Cub Cadet 6 x 4 Big Country - Manual (Page 46)

Section 3: Drive Axle Service
3 - 3
3
NOTE: There are index marks on each chain
tensioner that may be used to check the amount
of available travel. See Figure 3.5.
3.6. Check for a mis-aligned axle assembly, per-
form the following steps:
3.7. Lift and support the vehicle, according to the
directions in “Lifting the Big Country and Remov-
ing the Wheels”.
3.8. Place a straight edge between the two flanges at
the ends of adjacent rear axles. See Figure 3.8.
3.9. Rotate the axles individually in 90 degree incre-
ments and re-check at each position to discrimi-
nate between run-out of the flanges and axles
that are out of alignment.
Figure 3.5
Chain Tensioners
Index Marks
Figure 3.8
Checking axle alignment
Wheel Mounting flanges
Straight Edge
NOTE: Allowable mis-alignment is 1/8”. Allow-
able flange run-out is .020”.
NOTE: Conditions that can cause an axle
assembly to become mis-aligned include: Colli-
sion damage to the frame, collision damage to
the axle assembly, worn axle bearings, worn
bushings at the pivot point of the axle assembly,
or loose fasteners at the pivot point of the axle
assembly.
3.10. Check the condition of the shock and spring
units.
NOTE: A worn-out or broken spring and shock
absorber assembly may cause the chain to
come off. If one axle is bouncing unrestrained,
while the axle at the other end of the chain is
held relatively steady, large angles will occur
between the two sprockets at a high frequency.
3.11. Check the condition of the axle splines.
3.12. Rocking the sprocket on the axle splines will pro-
vide a good indication of the amount of wear that
has occurred.
3.13. If movement of the sprocket on the axle spline is
excessive, remove the suspect sprocket so that
the splines may be inspected. Refer to the “Front
Drive Sprocket Removal and Replacement” and
“Rear Drive Axle Removal and Replacement”
sections of this manual.
NOTE: Severely worn axle splines will allow the
sprockets to shift angles in relation to load. The
change in angles between the sprockets will
cause problems with chain retention.
3.14. Inspect the universal joints.
NOTE: Severely worn or improperly installed
universal joints will allow the sprockets to shift
angles under load. The change in angles
between the sprockets will cause problems with
chain retention.
3.15. Inspect the sprockets.
NOTE: A broken weld on a sprocket will cause
the sprockets to shift angles in relation to load.