catastrophic rim failor

[wooden]

My 2010 JD 2720 had a new twist yesterday that I have never seen the likes of.
I was working a small pile of dirt from one spot to another when I notices a wobble
on my left front wheel. Stopped and set the load down to inspect, and could not
believe what I was looking at. The rim had split in several places fronm the lug nuts
outwards, and around the outer edges if the inner rim plate. Has anyone seen this before ?
And, what could be the cause of such a failure???

 

[SteveM70]

Lug bolts loose?

 

[Gary Fowler]

Loose lug bolts are the usual cause of rim failure. I don't think I have ever heard of a rim failure without the bolts being loose. Better check all of the other lug bolts also. Loose bolts allow the rim to start flexing which causes metal fatigue and cracks follow the fatigue lines.

If you have an FEL, check all the bolts on the sub-frame also as those also tend to loosen up which can cause bolt failure or in the case of the rims, rim failure.

 

[Cataclysm]

These guys pretty much have it.

I will add that the lugs could be bottomed out and appear to be tight while leaving enough flex to fatigue the wheel.

Also from the picture it looks like this has taken a long time to happen. Rust in the break, rust at the edge where the paint peeled long before the rim broke.

Whats the other rims look like?

 

[wooden]

Lug nuts are 7/8 on lock washers and they are tight with no flex! I just tried to remove the rim and it took a 1/2 inch breaker bar with an extention pipe to get movement, so, my conclusion is, this is not loose nut
failure by any means. Oh well!! Any word on a new rim?? Price is up there from the green parts store $112.40 and shipping to the US. Virgin Islands is hefty!!

 

[wooden]

These guys pretty much have it.

I will add that the lugs could be bottomed out and appear to be tight while leaving enough flex to fatigue the wheel.

Also from the picture it looks like this has taken a long time to happen. Rust in the break, rust at the edge where the paint peeled long before the rim broke.

Whats the other rims look like?

Other rim is fine and in tact. Lugs are also tight as a drum with no signs of fatigue I am thinking this may have happened over three days or so.
I will check to see if the bolts were bottomed out , but I think not!

 

[Cataclysm]

Lug nuts are 7/8 on lock washers and they are tight with no flex! I just tried to remove the rim and it took a 1/2 inch brealer bar with an extention pipe to get movement, so, my conclusion is, this is not loose nut
failure by any means. Oh well!! Any word on a new rim?? Price is up there from the green parts store $112.40 and shipping to the US. Virgin Islands is hefty!!

Even with the lugs tight, that rim broke due to flexing, which fatigued the rim to failure over time.

Maybe the rim just wasnt built heavy enough for this application.

Good thing is no one hurt and it sounds like no property damage.

 

[Cataclysm]

I keep looking at that rim. Looks like maybe the rim had a weak spot at the stamping bend on the outer edge. Lots of break at that point.

Careful inspection of the other rim may show fatigue there.

Can we get a good pic of that rim?

 

[topbuilder]

Well, don't want to be called Captain Obvious here... The metal is fatigued. It did not happen over night... That can be the result of a poor design, inadequate building materials, or the use of the product which exceeds what it was designed for. It would appear the problem started with the enlarging of the bolt holes in the wheel.

 

[wooden]

Ok, upon second inspection with the rim off the tractor, I see where the lugs had to be loose enough to cause this to happen, and infact, it did take some time to break away in the way that it did without me noticing it. The weare on the underside of the bolts show serious weare, enough so that this could happen over time. All the more cause for more maintenance inspections. I put this little cut through **** and can say this is one tough little unit. Thanks for all the feedback on this issue guys!

 

[jimmysisson]

If it took that much effort to break them loose AND they show wear from movement under the head, could they have been bottomed, as mentioned? In which case the other side may be at risk too. Don't take all the blame, yet!
Jim

 

[hosspuller]

Wheel Lug bolts with lock washers ?? None of my equipment or vehicles have lock washers on the wheels. Are the lock washer the split ring type? I regularly throw them away. Under heavy load the washer will open at the split. They are a throwback to the wooden wagon days. If vibration backs the bolt enough to have the washer take up any slack, the fastener is already too loose to hold.

See here ...

Helical Spring Washers

 

[wooden]

I keep looking at that rim. Looks like maybe the rim had a weak spot at the stamping bend on the outer edge. Lots of break at that point.

Careful inspection of the other rim may show fatigue there.

Can we get a good pic of that rim?

Now a look at the inside of the rim that worries me! Yes this didn't happen overnight but this break is significant
on the outer part of this rim. Look at the second pic closely and you will see what I am talking about!! Note that I had to slide my way back from the field on the bucket using alternate brakes for stearing with very little load on the front wheels

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe that weak WTC steel is finally making it's way back into our products.

Bummer, for sure. Usually happens when you are making excellent progress.

 

[kthompson]

First this could have been bad had it failed with load and speed or load in the air. So for that thankful.
Look at the tractor and see if the rim was bottoming out on the hub due to the center of the rim being smaller than proper or the hub having a cast burr on it. Or there could have been even dirt caked on the back side of the rim when it was installed preventing the rim from being properly tight to the hub. Will agree lock washers to me not a good sign, the studs may have been damaged and lock washers added to take up the slack that left and if the lug nuts are not flat but beveled like lot of lug nuts are that would have created issues also.

 

[wooden]

Yup these are factory fittings, Not studs with nuts!! this is what I found strange that they would do that.
7/8's bolts with lock washers is what John Deerwe used on these builds

 

[SteveM70]

Had this wheel been taken off and put back on at some point?

 

[wooden]

Good points Kthompson, and all worth looking back at
However , these wheels were off a year ago for new tires and well inspected before re installing them. Now I did have a load in the loader when it failed, but I can see that this took some time to happen. maybe it was just bad steel?? WTC steel back from China?? who knows, but I am seeing what looks like hair line cracks on the right side and those lug bolts are tight. I will take them off and inspect the inside of the wheel tomorrow just to be sure!

 

[Billrog]

Sharp turns is soft soil with a full bucket ? I seen a fella do that with a backhoe pop the front wheel right off.

 

[hosspuller]

Okay, I checked Deere parts. A lock washer is factory supplied on the front wheels of a 2027. Likely the wheels are not able to stand the stress of a FEL. I would use a regular washer instead of the lock washer when you replace the wheels.