Skidder question.

[NYRookie]

This is not really about pushing snow, but fixing a piece of equipment. My brother in law has a Timberking skidder and it broke the front drive shaft. It broke the ears off of the yoke. My question is that I can move the front yoke that connects to the front pinions almost 1/4 of a turn back and forth. That seems like a little bit too much play to me. Is that much play normal? I seem to think that the gears are sloppy in the front axle and they may have bound and caused the problem. The front turns ok when he drives it. I also cannot move the yoke up and down so the bearings seem to be good. Any comments from anyone who has worked on the big stuff would be great.:huh :headwall

[Pelican]

I can't imagine that would be a normal condition. That's way too much inertia to get slapping, he's lucky the yoke is all that broke. It could be the gears are worn, but worn carrier bearings will give the same results. That rear has to come apart before it implodes!