RTV900 4WD Shaft again

[lfriddle1]

Hello everybody. Just found this forum and joined.
I had what I thought was the classic 4WD drive shaft clatter problem. It really sounded like a U joint to me. When I crawled under the RTV all of the U joints seemed to be tight, and there didn't seem to be any slack on the splines. But there did seem to be a lot of play within the front differential, although I don't know what is normal. What do you think?
Anyway, I unbolted the center bearing mount and pulled the entire shaft out.A test drive confirmed that the clatter was gone. I really can't afford to go to the dealer right now. My wife uses it everyday to get mail (a mile away) and do various light chores on the farm, but nothing that requires 4WD. So my main question is will it hurt anything to leave the drive shaft out and use it as a 2WD until I get the problem figured out and the money to fix it?
2007 RTV900 with 905 hours, filters and fluids all changed as per manual intervals.
Thanks in advance,
Larry

 

[TWO GUNS]

So my main question is will it hurt anything to leave the drive shaft out and use it as a 2WD until I get the problem figured out and the money to fix it?
2007 RTV900 with 905 hours, filters and fluids all changed as per manual intervals.
Thanks in advance,
Larry

Good Morning lfriddle1,

Larry, I would first like to welcome you to our world. You have just
become a member to a new family of folks.....

I don't see where it would hurt. Others will chime in on this also.
Just unbolt it and run it until you have the time to make a fix. That is exactly what I would do.





Have run a many of pieces of equipment and trucks with the front drive shaft out.

 

[muleman RIP]

Ran my old 65 chevy pickup with the rear drive shaft removed for a good long while till I found a transfer case. I would not think it would matter on the rtv as long as the front case is still closed to the elements.

 

[Mark.Sibole]

Shouldnt hurt it I ran mine for a few months without mine till I replaced the shaft.
Does it rattle when in 4 wheel drive or in just 2 wheel drive???

 

[Peanut]

it shouldn't hurt it at all just make sure you plug them shaft holes with something so nuthing can get into it. maybe you could use some thick grease to fill up the front diferential with to help keep the trash out. or maybe widdle down a piece of wood and use it as a cork or something. the best thing to do would probably wrap a plastic bag around the dif if you can and tape it up real good .i don't have an rtv so i don't know how hard it would be to wrap it up.

 

[lfriddle1]

Thanks everybody. There is perhaps a tiny bit of clatter every once in a while when in 4WD but nothing even remotely like it is in 2WD. I take it that unlike a jeep, the front doesn't fully disengage in 2WD and everything turns driven by the front wheels all the way back to the transmission.
The front differential has a spline shaft coming out but splines from the drive shaft stick into the transmission so I guess I had better do something to keep that hole from filling up.
Larry