I have not, but it might make turning a challenge.

 

I agree, welding up the differential would likely make turning very difficult.

I'd recommend trying some other things first. Things like wheel weights, tire chains, or different tires with a more aggressive tread.

My 448 climbs up this hill without any problem, even when it's icy.

Wheel weights and V-bar chains make it possible.

 

Ag tires and weights and/or loaded tires and she will be a whole 'nother animal.

 

@dundee222, would you mind sharing some of the details on your valve and port setup on the back of your tractor?

 

My 2 cents, having experience in the off-road world with spools in truck axles.
If you are just using the tractor to do tough chores off of hard surfaces, you'd probably be okay welding the spider gears. In any other circumstance, it would be a no-go.
Turning on hard surfaces is going to be extremely tough on components, especially if you have any weight behind or on the tractor. Turning in loose ground or on grass is going to churn the ground pretty hard, and will definitely tear up your lawn.

On my 448, I keep 75# weights on the rear turf tires year round, I don't have issues climbing the steep ditch in my yard. Ag tires would help too, but will be rougher on the yard. I know some people keep chains on all year too, but I don't know how hard that is on the yard.

 

Spools in car or truck axles are less of a problem as most of the weight is on the steering axle anyways. A tractor is more balanced and generally won't steer much at all with the diff locked.

 

I have also heard anecdotally that the rear axles are prone to breaking when "locked". Without the open diff you can put the full torque of the hydraulic motor onto just one axle shaft at a time.

 

and loss of traction is the "fuse" for excess torque.

 

Appreciate the replies

mine has ag tires
No wheel
Weights though

I don’t have any lawn , too many trees for grass

I thought this thing would be handy around the house but it’s useless so
Far due to all the wheel spin

the ag tires are very old

lots of dry rot cracks
Dunno if they have water in them or not

what psi do y’all use ?

 

Appreciate the replies

mine has ag tires
No wheel
Weights though

I don’t have any lawn , too many trees for grass

I thought this thing would be handy around the house but it’s useless so
Far due to all the wheel spin

the ag tires are very old

lots of dry rot cracks
Dunno if they have water in them or not

what psi do y’all use ?

What are you pulling that you are spinning your tire on nearly flat ground? Is the ground wet clay?

I think I am 12psi on my 224 with ag tires, but could go lower if needed.

 

I’ve not looked at my rear axle on my 446
but I assume it has a differential like most other axles ,

mine is always spinning one wheel and getting me stuck

even on the slightest hill ,

I was hoping to be able to use it to move some small utility trailers around my yard but it’s useless for that and gets stuck even without a trailer hitches to the three point lift

so I’m contemplating a “Lincoln locker “
Welding the diff so it’s a solid axle so both wheels will have traction

anyone done this ?

Years ago I bought a Case 190 .once I got it running I found it would not steer,really was pretty much useless
The spider gears had been welded. I spent hours standing on my head with a die grinder to cut the welds the replacment gears were a hard find.

 

I thought this thing would be handy around the house but it’s useless so
Far due to all the wheel spin

the ag tires are very old

lots of dry rot cracks
Dunno if they have water in them or not

I'd definitely recommend some more traction. Whether that's weights or less-bald tires I'm sure you'll see substantial improvement.

 

Its too bad an automatic locking diff or limited slip /Locker couldnt be made to work in one of these.

 

Actually, for 90% of these tractor's uses, individual brakes would be far more useful. That's why regular tractors had them lonnng before differential locks.

 

I always thought one of the automatic limited slip differentials/Locker from a Simplicity Legacy XL might work good if it could be made to fit.

 

Spring return diff lock pedal working a fork and a pair of clutch dogs would be the whip schnitzel but good luck cramming all that in an axle case that's already tight to begin with.



I didn't know that was a thing so I looked up the tractor and had to laugh. Looks like a $500 MTD Wally World special with a loader on it Quickly found out they're a more serious machine than they look with 4x4, 3-point, PTO, etc. The rear axle looks like quite the unit! Might be easier to put an Ingersoll body on the Simplicity frame and call it a day.

 

If I needed it, I would be more inclined to set up individual disk brakes on each wheel connected to twin pedals. It has been done in the past and there is even a write up on the build here somewhere. One other thing to consider with a diff lock, is you have to turn the front wheels opposite of the slipping rear wheel [often turning downhill] to get the lock to disengage. Tapping the offending wheel's individual brake is the other solution.

 

Individual brakes , I’ve always heard them called Cutting brakes , like a normal tractor or dune buggy has , would be very useful

but I’ve searched for that on here and can’t find it

 

like old Ford tractors, duel pedals you could lock, or use indevidually..............Curt

 

It's a inexpensive way to get posi but it won't last.The gears are heat treated and the heat of welding them makes them brittle.I know from drag racing.the spider gears usually chip or shatter and the pieces take outt the ring and pinion.Sometime it will crack the housing.