Now I have really gone and done it

[woodlandfarms]

Say no more. was a real nightmare getting this out of the woods...

[ponytug]

Wow! I am glad to hear that you were able to make it out. Any tips for the rest of us?

It looks from your photo as if the lower portion had cracked some time ago and was rusting. Or is that an artefact of the weather while you were getting it out.

All the best,

Peter

[woodlandfarms]

Now that I have had a moment to compose myself...

I don't know what caused this to happen. I did not notice any rust... So I went outside and your keen eyes are correct. There was rust at both of the weld joints. I am going to check the other side as well. It seems that the bottom was not welded as good as it could be....

I am not sure what caused this to finally give way, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Maybe a stump got up in there and I twisted or turned.. I know I did a PT pucker earlier picking up a large stump and having the back end turned. Maybe that stressed it...

Getting out was a little hairball. It turns out that the steering on the PT works like this. One cylinder activates, then the other. So, by going slow I could still turn the tractor, although you had to think ahead, and turn the wheel a bunch to get it to activate the connected cylinder. Of course this was doing trail busting so I had stumps, limbs and hills to contend with. And the other cylinder (the broken one) to look after so it did not hang up on anything..

If this is a bad weld, it is the second I have had to chase on this tractor. Granted, it sat outside for nearly 5 years rotting so who knows on all of this...

[J_J]

Originally Posted by woodlandfarms

Now that I have had a moment to compose myself...

I don't know what caused this to happen. I did not notice any rust... So I went outside and your keen eyes are correct. There was rust at both of the weld joints. I am going to check the other side as well. It seems that the bottom was not welded as good as it could be....

I am not sure what caused this to finally give way, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Maybe a stump got up in there and I twisted or turned.. I know I did a PT pucker earlier picking up a large stump and having the back end turned. Maybe that stressed it...

Getting out was a little hairball. It turns out that the steering on the PT works like this. One cylinder activates, then the other. So, by going slow I could still turn the tractor, although you had to think ahead, and turn the wheel a bunch to get it to activate the connected cylinder. Of course this was doing trail busting so I had stumps, limbs and hills to contend with. And the other cylinder (the broken one) to look after so it did not hang up on anything..

If this is a bad weld, it is the second I have had to chase on this tractor. Granted, it sat outside for nearly 5 years rotting so who knows on all of this...

Carl,

Are you sure you were not hired by PT to torture test that PT until destruction. I have to say, that you are sure road testing the he** out of it.

[Tim_in_CT]

It looks like the welds held up, they didn't break. Looks like the frame that the hydraulic mount bracket was welded to broke at the edge of the HAZ (Heat Affected Zone) created by the welding.

I would guess that the frame broke there because of cyclic fatigue of the metal, probably accelerated when small cracks occurred, allowing corrosion to occur inside the metal. Looks like a reinforcement plate should be welded behind the frame to spread the force.

And I worry about the single steering mount bracket on my PT422, goes to show that even the big boys can have similar problems.

Definitely a picture to send to Terry.

I gotta say that you do have a good attitude, despite all the problems you are having. How many hours are on your PT's clock?

[woodlandfarms]

You know, it just does soooooo much. And I mean that. If it had a bit more lift, and a bit more ground oomph, man, I would be stylin.

I just get over confident with the thing. It just goes, and goes, and goes...

This may be a fluke. As I said, there is rust in them thair hills. This may be a pre-dated injury or bad weld that jsut came to light. Albiet ugly as all get out but..

Tim, just read your note. Wow, now all of that would make sense.

I have 150 hrs. It had 250 when I bought it (supposedly). The engine was near new. But it sat for 5 years being a donor tractor.

As for taking it in stride, not much more I can do. This one is on me... My abuse caused this to happen and I need to get done what I need to get done. Still cheaper than buying a 20K dozer, but nearly as much fun ;-)

[woodlandfarms]

Another update.

Well, the local welding shop sold its remote truck... Grumble....

This is beyond my level to fix and feel good about it. I showed the local welder the pix and he said that I need to get it in. Weld the arm back up temporarily and bobs your uncle...

So, that is what is happening.

But, it is becoming clearer where this failed. The weld at the bottom of the chasis pan that meets the plate this is attached to was a bad weld. It has tons of rust, it was welded, but it is pretty clear to me there was no penetration on the mounting side. This just pealed up like a tin can. Now, it is not blaming PT cause my abuse clearly added to this things misery.

Anyway...

[Tim_in_CT]

I would still send a picture to Terry.

I think PT intended the side of the PT to hold the load; I think a reinforcement plate or thicker metal is called for on that area of the frame to prevent something like this from happening. It shouldn't have peeled up like a tin can.

What kind of welding rig do you have?

[woodlandfarms]

I have a Lincoln AC/DC Tombstone but I am really not very good at welding. I have a lot to learn.

I probably could do this... But as I want it done right once I am going to try and get the guys to get it done this week...

[cqaigy2]

Ouch!

You could try some 6011 reverse polarity i think. Definitely bigger then 1/4 inch rod. That would probably get it so you could drive it.

Thanks for sharing!