? Doesn't look like wheel bearing has a grease zerk on hfwd?

I would like to avoid a full axle replacement for cost reasons, plus the hfwd axle and knee look stronger than 2wd. Online parts book shows different part numbers for inner & outer axle and steering, so would think that whole axle replacement would be in the $2k range with salvage parts. Is there a 2wd spindle that would fit outer axle instead?

We're also looking to add a loader to this, and are thinking about a deere 158. I swear that I saw somewhere that the specs call for 2wd tractors only. I'm thinking that this is for the front tire clearance, but is there something else I'm not seeing? The 148 on our 4020 looks like it would clear the bigger front tires without issue. I really like the visibility of our 148 compared to other deere loaders that I've used, and think a 158 would work great for hay.


Thanks
Steve

I may be speaking out of turn here, but I will take a shot....
I suspect that the HFWD being hydraulically powered is also lubricated by the oil flow. There is a possibility that the life of the axle would be compromised by capping off the hydraulic lines. Also, pressure that it applied to the lines may need a return path to prevent "deadheading" the supply pump.
I might suggest looking into repairing the motor that is leaking. Could turn out to be the easiest and most economical solution to your problem.
But, I am not an expert on those systems. Just reasoning it out a bit.

MIsteve: You can not just cap off the front hydraulics on that tractor. You will ruin the hydraulic pump. Those Hydraulic front wheel assist tractors have a higher GPM pump to supply the front end. Just repair the front wheel motor and use the tractor.

As for the JD 158 loader on that tractor. It should work fine. The hydraulic assist tires are not that much larger.

(quoted from post at 18:31:40 04/26/16) Also, pressure that it applied to the lines may need a return path to prevent "deadheading" the supply pump.

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Actually closed center hyd pumps such as a JD 4440 can't be be dead headed similar open center pumps. When pressure builds up to stand-by pressure(2250 psi) frt hyd pump goes out of stroke & simply stops pumping oil.

(quoted from post at 23:20:50 04/26/16) MIsteve: You can not just cap off the front hydraulics on that tractor. You will ruin the hydraulic pump.

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JD Seller
Granted HFWD have a larger frt hyd pump(65 CM3 (4 IN.3)). I have no experience with tractors with HFWD as none were sold new in my area.

Please explain how capping a supply line from pump to HFWD will ruin a hyd pump as I can't envision that happening?
Thanks,Jim

I saw a 148 or 158 on a 4320 with Hfwa a few years back. I think they're the same axle. He was getting along fine.

Not knowing the unit specifically, I would expect that rather than cap off the lines to the motors, loop the in line to the out line so that what oil that's in there can circulate.

(quoted from post at 08:00:31 04/27/16) loop the in line to the out line so that what oil that's in there can circulate.

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Oil that circulates as you describe is not good for a closed center hyd system such as the JD 4440. Circulating oil as you describe is for open center hyd system

I have seen our local Deere dealer do the same thing with a 4440 HFD. If it were mine, I'd have the dealer do it, that way I'd be sure it was being done right and there was no danger of lack of lube, etc. Just my $0.02.