Tore the 3-point pin out of the axle housing! $500 repair

[Oldoak]

I am sure it would be better to support both ends of that pin by adding a bracket and a longer pin. That would have been something to try early on, but now you have it fixed.

Yep, that was the first thing I spotted when looking at California's pictures. Very poor design on the part of the tractor manufacturer.

 

[normde2001]

Had the same prob about 15 years ago. Easily repaired by cutting the nut down to bare threads so pin would screw all the way to bottom, sealed with JB Weld. The repair assembly, (support both ends), is listed in the YM240 parts manual which Aaron said he stocked at the time. (manual not readily available). Still holding, ya gotta lube that pin.

 

[normde2001]

Yep, that was the first thing I spotted when looking at California's pictures. Very poor design on the part of the tractor manufacturer.

Nothing wrong with design as long as you lube that pin. Lower lift arm seizes, pin begins to unscrew.

 

[California]

Here's the optional Long Pin Kit In the Yanmar Parts Manual: "Pin Kit, hinge. Part # 794240-73210".

I started this project asking Aaron if he had this kit. He replied they had been unobtainable for years.

Making a kit from scratch would start with a sway chain tab (#8 in the diagram) that could swivel, replacing the present tab with its horizontal pin welded in. I don't have machine-shop equipment so I abandoned making a kit.

 

[Oldoak]

Nothing wrong with design as long as you lube that pin. Lower lift arm seizes, pin begins to unscrew.

I disagree. Originally a poor design. A pin supported on both ends makes for a much stronger design than a pin supported on one end alone. That is why they came out with an optional reinforcing kit supporting the pin at both ends.

The kit was most likely discontinued do to the age of that model tractor. Although I'm just guessing at that being I don't know the actual age or when/if Yanmar discontinued the original design.

Loctite 272 for sure, or similar would prevent those pins from unscrewing.

 

[California]

The kit was most likely discontinued due to the age of that model tractor. ... don't know the actual age or when/if Yanmar discontinued the original design.

Loctite 272 for sure, or similar would prevent those pins from unscrewing.

YM240 Parts Manual says 'for models 1975 or later' and these were last sold in the US as 1981 models. So ~40 years old.

Yanmar departed the US market a few years later when they contracted to build Deere's under 50 hp models, so these old ones are orphans. Yanmar returned and franchised new US dealers a few years ago but the 'New Yanmar' dealers don't have parts for these old ones.

Hoyetractor in Texas is doing a great job supplying NAPA-quality parts so they are supported, but a few things like that rare optional pin kit are unobtainable.

When I bought the tractor in 2003 I re-set that loose pin using red Loctite but the threads were mashed and sloppy then. When it worked loose years later, I thought a new pin with good threads would serve. But after setting the pin with J B Weld it turned out that the casting was too mangled to hold the pin without wobbling loose. That repair failed after two seasons backhoeing stumps out.


Photo: typical use.

 

[normde2001]

I disagree. Originally a poor design. A pin supported on both ends makes for a much stronger design than a pin supported on one end alone. That is why they came out with an optional reinforcing kit supporting the pin at both ends.

The kit was most likely discontinued do to the age of that model tractor. Although I'm just guessing at that being I don't know the actual age or when/if Yanmar discontinued the original design.

Loctite 272 for sure, or similar would prevent those pins from unscrewing.

That's like saying the 2wd stub axles are poorly designed because you have to lubricate them to prevent seisure.

 

[California]

Here's a photo that I think shows the 3-point long replacement pin.

It's from a Craigslist ad in southern Oregon. (YM240 stored 5 years. Cranks, won't start, destroyed the starter trying. $1400). That's not a bad price for someone who wants a project to tinker on.

Yanmar YM240 24 hp diesel tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[clemsonfor]

Yea I'd like to buy that

 

[clemsonfor]

Rusty oil filters are never a good sign. It's a sign it was " stored 5 years" outside!