Front Differential Binding

[Charlie C]

Hi All - I am having a problem with my 2010 XUV825i that I have not seen in the forums. The problem appears the be the front differential is binding pretty bad. This seems to initial happen when I startup the gator back up in reverse. The 4X4 switch is off and the rear axle lock is off. I roll back 10-20 feet and turn the steering wheel and the binding starts to show up. The steering gets very stiff and the front tires feel like they want to drag. If I go forward and back a couple of times it usually releases and then going forward it seems to stop. It definitely feels like the front axle is binding. One other thing that I have seen happen is - if I let the gator roll backwards - steering wheel straight in netural on a grade - it rolls back a few feet and then it stops - again like the front end is binding. I guess I am a little disappoint about this as I have not really worked this gator very hard. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks In Advance. Charlie C.

[Destiny creek]

Someone as had this problem before and there is a thread on this problem. Check back in Previous threads

[LAP15]

We have an '07 Trail Gator with 600 hrs that did the same thing. To correct it, we had to have the front differential replaced at a cost of $900! Dealership said it was a common problem with these units and it's probably a manufacturers defect but since ours was out of warranty we were SOL!

[pugwash4]

funny as i was just talking about getting new tires on the 08 850 d the same thing is going on with mine olny going in the forward direction . the front left wheel is binding bad. jacked it up cant feel any binding at all.

[Zephyr74]

Hi All - I am having a problem with my 2010 XUV825i that I have not seen in the forums. The problem appears the be the front differential is binding pretty bad. This seems to initial happen when I startup the gator back up in reverse. The 4X4 switch is off and the rear axle lock is off. I roll back 10-20 feet and turn the steering wheel and the binding starts to show up. The steering gets very stiff and the front tires feel like they want to drag. If I go forward and back a couple of times it usually releases and then going forward it seems to stop. It definitely feels like the front axle is binding. One other thing that I have seen happen is - if I let the gator roll backwards - steering wheel straight in netural on a grade - it rolls back a few feet and then it stops - again like the front end is binding. I guess I am a little disappoint about this as I have not really worked this gator very hard. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks In Advance. Charlie C.

Search for post by me, I have had this issue. I had 7 hours on my 2011 825i when I first had the front diff bind up. I took it in and the dealer replaced the front differential ring and pinon. Then my very next trip out (2 week hunting trip in Wy) it happened again. At this point I only had a total of 38 hours on it (400 miles) and took it back into the dealer Novemeber of 2012. The dealer had it 7 weeks (yes I was pissed) and they replaced the front diff again and a module. They said the module was a recall on a previous gator but changed mine out anyways. When I picked up my gator both tie rod ball joints had not been bolted and were completly loose (ball joint nuts only screwed a couple turns)when I steered either direction. Very DANGEROUS. I got even more pissed at the quality of thier work. Through their test driving ona dirt track next door they didn't notice the loose tie rods and caused damage to the ball joint threads. So now they had to replace the ball joints. So after the poor quality of work they just displayed, I'm wondering if they put the first replacement differential in wrong causing it to bind again or is there something inherently wrong with these front ends?

[pugwash4]

well took the front diff apart their is a rollre cage it is in many pices and is plastic . fun

[Zephyr74]

well took the front diff apart their is a rollre cage it is in many pices and is plastic . fun

Can you take pictures? I have had 2 differentials put in mine, under warranty, and I have 40 hours, 400 miles on it.

[pugwash4]

this roller cage is the same as the polairs razer. i will see about some pic too.

[Zephyr74]

this roller cage is the same as the polairs razer. i will see about some pic too.

Thanks in advance for a picture!! So is this a weak link or problematic part in the Razor too?

[pugwash4]

my john deer dealer has never orderd one and when i talked to the polairs dealer he was saying that over sized tire have alot to do with them braking. it not a big job to do

[Zephyr74]

Pugwash4- My problems all occurred after backing up in 4wd (and having the 4wd engage as it is an on demand system). Then trying to go forward in 2wd and it had a horrible grinding sound from the front end. This is what the owners manual calls "wedging". The owners manual says to back up to unwedge. Mine wouldn't unwedge and the noise never went a way for maybe 20 miles even though it wasn't in 4wd. I had increased RPM's compared to road speed and felt as if the brakes were stuck. Then finally it went away. This has happened a lot. I took it to the dealer and they had it for 7 weeks....putting in it's 2nd differential in 400 miles (new ring and pinon).

[pugwash4]

my understanding is when it is in 2wd then it should never go into 4wd and wedging shouldnt happen going backwards. it took then 7 weeks wow i had mine uder my arm in no more then 3 hours :TT:

[Destiny creek]

Just had a good chat with the John deere mechanic while he changed my seats and he told me not to run it in 4WD all the time and to run it in 2WD until you Need the 4x4 like you would in your truck.he said they are not designed to be in all the time. It cuts groves in the shaft that the gear slides on to engage the front wheels and then it just locks in on its own. So he said save yourself so grief and run it like you 4x4 pickup truck

[Zephyr74]

Just had a good chat with the John deere mechanic while he changed my seats and he told me not to run it in 4WD all the time and to run it in 2WD until you Need the 4x4 like you would in your truck.he said they are not designed to be in all the time. It cuts groves in the shaft that the gear slides on to engage the front wheels and then it just locks in on its own. So he said save yourself so grief and run it like you 4x4 pickup truck

I only put mine in 4wd when I needed it. So far I had put it in 4wd about 10 times and had the front wedge 7/10. And all 7 times it wedged it took miles and miles to finally unwedge. I tried everything from backing up slow, fast, everything.