826 next steps.

now the trans/hydraulics I guess I was listening to the motor so hard that I didn't hear any gears noises. i don't know normal is, it shifts real good. grabs every gear, but there is a growl or two based on speed/load. can I remove one of the side covers and look for something? like slack or gear condition or something else? the right brake pads must be worn out becuase it stops too good pops and grabs real loud but stops good. don't use that one. what about the main thing to check in the hydraulics? Thanks to everyone.

To look at the bevel gears and spiders remove the middle top link bracket at the rear of the tractor between the three point hitch arms. This you can do with out draining it down.

good luck chris

If you are just hearing a "whine" type noise at differing pitches, it is probably normal. A "grinding" sound, however, indicates a bearing is out or going out.

Tractors incorporate the use of straight-cut bull gears to develop their pulling power. These type gears are just plain loud by design.

Check your hydraulics for the presence of water and change the hydraulic filter/clean the by-pass screen.

Allan