John Deere 2280 Final Drive (picture)

I am replacing the outboard, final drive seal on my 2280. The manual shows two snap rings on the inside of the housing that need to be removed before the hub/axle can come out. Looking up inside the housing, I cannot see any ring(s) on either side of the large final drive gear to remove. I thought that perhaps I could remove the inboard bearing and get at one of the rings from the outside of the housing. The problem with that plan is there is no way to get a purchase on the bearing to get it out. The shaft will not move at all until the rings have been removed. I have attached pictures of the bearing and the final drive assembly looking up from the bottom. Has anyone ever done this repair and know how to get at the snap rings?

IFF (Doug)

Your looking at the parts break down WRONG!!!

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Take cover #15 off
Remove nut #17
Drive shaft #33 out of bearing # 19

Then when the shaft #33 moves out of the gear a little you can see the snap ring #26. It is a round type/wire ring. You just have to flip it down on the smaller diameter right next to its grove. Then it will allow you to slide the axle out of the hub/bearing/housing. The snap ring #21 is the one that the inter bearing cone pushes back against in the housing. It has nothing to do with the shaft.

It usually takes a BIG hammer and brass rod to drive the shaft out of the inter bearing. It does not just slide on.

When you go to put it back together remember to put that ring type snap ring on as you slide the shaft in. Then when your close to having the splines against the drive gear you have to install the ring into the grove so the gear pushes against the ring not the ends of the splines.

That ring can be a PAIN to get out or back in the grove. It is a very poor design. Why they did not use the same systems as the combine final drives is beyond me.

JD Seller,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question, you obviously speak from experience.

IFF