Broken bolt

[Spud68]

This is my first post, but I've been lurking a long time. I really appreciate the expert advise and help you guys provide.

I would really appreciate any assistance anyone can provide.

Yesterday I was greasing up the Brand new MX5200 tractor (70 hrs) I bought to clear 50 acres of cut-over land. While greasing the left front knuckle, the bolt holding the top cap on sheared off??? I hope you all can picture what that is. Its the grease fitting just inside the tire on top of the knuckle. I'll try to find a pic later.

So I have 2 questions....

1. how could a few zirks of the grease gun shear the bolt? could it have been over torqued during install? or did I do something wrong? I was taught to grease all the fitting every 10 hours or so. I'm just trying to figure out why so I don't do it again.

2. Is there anything special I need to look for when replacing the bolt? tips/tricks?

Sorry for the rambling but I would have never expected the bolt to shear just from the grease gun?

Thanks in advance for any help!
Teddy

 

[aczlan]

Can you post a picture? It should not be possible to break it with just greasing it.
I would extract the broken bolt and replace it with a new one.
If you aren't comfortable doing that, your dealer should cover it under warranty.

Aaron Z

 

[s219]

Picture would help for sure -- I am not sure what you're describing. Is it the zerk itself that broke off? If so, no big deal. It may have gotten whacked with something and you didn't discover it was broke until you were doing a periodic greasing and the pressure pushed it off.

If you are working in the woods or doing land clearing, that can take a toll on a tractor. Lots of little things that can take a beating from sticks and slash laying around. I bet most of the tractor damage I read about here on TBN is from sticks poking themselves into something vulnerable on the lower half of the tractor.

 

[Spud68]

You guys are AWSOME! I wouldn't have thought it was possible either???? I'll try to attach the pic here.

1. the white circle is the horizontal bolt that sheared off. the arrow points to the zirk used to grease the knuckle.

I dont have a problem extracting the bolt and replacing. are there any tricks/tips in the procedure? It looks straight forward only 2 bolts.

Thanks again!
Teddy

 

[GMIslander]

warranty

 

[EddieWalker]

warranty

I agree. That's not a bolt that should ever give you problems.

 

[aczlan]

I agree. That's not a bolt that should ever give you problems.

Yep. I would want them to replace the other bolt as well. That way it is on the record in case there is a problem with that joint down the road.

Aaron Z

 

[Spud68]

Thanks for all the help! I agree, I will be calling the dealer as soon as they open Monday. We'll see how they respond. I still cant believe it broke so easily, I just hate to have it out of commission for that long.

Teddy

 

[bdhsfz6]

Did the grease zerk actually break off or did it just pop out of the threaded hole? I've had zerks pop out if they aren't tightened properly. A grease gun exerts a lot of pressure.
I agree with the others who recommend contacting the dealer in case of future warranty issues. If you do decide to do it yourself, it should be an easy job to remove the broken zerk with an E Z out. Use the correct size replacement zerk and make sure the threads in the hole aren't damaged.

 

[aczlan]

Did the grease zerk actually break off or did it just pop out of the threaded hole? I've had zerks pop out if they aren't tightened properly. A grease gun exerts a lot of pressure.
I agree with the others who recommend contacting the dealer in case of future warranty issues. If you do decide to do it yourself, it should be an easy job to remove the broken zerk with an E Z out. Use the correct size replacement zerk and make sure the threads in the hole aren't damaged.

The bolt broke when he was greasing the axle. The zerk is fine.

Aaron Z