a tractor can break in half?

[sandman2234]

Soundguy,
You were almost right with my circumstance. I was operating a green tractor with a boxblade, no front weights, moving a pile of dirt that had been dug for a drainage ditch about 20 years previous. I started down the slope of the hill and the next thing I know, I am looking at the dirt, up close and personal. The tractor broke at the front of the bell housing. Best I can find, that tractor never had a loader or backhoe on it. We never even thought it might have had one. I suspected the previous owner had put a clutch in it and neglected to torque the bolts between the bell housing and engine. When they loosened up, they allowed a little bit too much play and the movement caused the bolts to break out of the engine casting.
A little longer bolts, some cast iron rods, and a lot of time put that tractor back in action and my wife's uncle still owns it.
The tractor is a Duetz 30-06
David from jax

 

[john_bud]

I used to work with a guy that snapped a JD 4020 in two pieces. He used it to haul round bales out of the field. One on the back and one on the front. After years of that stress, it broke clean in two. Right in the middle of the field and right at the start of hay time. He had to scramble to fix it in a hay field with no access to power.

 

[Soundguy]

Anything on the 3pt could stress it.. a mower for instance.. If you have a heavy load.. and hit a bump. that's a huge shock load.. etc..

Soundguy

I would venture to say those who put weight boxes on the 3PH to counter balance a loader can stress the "frame" of a tractor driving too fast over bumpy ground.Randy

 

[Charolais]

Can't say I've seen one break with a 3 pt. backhoe but have seen 3 break with a FEL. One was a new JD in the 80-90 hp range. Guy just up the road was pushing up trees and broke in half. One IH 674 and a 2610 Long. All three of those someone had turned the relief valve up for more pressure and all three didn't have support braces from the bell housing back to the rear axle.

I've owned two loaders on two different tractors. One was a 574 IH and a Farmtrac 80 (675). Both loaders were made by Long which is Farmtrac now. I don't know about Farmtrac's smaller tractors but the larger ones have some major supports from the mid point of the bell housing area back to the rear axle. I haven't put a tape on it but it's somewhere in the area of 5/8's to 3/4" thick and 6-7 in. wide. It's got to help with steel that thick. And never never turn the relief valve pressure up. Loader pressure is set up at a break point. If it won't lift what you want buy a bigger loader and tractor to go with it. If you know you're going to get into some real hard work with a tractor look hard at a loader with the brace that goes from front to rear. If you break that you need a bull dozer anyway.

 

[sandman2234]

Or maybe consider renting a larger tractor for the current project that could be too much for your current tractor.
I for one would be really hard pressed to actually park my tractor and go rent one that is bigger. My "I think I can, I think I can" attitude would have me out there picking up the two pieces of the tractor to get them to the shop to start a repair on them. I understand my attitude and have suffered my whole life with it, so having to fix my own mistakes is part of life. Doesn't mean I am going to give someone else that advice, as it often has been a challenge to say the least.
David from jax

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I know of one particular model that had a reputation for breaking in half. The Deere 2840. When Deere first released the 40 series Dubuque models in 1977, there was the 2040, 2240, 2440, and 2640. They were 40, 50, 60. and 70 hp respectively, all 4-cylinder models. A 6-cylinder, 80HP model was added shortly after the introduction of the first 4. It used essentially the same chassis with a longer motor. The engine/transmission area was adaquate for the length of the 4-cylinder models. It WASN'T strong enough for the longer engine and increased hp. I know of several that broke the bellhousing under what would be considered normal use. They just snapped in half. The 2840 didn't stay in production long. It was changed to the 2940 with a re-designed middle in short order.

(The Dubuque 2X40 series production was shifted to Mannhiem (sp) Germany for the 1980 model year)

 

[D7E]

I know of one particular model that had a reputation for breaking in half. The Deere 2840. When Deere first released the 40 series Dubuque models in 1977, there was the 2040, 2240, 2440, and 2640. They were 40, 50, 60. and 70 hp respectively, all 4-cylinder models. A 6-cylinder, 80HP model was added shortly after the introduction of the first 4. It used essentially the same chassis with a longer motor. The engine/transmission area was adaquate for the length of the 4-cylinder models. It WASN'T strong enough for the longer engine and increased hp. I know of several that broke the bellhousing under what would be considered normal use. They just snapped in half. The 2840 didn't stay in production long. It was changed to the 2940 with a re-designed middle in short order.

(The Dubuque 2X40 series production was shifted to Mannhiem (sp) Germany for the 1980 model year)

AAAh so my seeing deeres broke in half is quite common , The ones i've seen were european models like , 2140 , 2850, 3140 ,3350 and 3650 .
Vever seen a broken blue one though ?

 

[bjr]

D7E

If by "blue" you mean New Holland, there is in the local nickel ads a New Holland 33 hp 2003 tractor with FEL for $4000 with broken transmission housing. I've stayed away from the FEL/bachoe machines just for this reason. I've needed to move a large amount of dirt I have rent a specific machine of hire a contractor and yes it's expensive. I'm limited in my capabilities, but I couldn't afford to repair a major breakdown and would have scrap the tractor if that occurred. bjr

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen reports of a broken 2120 I'm pretty sure. not sure if it had a backhoe.. but there was a reported issue of loose tranny mount bolts.

soundguy

ever seen a broken blue one though ?

 

[Taiser]

I heard lots of negatives when I got my 4672 (3pt)hoe for my B7800. Nobody has shown me a kubota with an approved hoe on it breaking....EVER. Heard stories, all stuff other people have heard, but no actual first hand accounts and pictures to go with it. Dealer (Deere and Kubota) told me he has never had or seen a problem with them. If these things snapped like candy canes all the time, you can bet Kubota would not be making them available wit a full waranty.

Different makers (Woods) then yeah maybe they would be over powered (if put on a smaller tractor) and break something, but I have not seen any proof of those either. I've been lurking here for years and I have only ever seen one picture of a 3pt hitch failure where the cast on the tranny snapped off, only one! Are there more? Maybe but they obviously don't get posted often. You can bet if my 3pt ever snapped off I'd be raising he** and posting TONS of pictures.

Can it break...sure. Would I prefer a subframe? Yeah I'd take one but so far mine has been fine and done everything I ask. Anything will break with abuse but look at the size of this top link!!! If this ever snaps, it would probably take me with it!!!