Tractor Repair: Massey Ferguson Wheel Bearing, massey ferguson 231s, hometown aol

Question
Hello Dean, This is after your years specified, but may be similar. I have a 2000 model Massey Ferguson 231S that recently started making a noise on the right rear. First thoughts are wheel bearing. First major obstacle is the brake drum. Can you tell me how to remove the brake drum? Is the wheel bearing held by a retainer bolted to the housing? Also, wouldn't this be a short life for a wheel bearing on a tractor that is owned for personal use? I pull a 6' cutter, use box blade and cutting harrow. Tractor has less than 600 hrs.

Thanks for your time
Terry Naugher
Piedmont, AL  

Answer
Hi Terry
  I doubt it is a wheel bearing as low as they turn even if it was dry of grease it should not have failed that soon those bearing have lasted in the old tractor for over 50 years it is almost unheard of that one of them fails. My guess would be it is either something in the brakes hsa come a loose & is rabing on the drum. of if you have wheels that the centers bolt into the rims if those bolts get just a little loose they will make a very strange noise like a bad bearing. I would check them befor I done anything else. I assume the late tractors are like the early one & have a couple thin spring type nut that hold the durm on after the wheel is removed. They also have two threaded holes in the drum that uou screw a bolt into & it presses against the axle to force the drum off the lip of the axle. That is the way the older tractors were. hope this helps Big Dean   Email daustin62@aol.com  Massey Ferguson web site http://hometown.aol.com/bigdean62/index.html