My old neighbor brought his 93 350L 4x4 over to my place to have me check out his AWD that is making noise. Seems that he likes how nice my old 350L looks so he thought I would know a thing about his. When the AWD is engaged, it makes a squealing, grinding type noise. I drove it into my shop and put it up on the lift. All four wheels spin when the AWD is engaged but the noise sounds like it is coming from the center chain/recoil area. Not the common slapping and clunking I hear when the chains are loose. Could this be possibly the center carrier? When I disengage the AWD it doesn't make the noise, even though the chains are still spinning. The machine is used for hunting and around his farm so it's caked with mud like most of these old farm wheelers are so tomorrow it's getting a good pressure washing before I dig into it.

Thanks
Mike

 

All that's in the eccentric housings are bearings, a shaft and seals. Probably when putting a load on an already bad bearing it's squealing I would think. Mechanics stethoscope can really help narrow down the noise area.

 

Thanks OPT,

I have an electric mechanics ears that I use for wind leaks and such for automotive use, should work for this. Are the bearings serviceable on these carriers if they are bad? I'm pulling the chain cover tomorrow and giving it a good cleaning because I don't think it has ever been washed or greased since it was new. Hopefully in not met with a surprise when I get it cleaned off.

Thanks
Mike

 

Never been greased..That could be a lot of it. You can use the universal numbers on the bearings and seals(if readable) to save some bucks. Nasty job that I hated doing.

 

Thanks OPT,

Took the cover off. Guess the carrier isn't my problem. Got an issue with the chain rubbing on the recoil. Wore a pretty decent groove in it and looks to keep going if I don't figure out how to fix it. I checked the motor mounts, and everything is tight. Motor doesn't flex at all when torqued on. Is this just worn sprockets on the shaft causing the chain to be close to the cover? And if it is, can I just put a shim behind it to bring it back out away from the cover?

Thanks
Mike

 

Ain't supposed to be like this.If the chain is stiff or has high and low spots as it turns,replace it. Plus if there is any side to side play in the eccentric,bearings could be worn or the bushing behind the sprocket worn down over time. You can try a shim,but looks like it'd have to be a big one. Sprocket may or may not have to room for the circlip,plus being out of alignment with the other eccentric just cause more problems.

 

I guess after looking at things closer, the rear motor mount was shot. I couldn't get the motor to move by hand so I thought everything was tight. It wasn't until I put it in the lift and ran it that I could see the motor twist, causing the chain to rub on the recoil case. Ordered up new motor mounts and boy was that a pain to put them two lower ones in, lol. Motor is nice and tight and sits away from the chain and the machine is nice and quiet. Greased the whole machine, refilled the hubs and bled the brakes and now my neighbor can use his old 350L again. Now I can go back to fixing a couple projects I have for myself, lol.

Thanks
Mike

 

Sometime hard to find separated mounts because of the force on them hiding the damage. That's where a big pry bar comes in handy to lift up on mounts and pry side to side.