Real puzzle with old Case 970

[rustywrench]

okay I was chisel plowing with my Case 970. It was pulling VERY hard,but handling it ok.  I came to the end and lifted the chisel (3 point mounted) as I was turning left front wheels came off the ground momentarily, As it was swinging around, she slid her right wheels off the end of the field  I was already stepping on the left brake to help turn, so almost stood on it, but tractor would not climb back into field, but skidded front wheels along ditchbank for some distance before finally coming around. When I finally had her back on field, she would not turn right or left would drag front wheels straight line only like she had her differential locked. Just one problem- the 970 case does not have differential lock.  I tried backing up, going forward, etc. nothing seemed to help.  After a bit of dinking around like that, I finally could turn with the brakes but there was a definite squeal in rear end while turning. I got out to the road and drove about 4 miles home. By the time I got there, she turned into the drive way very nicely,( no squealing or dragging front wheels). Now I can spin it around in its's own length, just like always.  Any old Case mechanics out there? TIA

[ECIN]

Boy RW - You said it was pulling alittle tuff ? Sounds like a dry slick track to me ! - i always hated setting up for that - You said it wound not turn left - right -  Sounds like to me you need more stagger in the right rear ! that will help you turn left - I have also had to move  the right rear in - say a inch to get it to set down or put more pressurer on the right rear - maybe light 'n' your right rear bar - say 25 pounds and add pop up helper springs on the front - this will help trasfer the weight back on the rear on exit -

BUT it could also be a right brake hanging up - it was stuck on -- probably from the last turn and got HOT -when you drove home -- it cooled and become -- unstuck -- look at the brake cover - if it got hot - it will burn the paint off or  turn color -- that this same thing happen on a IH 400 many moons ago .

[rustywrench]

okay, I'm really not crazy after all.  I went out yesterday and finished chiseling the corn stubble without incident. I then brought the old 970 home and started tearing up an old hayfield behind the barn. After a couple of rounds, pulling VERY hard, I locked her up again exactly as described in my original post. I spent about 20 minutes dinking around in that old sod field and determined that the brakes are NOT locking up as the tractor will roll freely when I shove in the clutch for ward or backward makes no difference, no drag to one side or the other. She just will not turn normally, right or left, forward or backward, with braking or without.  Somehow the spider in the differential is locked causing both rear wheels to turn equally all the time.  I can't for the life of me imagine how. I almost wonder if it is somehow related to temperature, as the "transmission temperature" indicator will often times be up in the red when she works that hard. I pored over the I&T manual for awhile but didn't get any good ideas. Anybody?

[farmer46]

Steering can be effected by a blocked transmission filter.  Water would be the most likely reason. 

[cnhagtech55]

The Case 870-970-1070 have differential sides gears that turn on a center shaft which is fixed to the differential carrier. Therse is only metal to metal finish, no bearings or bushings involved. One or both of these momentarilly locked up for some reason, either heat, lack of oil, or quality of oil. You are very lucky that it broke loose. It will lock again because there is damage to the finish of these steel parts. Next time you may be in a more compromising situation.

[ECIN]

Well rusty -- I'm glad to hear the Brakes are OK -- -------  Stil think that something is getting hot thou -- like 55  said

Good luck

[Shaggy98]

Rusty, if the temperature is in the red, it's trying to tell you something. Sounds like you need either a larger tractor or a smaller chisel. Your current setup might have worked up until now, but seems like the damage has been done. It doesn't answer your question, but it might let you know what needs to be done going forward.

[r3020]

I think 55 has it figured out. The local independent mechanic says he calls case job security.