Front wheel drive u-joint slop.

[avantiguy]

Just gave the 04 900 an oil change. Noticed some slop in the u-joint fit on the transfer case/ tranny output shaft to the front whell drive. Normal? If so, how much is acceptable as it moves noticeably in my hand.

As a further data point, I can see at least 3/4" of the splines not engaged in the u-joint. Again, Normal?

THX, Bob

 

[bordercollie]

I don't like slop there. A lot of it will wear down those splines on the steel output shafts at the front and/or at the back. My 2011 has the updated one piece shaft but my '05 had the same as yours.
Are your ujoints themselves ok? This is where the old nickname of the rattler came from. _ the steel splines and the softer cast yokes on the ujoints would wear differently and start having slack. The fellow corneju (sp) had somewhat of a remedy online and the link is posted on this forum. I think Zoom has it as well.
Check your carrier bearing also and then back to the shaft to see if corneju remedy might help. You don't want that splined output shaft to wear badly. A new drive shaft ujoint assembly might be needed if it is worn inside the cast yokes . Good luck . collie .

 

[avantiguy]

Thanks BC, as always great help. I'll look at it tomorrow. For reference, I believe this is the fix you sited. http://www.cornejo.net/rtv900/DriveShaftRattleFix.htm

Can my 04 be updated to the one piece shaft? Update, found the answer here. http://www.nettractortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13267&highlight=piece+drive+shaft

Many thanks, Bob

 

[muffler man]

I purchased the new updated drive shaft about a year ago for my 04 900. It cost 466.00 but is worth it. I have had no problems with it and no rattles.

 

[avantiguy]

To close out the thread. I ordered a new u-joint from Messicks and replaced same today. Everything else was still tight. That took out probably 2/3 of the slop. Luckily the u-joint spline had the wear, the output shaft must be harder material. The cornejo fix took out the rest.

I opted to just replace the u-joint as I put less than 100 hrs on my 900 per year.

Messicks great ordered monday, delivered wednesday AM.

Thanks to the forum and particularily BC for the advice and help.

 

[bordercollie]

That's great news Avantiguy. It sounds like you being proactive on the repairs saved a bundle, and that you will be set for a long time because of it. Congratulations and have a blessed Thanksgiving. collie.