ARRRRRRGH!!!!!!! Broke my tractor.... Engine Block went SNAP...

[plastikosmd]

yep, you can see how nice that was done..esp in the 3rd to the last pic..looks like an L model..the large bracing...heavy attachments etc. and the addition of the front portion to prevent any rotation..and then gussets to boot. sadly the L was too big of a machine for my property, the JD attaches to the block..maybe similar to what your NH does..but then has a huge frame portion that goes from the top of the loader arms down to the front-end. it doubles as a stand when loader is removed but assists in transfer of weight to the front of the frame, and also as i said, when hitting something goes into tension as it is locked to the front of the tractor. at least 1/2 plate 8 inches wider or wider..and in a gentle curve to take a good amount of load in compression.

 

[KrisHansen]

yep, you can see how nice that was done..esp in the 3rd to the last pic..looks like an L model..the large bracing...heavy attachments etc. and the addition of the front portion to prevent any rotation..and then gussets to boot. sadly the L was too big of a machine for my property, the JD attaches to the block..maybe similar to what your NH does..but then has a huge frame portion that goes from the top of the loader arms down to the front-end. it doubles as a stand when loader is removed but assists in transfer of weight to the front of the frame, and also as i said, when hitting something goes into tension as it is locked to the front of the tractor. at least 1/2 plate 8 inches wider or wider..and in a gentle curve to take a good amount of load in compression.

My loader mounts are attached to the bellhousing, and the far front end of the machine. The loader sits on the arms, and basically applies UPward pressure on teh bellhousing and DOWNward pressure on the far nose of the tractor. The un-braced engine block is the ONLY thing in the middle of the arrangement.

 

[MikePA]

One would begin to think all the other tractors with bracing tying the main components together may be over-engineered.

The bracing probably means something else will break when an overload condition happens. The aforementioned Kioti cracked while using a backhoe that was attached to the tractor via a subframe. The subframe was attached to the bottom/side of the tractor.

 

[KrisHansen]

The bracing probably means something else will break when an overload condition happens. The aforementioned Kioti cracked while using a backhoe that was attached to the tractor via a subframe. The subframe was attached to the bottom/side of the tractor.

Well I don't disagree, and it continues to amaze me at how these CUT's are able to destroy themselves by seemingly just using them..

We also know that backhoes exert a lot of force, as do FELs.. One thing I know for sure, I'd rather replace front axles/subframes/etc every year instead of what I've got now.. I've been without my tractor for just over a month now...

As I've stated previously, this tractor is a baby.. Yeah, I use the loader for all it's worth, but that still should leave a HUGE safety margin, instead of taxing the one and only component that makes the whole thing work to within an inch of it's life..

Flawed casting or not, there's no excuse in my mind for the engine to take all of the load of the FEL.

 

[MikePA]

Flawed casting or not, there's no excuse in my mind for the engine to take all of the load of the FEL.

The engine as a stressed part of the vehicle isn't unusual. Happens in racing. Look at an Indy car for example. The rear suspension is connected directly to the engine/transmission. Click Here. No separate frame or subframe to carry the load.

 

[Typhoon]

Man I hate that this happened to you :-(. What a bummer. Here is my thought on it. I have a TC29D with a 7308 loader. I have used and abused it BIG TIME. I can't count how many times I have been moving along in my woods through the weeds with my loader low and level, and run into a tree stump. BAM.... stops the tractor instantly, throws me into the steering wheel, bruises me up a bit, and the tractor absorbs TONS of force. This has happened to me way too many times. I have yet to have a failure. I have also done other things with my loader (like pushing a flat bed truck out of a ditch) that I should not have done. I can say without a doubt that I have placed the absolute maximum loads on my tractor that is possible, and still, no cracks or signs of failure. I know several other guys with TC29's and 33's that do the same thing. So, in a nutshell, I really don't think it is a design flaw. Out of hundreds of thousands of 7308/TC29-33 owners, I would bet that only a few have had this problem. HOWEVER, by the same token, I would do everything in my power to try and get it covered. If you can't, your only viable option is to fix it, then I would bet you would never have the problem again. Good luck!
-Brad

 

[KrisHansen]

The engine as a stressed part of the vehicle isn't unusual. Happens in racing. Look at an Indy car for example. The rear suspension is connected directly to the engine/transmission. Click Here. No separate frame or subframe to carry the load.

Racing cars are a bit different than tractors though.. =)

I'm 100% sure that this is a casting flaw, but I"m still going to make some brackets for peace of mind...

I'm not sure though why it tool 300 hours to rear it's ugly head...

 

[NewToy]

The engine as a stressed part of the vehicle isn't unusual. Happens in racing. Look at an Indy car for example. The rear suspension is connected directly to the engine/transmission. Click Here. No separate frame or subframe to carry the load.

Now if only the Indy car had a front end loader, I would be King of the 200MPH snow removal dudes. I'm not even going to entertain the possibilities of the aforementioned unit with the addition of a backhoe!
John

 

[NewToy]

Racing cars are a bit different than tractors though.. =)

I'm 100% sure that this is a casting flaw, but I"m still going to make some brackets for peace of mind...

I'm not sure though why it tool 300 hours to rear it's ugly head...

Kris, Did you end up getting the tractor repaired? If so, how?

John

 

[SPYDERLK]

Racing cars are a bit different than tractors though.. =)

I'm 100% sure that this is a casting flaw, but I"m still going to make some brackets for peace of mind...

I'm not sure though why it tool 300 hours to rear it's ugly head...

Here ya go.
larry
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