Branson Front Wheel Axle Failures

[LincTex]

There is another carnage method - if you use the front loader as a dozer or digger instead of as a loader, you can load the bucket up heavy and then lift the loader some (but remaining in the pile) and then drive forward and you are again putting huge loads on the front axle and nothing on the rear axle. The rear end is light, front traction is exceptional, all the work is being done by relative tiny front axles.

Branson uses a good solid front axle, not any more prone to breakage than any of the better known brands. But it is not a $100k commercial skip loader with massive planetary front axles. Those are my thoughts, and I hope I have not offended anyone.

VERY interesting, thank you for contributing that!

It explains very well some other scenarios I have seen in the past.

 

[Ford850]

DavesTractor - Great post.
One thing about loaded rear tires though. I agree they do keep the rear axle in the game to take some stress off the front axles when moving. But by loading the rear tires and having no 3pt hitch ballast, they allow us to load much more in the FEL applying that much more force on the front axles. This has been a good thread overall, and some very good info we can all use as a reminder.

 

[DavesTractor]

DavesTractor - Great post.
One thing about loaded rear tires though. I agree they do keep the rear axle in the game to take some stress off the front axles when moving. But by loading the rear tires and having no 3pt hitch ballast, they allow us to load much more in the FEL applying that much more force on the front axles. This has been a good thread overall, and some very good info we can all use as a reminder.

Good point, I guess you can solve one problem and then create another one.

But if we at least understand the ways in which we can easily break our machines, we can tread lightly when in those sort of situations.

 

[Branson Bob]

From the standpoint of a fulcrum and lever, tire ballast in and of itself will not reduce load on the front end because it adds weight evenly on both the front and rear half of the axle.

Only extra weight rear of the rear axle which causes the rear axle to become the fulcrum, can alleviate weight on the front axles.

However tire ballast should improve traction to the point where the MFWD/MFWA will not be needed as much and as Dave pointed out, over-reliance on the front wheels for drive and traction is a major stressor on the front axles.

 

[DavesTractor]

From the standpoint of a fulcrum and lever, tire ballast in and of itself will not reduce load on the front end because it adds weight evenly on both the front and rear half of the axle.

Only extra weight rear of the rear axle which causes the rear axle to become the fulcrum, can alleviate weight on the front axles.

However tire ballast should improve traction to the point where the MFWD/MFWA will not be needed as much and as Dave pointed out, over-reliance on the front wheels for drive and traction is a major stressor on the front axles.

Exactly, and I am glad you pointed that out. To "lighten" the front axle load would require as much weight as possible as far rearward as possible from the rear axle. I think some failures may be attributed to a way overloaded front axle, but most that I have seen were from not having the rear axle doing it's normal job of providing the lion's share of motivation.

BTW, the newest Branson tractors in the 20/25 series have a front bucket that is drilled for bucket teeth. Having the teeth installed reduces needed tractive effort when pushing into a pile by about 25%. Worthwhile for many folks, but I just worry a little that people will start using the bucket as a digger. In some soils you can get away with that just fine, and in some you can't.

Anyway, to the TBN crowd, your nearest dealer ought to stock these bolt on teeth.

 

[ericm979]

I was wondering what those holes were for.

Would a 700lb ballast box be enough weight for pushing over small trees and pulling up 3-4" brush?

 

[Ford850]

Good point, I guess you can solve one problem and then create another one.

But if we at least understand the ways in which we can easily break our machines, we can tread lightly when in those sort of situations.

Exactly! :thumbsup:

 

[DavesTractor]

I was wondering what those holes were for.

Would a 700lb ballast box be enough weight for pushing over small trees and pulling up 3-4" brush?

Pushing over small trees and brush with a compact tractor makes us consider a couple of things. Mostly, what type of tree and what type of soil. A 4" valley oak will have a 2-3" tap root that goes down who knows how far and really has to be cut. Yet I can easily push over (with my Takeuchi track loader) a 16" diameter 50 year old Pistachio tree in the same soil. I think most brush and small shallow rooted trees will be easy work for you. I would for sure give it a try. Pushing straight on to the tree won't induce a ton of extra front axle stress, it will allow tire spin as the "fuse".

How you get in trouble while pushing over trees is when you raise the loader up to 6-7 feet and stick it under a big branch where it forms out of the trunk. Then you lift as you drive forward and you are transferring incredible force and you get fantastic front axle traction.....and you break parts. Or you might push over a tree, but do that several times and you will break or bend something. This can also induce huge pressure spikes between the hydraulic cylinders and control valve, but that's an entirely different discussion.

Eric, with loaded rear tires and a 700 lb ballast you are well equipped to get the most out of your tractor. And after talking to you, you are far and away sharper than the average bear, you will consider your usage and get a lot of work out of that tractor. A careful operator can get more done without breakage than a wild child "get 'er done" type of user.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think people don't realize that every time they may abuse their tractor/loader, it may not outright break then and there, but they break it just a little. So they figure, no harm done, and may even be impressed at what they can do, but they are wrong. It will catch up to them.

That axle shaft probably didn't break from one incident. It most likely failed over time.

 

[Branson Bob]

I think people don't realize that every time they may abuse their tractor/loader, it may not outright break then and there, but they break it just a little. So they figure, no harm done, and may even be impressed at what they can do, but they are wrong. It will catch up to them.

That axle shaft probably didn't break from one incident. It most likely failed over time.

Exactly.

"Metal fatigue is a weakening of metal due to stress, resulting in an accumulation of small cracks over time."