L3400 DT Snapping/Knocking noise

[Bug-O-1]

Lately I've been hearing a snapping/ knocking noise on my (07) L3400 DT with 600+ hrs. Sounds like it's coming from the left rear side, but it's not constant, so it's hard to pin point the noise, it sounds like a hammer tapping on the wheel when it does it. I don't know if the diff. lock is making that noise or not or even if a manual transmission will make that kind of sound, if it could, why doesn't it make that snapping sound steady? I have noticed that the diff. lock petal will squash down 1/4" more at times, and yes I have checked the lug nuts.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Driving straight, turning, in 4wd or 2wd?
Pulling a load or just driving around. This will help the gurus figure out what is up.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Jack it up and spin the wheel, sounds like brakes or wheel bearing.
Look for cracks around the wheel lug nuts too.

 

[Bug-O-1]

Jack it up and spin the wheel, sounds like brakes or wheel bearing.
Look for cracks around the wheel lug nuts too.

Hey, that's a couple good suggestions, thanks, bearings do make that kind of noise, some times bearing noise is constant, and sometimes it's not, but is it possible for a wheel bearing to wear out at only 600 hrs.? Maybe todays tractors are made to work in the hay field only, and not in the woods dragging out trees.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If it is a bearing failure it's a fluke, but then again logging is tough on tractors and tractor parts!

 

[Bug-O-1]

Driving straight, turning, in 4wd or 2wd?
Pulling a load or just driving around. This will help the gurus figure out what is up.

I have my tractor in 4wd most of the time, but the snapping noise sounds like it's from the left rear side, I notice the sound most when I go in reverse a couple times, a few feet, with the diff locked in, trying to scoop up some dirt in the bucket, while I have a log hooked on the tractor winch, or backing up to push a log over, but it's not constant, yet. PS, sometimes I scoop some dirt up to help keep the front end down and give traction to the front wheels while hauling out a log, if not dirt, a few sticks of wood works good.