Bending and Breaking Attachments.??

[nickel plate]

Two instances come to mind. I was doing my neighbor a favor and mowing his back one acre with my Bush Hog 480 Squealer and I ran over a weed hidden crowbar that one of his kids had been playing with and forgot to return to the garage. No real damage to the mower but I would not want to have been in that line of fire when it launched.
I bought a new heavy duty Gearmore 6' box scraper for my New Holland TC40 and was scarifying an open area on some foothill property that I own and snagged a root, the implement bounced but it did bend one of the teeth carriers up and back. The ripper tooth itself was unscathed. Upon further examination of the BS undercarriage I saw that the welding of the bottom of all of the tooth carriers were at best spotty to none compared to the top of the carriers that had perfect textbook welds. The tooth carrier that bent had two very shallow welds and most of them were cold because there was rust in the weld between the carrier and the square box tube (see photo BS2). The BS was over a year out of warranty, I claimed that it was a quality control issue and Gearmore paid the bill for my local NH dealer to drive out to my home (25 miles one way) and pick up the BS, take it back to the shop, weld ALL of the carrier bottoms and return it to me within two days. They brought it back attached to a shop tractor, lifted it on the trailer for my inspection which I found totally satisfactory. I commend Gearmore for their quick and proper response, I commend my local NH dealer for their teammanship in this matter and I hope that gearmore has fixed their in house quality control. I would still buy their products.
Lesson:
Look underneath before I buy.

 

[jake98]

The boxblade was the lesson for me. I was using the grapple and backing up and I saw an old rotten 4" stump, so I figured I'd just push it over on the way. It was 20" tall so I thought I wouldn't lower the box too much, more leverage.. Tractor went back and the blade had a new angle, of course I didn't understand, so I did it again.. I heard crackling sounds.. the paint popping off the upper linkage parts. Geometry sucks. (but I'm glad sombody gave me a chance to get that off my chest)

 

[JDGreenGrass]

2 instances of a box blade getting damaged by pulling stumps.??

Is that what they are made for.??

 

[rambler]

2 instances of a box blade getting damaged by pulling stumps.??

Is that what they are made for.??

With farming, and 8 tractors, a combine, and many other machines, everything is a tool.

You work hard enough, something will give. Or break.

I've had a lot of things let loose because they were poorly welded. I can't say much, I can't weld worth a darn myself...

Lastest was the landscape rake. Was smoothing out the inside of my new shed, clay dirt with heavy tracks in it, probably a little frost in the ground. Caught a lip of dirt going backwards, and the weld let go. It was a bit pooer weld than the pic in this thread of a box blade.

But - I've used that rake a lot in the grove, and leveling my whole 4 acres of pasture. Been run hard in those jobs, and it held up through them. If this part wouldn't break, something else will eventually... It's just a matter of time. One uses tools, and if you use them to their max, something might have to give. Was pretty easy to have the rake reweleded, better than new. But - what's going to give next time I stress it?

I sprung my smaller back blade pulling ice & manure off the cattle feeding yard. Has to be done to get the doors open, better footing for the cattle. But -frozen cow pies will stress the heck out of an implement.....

--->Paul

 

[Tongy]

Speaking of frozen cow pies. Had a whole manure spreader full of them, and of course couldn't wait till they thawed to spread. Got about 1/4 of the load off and the drive wheel locked up due to a big chunk being caught in the beaters. Looked underneath and one of the links on the conveyer chain was broken. So, now had fork off the rest of the load. One big chunk in the middle need a rock bar to break it up. Got a new link and today hauled a nice big load of wet, sloppy, soft stuff. Worked a lot better. Looked really nice on that white snow.

 

[jpm1]

Yup! been there, done that and got the tee shirt.
I've been in the operating business 45 years now thru farming, logging, construction and crane work and I can say most all the equiptment I have broke has been stupidity on my part. Some broken factory welds but stupidity mostly. I have a gas welder and all the toys so if it breaks. . .I fix it. I have a smaller tractor now and lighter equiptment to match, I've slowed down, plan my attack and go forth. We still take on big jobs with excelent results, it just takes a bit longer. All of my tractors equip. is KK, (to a lot of people its junk! thats their opinion though!) They (KK)have held up extremely well for me and thats all that matters. Buy cheap or expensive. . . it's your choice cause your flipping the bill now and to rebuild it latter! Its only as good as the operator. John

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I bent up the triangle 3 pt frame on a blade. Blade rated for 35HP was being used on my 20 HP tractor. I was cutting a very large tree up, and the chain saw blade got stuck in the middle of the tree. I used the tractor & blade to push the tree to free the saw. Now that I have a loader, I have never had the need to use the blade since.

 

[logan97]

What does cold weld refer to???

Two instances come to mind. I was doing my neighbor a favor and mowing his back one acre with my Bush Hog 480 Squealer and I ran over a weed hidden crowbar that one of his kids had been playing with and forgot to return to the garage. No real damage to the mower but I would not want to have been in that line of fire when it launched.
I bought a new heavy duty Gearmore 6' box scraper for my New Holland TC40 and was scarifying an open area on some foothill property that I own and snagged a root, the implement bounced but it did bend one of the teeth carriers up and back. The ripper tooth itself was unscathed. Upon further examination of the BS undercarriage I saw that the welding of the bottom of all of the tooth carriers were at best spotty to none compared to the top of the carriers that had perfect textbook welds. The tooth carrier that bent had two very shallow welds and most of them were cold because there was rust in the weld between the carrier and the square box tube (see photo BS2). The BS was over a year out of warranty, I claimed that it was a quality control issue and Gearmore paid the bill for my local NH dealer to drive out to my home (25 miles one way) and pick up the BS, take it back to the shop, weld ALL of the carrier bottoms and return it to me within two days. They brought it back attached to a shop tractor, lifted it on the trailer for my inspection which I found totally satisfactory. I commend Gearmore for their quick and proper response, I commend my local NH dealer for their teammanship in this matter and I hope that gearmore has fixed their in house quality control. I would still buy their products.
Lesson:
Look underneath before I buy.

 

[jnjpream]

What does cold weld refer to???

A weld with very little, or no penetration. Basically the weld puddle is just sitting on the base metal.

 

[AndyMA]

" My $319 rear blade has performed as well as an $800 LandPride blade.

Anyone get my point.??

Just curious. How do you know that.Do you have equal time operating both under similar circumstances?

I always found that the lighter duty (considerable lighter in weight) attachments just aren't up to the tasks of a heavy duty attachment.

Andy

 

[sunnyside360]

The only attachments i bend or break are the ones i borrowed from my neighbor.

Are you my neighbor? Most of my equipment damage happened when my neighbor borrowed my stuff. Examples: rolled tractor on steep bank, bent front rim (mystery how it was done), all lugs broken on front wheel of backhoe, etc.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Just curious. How do you know that.Do you have equal time operating both under similar circumstances?

I always found that the lighter duty (considerable lighter in weight) attachments just aren't up to the tasks of a heavy duty attachment.

Andy

No, I've never used an $800 blade. So far my "cheaper" blade has done everything I've asked of it, therefore, I haven't.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Are you my neighbor? Most of my equipment damage happened when my neighbor borrowed my stuff. Examples: rolled tractor on steep bank, bent front rim (mystery how it was done), all lugs broken on front wheel of backhoe, etc.

Ouch, that hurts.!!

 

[jake98]

I didn't read the first half of this thread but 90% of everything I've broken was going in reverse, including dents in trucks and cars. Maybe I did read the first part, did I say that already?

 

[jake98]

we haven't heard much from the guys that have busted equipment and moved up to the "good stuff" so that they can go fast and not pay attention. Where are they.??

Anyone get my point.??

They're sprawled out there next to the front tire, the tractor's almost out of fuel by now..
My father used to infuriate me with how slow he'd work a machine. He didn't break'em tho, and he's still around. He's a Kubota guy now at 84, sorry to say..

 

[jake98]

The tooth carrier that bent had two very shallow welds and most of them were cold because there was rust in the weld between the carrier and the square box tube (see photo BS2).

I would still buy their products.
Lesson:
Look underneath before I buy.

It's kind of confusing when the heavy duty stuff has bad welds. One of my buddies and I got into some kind of tight spot and I remember him yelling "Isolated insident", "It means nothing.." and waving his hand. (I'm sure we were, without a doubt, the cause)

 

[veresjwv]

Difference is some can drive a piece of equipment and others are operators. Finesse, feel and a touch.. it comes with practice.

Topstrap

No matter what anyone does, the more a tool is used the more likely some damage will occur or even break. I have had craftsman sockets and even ratchets break. The point is if you take care of things and use them as they are intended they will last a long time..... a long time ago... when I used a ford Jubilee tractor with a loader you were not an operator you were a part of that tractor, just to approach a pile of dirt and come away with a full bucket of dirt depended on tractor speed, angle of the bucket, the precise time to curl the bucket and then raise the boom all before you just sat there with the wheels spinning! Also what about all the implements that are still around from the 40's and 50's? Is it because they are built better or because of the way they were used? There will always be people that just operate and beat the you know what out of their equipment and people that can drive and use things as they should be used! And that's the way I feel

 

[jake98]

No matter what anyone does, the more a tool is used the more likely some damage will occur or even break.

Especially if they use them in reverse. I bent the linkage so bad I heard the paint crackling off it with the cheap boxblade raised up high in reverse. I didn't believe it tho, so I did it twice.

 

[BWBrown]

Stuff gets old; sometimes when new it isn't perfect.
Too often though, when things go south, we spend our energy and anger pointing fingers and directing blame (in nearly every aspect of life).

I cut my teeth working on the neighboring dairy farm. He who became something of a mentor was often pointing out to me, "Anybody can break tools. Let's see if you can do it right next time."

I broke some, and I grew up and learned. Yet still, every once in a while when I'm getting impatient, or tired, or careless, or just plain not paying attention, I break something. I either fix it or replace it, all the while remembering the (now long passed) old man's words. No-one to blame, really but myself.

Many of my tools are older. I borrow none, lend few, and seldom seek volunteer labor/operators. No-one takes care of my tools like I do.

 

[texasjohn]

Going forward, I've broken chisel plow tines when a rock was hooked on just the one tine. Was going at medium speed because the tines separately catch then release as they go thru the hard ground/clay. Medium speed sets up a vibrating pattern that breaks up the ground better than extremely slow. Cost was about $50 for a replacement tine.

Also broke a tine on a subsoiler. It, too, hooked a rock, was going very slow and watching it... thought that the rock was going to give first...was wrong.