timberjack transfer case woes

[barbender]

I have a friends old 217 (I think) TJ skidder sitting in my yard that has some serious transfer case troubles. I was wondering if anyone here has ever put an old pickup transfer case on one of these machines? looks to me like one I have sitting around would fit in there, but then the machine wouldn't have any brakes because the brake is on the transfer case.  I can get parts for the transfer case thats in the machine, but I'm not sure what caused it to break in the first place (some bearings got loose and busted the high range drive gear, but how did they get loose?) I don't want to put a few expensive parts in this if what it needs is a complete rebuild.  Anyhow, I'm just looking for advice on this, seems to be a lot of TJ guys on here.  Just want to get this thing up and running but don't have a lot of money to put into it, especially since it's not even mine. I just want to get it out of my yard.   Regards, barbender

[isawlogs]

 More than likely it was bearing fatigue , Had that happen on a 215 .. put a new bearing in it ...a new used gear  ;D washed it all out and went to work.....

[timberjack240]

i not sure about the transfer case out of a truck and everything you were you were sayin bout but i wouldnt put it in if you are not gonna have brakes because you can get hurt really bad really quick working without brakes

[barbender]

yeah, I don't like running something without brakes, but the brakes don't work on the old girl anyhow. Definately something that should be fixed, but like I stated this is someone else's machine and I don't want to dump money into it.  Original plan was to rent it to skid about 50 cords, but the winch wouldn't engage.  Figured it would be something simple, well the winch part was, but the bearings floating around in the transfer case that caused the problem was not so simple. The machine was still mobile at this point, but then the owner tore the broken parts out of the case.  So now the machine sits in my yard and now has to be repaired before I can even move it. I just want it out of the yard at this point.  Sorry for the sob story, just trying to make clear why I'm trying to do this on the cheap.  Just curious if anyone knew of a cheap source of used parts, etc.  Also, when people talk about TJ machines using off the shelf parts that you can get from an auto parts store, I don't quite understand what they mean.  I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but if I run down to Napa and ask for a set of injectors for a 353 detroit and some parts for the planetaries, I'm afraid they might look at me funny.  I get that enough as it is  Anyhow, thanks for the replies-  Barbender

[Furby]

I found out just a couple of weeks ago that "off the shelf parts", are NOT always "off the shelf". :

[Ed_K]

 I know this is a long ways, but they have 150 + skidders and parts galore.
 Eddie Nash & sons, (603) 237-8857 (8733). Mr Nash passed away in Dec, but a son and daughter are running the business.
 As for over the counter, I had to replace the brake calliper on my skidder, and got it from my auto parts guy's. But they're not your average auto zone  :D.

[Sawyerfortyish]

Nash is up in coldbrook N.H.. I've been there and bought parts before. You cant miss it there yard is as big as the town. My 230TJ uses a 4 speed pickup truck trans but the transfer case is much heavier than a pickup truck. This is one of those times where you or the owner needs to go to timberjack and fix things right. No way would I run a skidder without brakes. How do you even winch things to the machine without a brake?

[theonlybull]

most likely, the t-case was run low on oil, or with water in it, causing the bearing to fail, and/or seize. this then caused the bearing to spin in the case/on the shaft, and become loose.

that is probably the cause of the loose bearing.  

as for off the shelf parts, they use common u-joints, transmissions, clutches, and motors, that parts can be had, without ordering OEM parts