Bad news, The IMP I sold to a gold miner two weeks ago has problems. The new owner was towing a heavy trailer, through a mud hole and stalled it. He said he was spinning the tracks then lost power. The IMP was in gear, the drive line spinning to the transaxle, but the tracks would only spin when one brake was applied, when either brake was applied the tracks had power and would turn. He heard no abnormal noises before or after it stalled. Is it a broken axel, Differental, or transaxle gear. Any ideas? This guy could really use some help figuring out what the problem is.
-
Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/
IMP stalled, Differental troubles
- Thread starter IMP
- Start date
fogtender
Now a Published Author
Sounds like a broken axle
Should only be one track that has power, but either brake will make the tracks turn, the broken axle is inside the "brake drum". If both tracks turn, there may be a spiral fracture on the axle where it will allow it to spin one way and skip the other way, but that will fracture off in short order.
As a point of interest, you can't use the Imp in reverse to tow, the gear shaft has a bushing instead of a bearing and can't handle any backward pulling, which also includes being stuck in the mud.
Since you weren't there, sounds like he may have driven it past it's operational limits and it isn't something you should be upset with.
I've put a couple thousand miles on my Imp (wide track) and was very aware of it's limits and didn't exceed them and had no problems. Towed all sorts of stuff as well with it.
Should only be one track that has power, but either brake will make the tracks turn, the broken axle is inside the "brake drum". If both tracks turn, there may be a spiral fracture on the axle where it will allow it to spin one way and skip the other way, but that will fracture off in short order.
As a point of interest, you can't use the Imp in reverse to tow, the gear shaft has a bushing instead of a bearing and can't handle any backward pulling, which also includes being stuck in the mud.
Since you weren't there, sounds like he may have driven it past it's operational limits and it isn't something you should be upset with.
I've put a couple thousand miles on my Imp (wide track) and was very aware of it's limits and didn't exceed them and had no problems. Towed all sorts of stuff as well with it.
Last edited:
A broken axel is probably the best news he could get since I gave him a spare with the deal. So, I remember pulling the axel out to change the seals 5 years ago and it was a easy thing to do with the transaxle out on my work bench. But working in a mud hole may be a battle. Could he leave the track in place, unbolt and drop the sprocket then pull the axel? But first he needs to figure out which side is broken. Anyone have ideas how to do that?
Thanks Fogtender for your input.
Thanks Fogtender for your input.
fogtender
Now a Published Author
One track will have power, the other won't. He should plant a deadman (term, not a real person! LOL) and tow it to stable ground if possible. If not then get it up on logs or boards. My friend the late Roughwoods broke an axle on his Imp, there is some photos of it if you look for his posts here. It is much easier to do the axle work by breaking the track apart, but it can be done if you slack off on the front track adjustment.
Dragging freight like that through a mud hole is just asking for trouble, and he appears to have found that out. But when you are trying to make a million dollars mining gold, everything is in a hurry since fall is coming!
Good luck to him though! Where did he break down at?
Here is one of a couple threads that Larry had on his broken Axle, it may be of some help to you.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=19639&highlight=Roughwoods
Dragging freight like that through a mud hole is just asking for trouble, and he appears to have found that out. But when you are trying to make a million dollars mining gold, everything is in a hurry since fall is coming!
Good luck to him though! Where did he break down at?
Here is one of a couple threads that Larry had on his broken Axle, it may be of some help to you.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=19639&highlight=Roughwoods
Last edited:
A broken axel is probably the best news he could get since I gave him a spare with the deal. So, I remember pulling the axel out to change the seals 5 years ago and it was a easy thing to do with the transaxle out on my work bench. But working in a mud hole may be a battle. Could he leave the track in place, unbolt and drop the sprocket then pull the axel? But first he needs to figure out which side is broken. Anyone have ideas how to do that?
Thanks Fogtender for your input.
Thanks Fogtender for your input.
fogtender
Now a Published Author
Here is another earlier thread on Larry's Axle issues before he repaired it later in the summer.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=15249&highlight=Roughwoods
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=15249&highlight=Roughwoods