Snapped an axle (I think)

[Douglas Lloyd]

I was moving gravel with my 52 8N and a pond scoop this weekend when the tractor tore up.
Thanks to the archives on this list, I think I know what happened, just need to hear it from y'all.

The tractor goes into all gears, but just sorta twitches. Engine kept right on running, so I tested the lift (works like always) and unscrewed the PTO cap to make sure it would spin - sure enough it did. So I shut things down and towed it in to the barn.

Once there, I jacked up the rear end and slid some 6x6 blocks under the trumpets. Then I spun the wheels and they turn independent of each other. Not supposed to happen, right? Also the left wheel wobbles real bad. Right one seemed OK and spins like normal. The big hub nuts are tight and the wire clips are there.

By then I was running out of daylight. I need this out of the way before tearing in to it, so I did not take anything apart yet so it would still roll. Anything else I should be checking?

thanks,
Doug in east TN

 

[JCinKY]

Sheared rivets on ring gear???

Won't know till you dig into it.

 

[souNdguy]

i'd be putting my $ on the axle with what you posted, before i thought about the entire diffy shelling out.. spiders and all.

 

[old]

With both wheels jacked up one should spin one way and the other the opposite way with the transmission in gear.

 

[Doug Lloyd]

Thsnks for the quick responses.

I"ve never seen a wheel as big as that wobble that bad. Like a couple inches at the tread. Just the left one. The brake drum moves with it and scuffs the backing plate. From the diagram in the I&T manual it looks like the only thing keeping the wheel on is the bearing retainer.

I have another "52 N that I can pull parts from and it looks like the axle can be swapped without pulling the trumpet. But I"d bet there will be more stuff tore up inside.

Will post back when I find the right spot for this project and get into it.

thanks,
Doug