Driving Axle Troubles

Most common driving axle troubles include oil leaks, improper operation of the brakes, excessive wear of components causing increased noise and overheating of the driving axle mechanisms, and breakage of components. Oil leaks can be clearly seen on clean surfaces of structural parts, therefore the tractor or automobile should be daily cleaned from dirt on the outside. Oil leaks may be caused by worn seals or damaged or loose sealing gaskets, or else by loose joints between individual structural components of the driving axle. The trouble is corrected by tightening up loose fasteners or by replacing worn seals or damaged sealing gaskets.

Worn sealing arrangements on a tractor may result in oil getting onto the friction linings of the brakes, thus causing the brakes to fail. Contaminated friction linings are usually washed immediately after the tractor has been stopped, while the linings are still hot and it is easier to wash oil from them. The linings are washed with tractor fuel and a special gun, the brakes being held fully released. After the linings have been washed, the fuel is drained from the brake compartments of the driving axle housing, and the brakes are held released until the linings are completely dry.

The bevel gears of the axle drive will operate normally if the apices of the generating cones of both the pinion and the gear coincide with the point of intersection of theit axes. No degree of the gear machining precision can alone ensure meeting this condition. Therefore, during assembly, the pinions and gears are matched and adjusted, and so they should be replaced, if excessively worn, only as a set. Incorrect internal adjustment of the axle drive pinion and gear often causes a humming noise which takes on a growling sound as tooth wear progresses.

Various noises may be caused by dry, worn, or broken gear teeth or bearings. If the noise is present only when the tractor or automobile is going around a curve, the trouble is in the differential case. Differential pinions tight on the differential cross or pinion shafts, damaged differential side gears or pinions, too much backlash between gears, or worn differential case bearings can cause this trouble. Incorrectly adjusted or damaged taper roller bearings will cause overheating of their housings. If oil is lacking, it should be replenished. Excessively worn or damaged components should be it-placed, and adjustment of gears or bearings.Mould be corrected, if necessary.

Premature wear and failure of the driving axle components may be caused by the use of improper lubricant. This is especially true of automobile driving axles employing hypoid gears.

Certain rules should be observed to prevent damage to the components of the rear axle mechanisms. When driving a tractor around light curves, depress the brake pedals smoothly. Do not turn the tractor sharply while it is running at a high speed.

If your wheeled tractor is equipped with и differential lock that can be engaged intentionally, use the lock only when one of the rear wheels is slipping badly. Do not turn the tractor with the differential locked.