New 3240 owner with stuck transaxle issue

[Sam Mac]

I'm not positive but I think you need to pull the pump off so that you can pull both shafts at the same time.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by ryanpei

OK. Trans is cracked open.
As suspected, all four bolts are loose, and have chewed up the ring gear.

So here is where I am.

Trans removed from tractor (should be interesting to get this back together)!
Case open.
Diff actuator removed.

So...why can't I pull the left axle/diff assembly toward me??? It won't come out. What am I missing? Do I need to send the entire right axle through, or should the axles "split" at this point?

Help.

Thanks

looking @ the parts breakdown #8 snap rings are holding the axle in the spider gear. so you have to withdraw the complete assy from the case.
I'd remove the axle nut, wheel hub, and tap it through the bearing, but what do I know, I never had one apart, just looking @ the parts drawing.

[ryanpei]

Evening update.
Left it alone all day due to other commitments.
Got back after it around an hour ago.

I was trying for minimal disassembly, but, in the end pretty much everything is in pieces. I will say that you do NOT need to remove the hydro pump. As Greg mentioned a number of posts back, by removing the axle and the output shaft together the bevel/ring gear slides off the output shaft into your hand. Slick.

Good news first.:Not too much damage. I need a new bevel ring gear (#30) and a new spur gear (#9, probably unrelated damage) as well as (no surprise) 4 new bolts (#17). I'm not sure if I will get longer bolts and lock washer them or not.

That's it. Pretty pleased by that overall.

The bad news: My kids dragged a wagon of toys through my nicely laid out parts last night when friends were over. Everything is everywhere. I am not sure if I can get this back together! Ha!

But, I'm pretty pleased with what I've accomplished so far, so a big thank you to Greg (t6430gr) and all who have answered my questions.
More will follow, I'm sure.

In fact, I'll be placing an order tonight for the gears, two new o-rings for the pump lines and a couple other minor things.
Is there anything else I should definitely change while this is open? Bearings? They look and feel good. Seals? Thoughts?

Thanks again.

[t6430gr]

Hello guys, it's been a while since I been in here. Sorry, but life happens.

I'm glad you figured out your issue getting the assembly out ryanpei. My guess the issue was the amount of rust on the axle shaft. I noticed on mine that I had to really polish the rust off down to the metal. The clearance on the bearings will cause this to hang up when you pull it out if you don't! I used a flat fine file. The axle was hard enough that shaving metal wasn't an issue.

It looks like your bevel gear is really worn on the surface! What does your mating gear look like that engages on the pump side? If you need to replace that, then you will also have to remove your pump.

And about your kids dragging a wagon through your pile, yeah I can relate to that! My wife kept checking on me in the garage (operating room) and tripped once sending several components across the floor. After giving her the stink eye, I banned her to a portion of the room!

As for your question on the bearings and seals, I would get some. The expense is not that much more if you are already ordering other parts. This is a heavy mower and already around 10-15 years old. I didn't replace mine due to circumstances of timing and I didn't place an order for any parts. My plans are to get back into it this upcoming winter when I don't need to mow anymore and I have more time to do everything right. If you're on a budget, by all means at least get the seals!

It looks like your doing a great job on this! Best of luck!

[t6430gr]

Originally Posted by ivel03

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-End.../dp/B007UZ6RVO

Yes ivel03. Something like this is exactly what I'm looking for. I haven't purchased anything yet, but have looked at this and others similar to it. I'm trying to keep the investment on the cheap side as I don't do this sort of thing for a living and it not justifiable for me to spend hundreds of $'s for a professional scope. I would rather take that dough to the gun show!

[t6430gr]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Hope you can save yours, this is starting to get concerning. I'm wondering if maybe it would be good a preventative measure for the owners of these to pull the rear and address this problem before it becomes a problem. Just thinking out loud.

I agree! I believe Oak is saying we might be able to see enough through the fill hole to examine the bolts without the camera. It also sounds like his GT3100 has some kind of nylon lock nuts. I'm wondering if this was done by Cub Cadet, or a thoughtful serviceman? The schematic for my trans doesn't show these.

When I completed my diff assembly, the replacement bolts were not OEM, but rather hardened replacements from the hardware store. The replacements stick out past the surface of the diff assembly about 1/8". That wasn't enough length to put on lock nuts. I will be planning on doing that in the future since it seems that the diff lock affords enough space to accomplish that. I believe though that if I remove the rear plate with the dip stick tube, I might be able to rotate a rear tire with the back jacked up and look in the hole with a flashlight to see if the bolts have backed out any.

This should be easily done whenever changing the fluid and filter, which I believe is recommended every 100 hours or so. That's great preventative maintenance!

[ryanpei]

OK...One final post.

Long story short, after a health delay*, it is all back together, mower on and all is working! Only one washer left over! No idea.

* Health delay was related to dropping transmission on my fingers.

IMG_7641-1.jpg

Again, a huge thanks to all who gave advice!

Final pics...

IMG_9684.jpg
IMG_2301.jpg
IMG_0494.jpg

[Sam Mac]

OUCH! Bet you won't do that again. I trust it works after all you went through.

[t6430gr]

Great ryanpei! Too bad for those fingers though. I have a friend recently injured in a farming accident involving a tractor tire change. He has two broken arms and almost lost his thumb. The long term jury may be deciding the final outcome on that though. The jack he was using slipped and the tractor came down on him. Luckily he wasn't alone. It always seems us men who fix things always get hurt somehow. It's rare for me to not injure myself somehow almost every time, even if it's a pulled muscle. I figure it's a matter of life and choice. I have broken bones, burns, cuts, pokes, or whatever. I've lost a lot of knuckle skin due to broken bolts, broken tools, rounded corners, etc.

I was just wondering, is the inside diameter of your "extra" washer about the same as the outside diameter of the axles? It might be a hardened spacer washer that goes on each side of the diff assembly. I ended up losing one of those too when my wife accidentally kicked one of my parts piles. I had to find an appropriate substitute.

Congrats on getting this going! I know it always feels great to experience success!

[Ohmboy]

Well guys, it looks as if I may in the same boat. Mowing along yesterday happy as good be and my 3240 made a very expensive sounding pop and stopped dead in its' tracks. Naturally I was as far from the house as I could possibly be. The pump will whine if I apply pressure to one of the go pedals, but nothing happens as far as movement is concerned.

After using the lift on my tractor to get it back to the house I have it sitting at the end of my drive jacked up and wheels off. Even then there is NO turning the wheels. I know that I've more than gotten my money's worth, but I hate to give up on this machine without a fight. If anyone has any ideas other than the #17 bolts backing out and jamming up the diff gears please chime in. I'm no true mechanic though I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty.

Stumbled across this 3240 at a "divorce" sale around eight years ago for 2k. Had just shy of 100 hours and now has close to 500. Love the power steering, diff lock, and generally just how well, until yesterday, it operated. Still looks new. Motor tight and no leaks anywhere.

I will get into it this weekend or early next week. Hope to get it back into the game, but who knows. Been retired 2 months and seems that every time I turn around something else is breaking. Last week was septic problems. Well, could be me!