Case 621b driveline failure- was a U-JOINT!!!

[Ken07AOVette]

I was using my 1996 Case 621b payloader moving snow last night. I started again this morning. When I was bringing it home I felt a vibration that was never there before. I stopped and got out to check underneath, but saw nothing. I hoped it was just ripples on the icy road. Then there was a thunk. It sounds like a gear is being eaten. It would actually stop the wheels from moving. Again I went underneath, checked the driveshaft, nothing. I limped it 2 blocks home barely moving, if you go slow enough it doesn't lock up, obviously I could not leave it on a street.
I am not sure what it is, transmission most likely, but there are parts looking for sunshine. I have not dropped filters yet looking for shavings, I know they will be there.
I will very likely end up parting the old girl out, even though I am quite mechanically able and active, this is too much for me to tackle.
Any ideas?

I just talked to a guy parting out a fire damaged unit that thinks it may be the crown and pinion.

[stuckincity]

I had a similar problem with a old '88 4-Runner.

Turned out a seal leaked on a rear axle, and the lube got onto the rear brake shoes. The shoes stuck to the drum so well when I applied the brakes, that the drum yanked the shoes right off of the anchors.

I got the same strange noises and "symptoms" that you describe, and had a 'heck' of a time both stopping and starting.
Like you, I had to crawl home.

I was amazed at the mess I saw when I removed the drums.

Not sayin that's the problem, but it might be worth checking out.

Hope this helps.

[Oldan Grumpi]

I wouldn't panic just yet; it takes two guys to figure out where the crunches are coming from - one to move it, and one on the ground to listen.

It might be a brake issue, a tooth off a pinion, a U-joint....could be a lot of fairly cheap and easy fixes. I don't know anything about 621B's, but if it has final drives, that's the first thing I'd be listening closely to. (I just looked; it does. Get your buddy to stick his ear up against them first!)

[Rancid Crabtree]

Don't panic.
It always sucks when something fails. Good news is there is nothing in that vintage machine that is beyond your ability based on your previous projects posted.
I'd suspect trouble in a diff more than tranny but either is manageable.

[Twisted Canuck]

Two words Ken...(and for all the snowflakes, exit now so you don't get triggered..but this is a very old expression with a specific meaning....)

Jewish Lightning.





(for those who are triggered, it really just means to insure property then burn it to the ground for a profit, it's not anti semitic, the expression originated in New York where condemned buildings were bought, over insured, and torched...)

[Macdsl]

It’s an axle ring and pinion that is toast, they are a weak point on the older case machines. Figure out which one, most likely the front would be my drive by troubleshooting lol. Pull the drain plug on both to confirm.