3 pt housing broke, can it be welded or should be replaced?

[Ford tractor]

replace the part and do it yourself. You may be able to find he part as an assembly from a tractor bone yard for less money than the dealer wants.

Next time you're stuck wrap a tow strap around the axle and pull in a line. You can typically get out of a snow bank with nothing more than a snow shovel and a half gallon of sweat. That way takes longer at the time, but is overall better and cheaper than breaking parts by muscling the machine.

 

[pat32rf]

Next time you're stuck wrap a tow strap around the axle and pull in a line. You can typically get out of a snow bank with nothing more than a snow shovel and a half gallon of sweat. That way takes longer at the time, but is overall better and cheaper than breaking parts by muscling the machine.[/QUOTE]

Or better yet, hook to the DRAWBAR, or even the lower arms of the 3pth, but never try to LIFT by the 3pth, or pull sideways on them, especially with the aluminium housing of a 4x00 series JD. Be thankfull he didn't break THAT housing....

 

[DanD78]

LOCK-N-STITCH Inc. homepage: Cast iron crack repair, cast iron welding, thread repair inserts

I am going to try this product on a cracked engine block on a 7800 Deere tractor. From what their web site shows it will work good on a crack of this kinid.

Dan

 

[hanson1999]

i replaced that top piece on a 3320. it was not that big of job really. just take it off probably 15? bolts and then swap out the 3pt valve parts and rockshaft while both pieces are on the bench. i think it was about $700 for the one on 3320...

 

[SandyTX]

Mine has been broken like this since I bought it used last January.
No wonder I got a good deal.

I've worked it fairly hard and so far so good.
The price I was quoted from the local dealer was $1400 ($450 for part + labor).
I know I'll be replacing it soon.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ting/160211-john-deere-4300-broken-upper.html

Good Luck.

 

[thomastractorsvc]

Replace the part yourself don't have it welded, I deal with this stuff all the time. Welding should only be used when a part is not available, not cost effective to replace or you are the skilled welder and know what you are doing. No reputable welder will guarantee the repair or would weld it on the tractor. If you find someone to weld it on the tractor you take the risk of damaging other parts or shorting the life of them. The cover/housing is a structural part of the tractor that hold the upper link on the 3pt. A poor repair here will cost more in the future.

Buy the part, get the service manual or get the photo copy pages from the JD for a couple bucks, have a mechanic buddy help you and take it apart keeping everything clean and swap parts on a bench reinstall and change the fluid. Its not rocket science to do this repair, very pretty straight forward
and can be done in an afternoon with two guys and hand tools. If you have it welded it would have to be removed and reinstalled any ways so what are you saving?

 

[cowski]

that is real funny fact is that machinery used to make money on farms construction and forestry get cracks welded up when necessary ,on the machine .

 

[Soundguy]

i'd weld not stitch it.. but would likely pull it off.. drill and v the crack, weld from both sides preheat and slow cool.. using a nickle rod. or similar.

I'd welded a bunh of ast with good results using those techniques, and no re-cracking.

soundguy

 

[thomastractorsvc]

Cowski, I guess you read what you want, I said " Welding should only be used when a part is not available, not cost effective to replace or you are the skilled welder and know what you are doing." From your previous post we also seem to differ on fixing/repairing a piece of equipment that is responsible for making money. Since I am a business owner I am from the school of thought that you make a reliable long lasting repair that is cost effective and will provide reliability and not a future break down. I have seen other folks who operate equipment from the school of thought and with scabbed together equipment that is always broken and not working. I also believe that a piece of equipment that is old does not meant that it has to be a piece of junk and not repaired properly either, one of the best dozer I had was 50 year old John Deere 440 with a two cylinder Detroit Diesel, it was light and nimble and was not all welded up, did it have some welds yes but they were not on the final drives or a critical structural part of the dozer.

 

[Soundguy]

so vauge a range of options tts.

it shouldn't be hard to find a skilled welder if you look long enough.

If a part can be repaired satisfactorilly.. I see no reason to not repair it vs repalcing it.. especially if the cost / benefit ratio is 10/90 as it well could be on a complex part like that.

soundguy