CHECK! those bolts/nuts!

[Soundguy]

I was mowing this weekend out at the pasture down from my house using the NH 7610s and the howse 10' mower.

Went around a corner inthe pasture and felt the mower jerk a bit.. like a sway chain wasn't adjusted tight enough. Looked back and saw my left cat 2 implement lift pin was wobbeling! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif..

I throttled down, disengaged the pto and got off for a looksee. Sure enough the nut had backed of fthe back side of the pin a thread or so.. that let the pin shift and flattened outand deformed the large flat washer which then gave more play. I guess i just caught it in time as the hole in the upright support was not wobbeled out yet. The first few threads on the lift pin, where it passes thru the upright support were flattened.. but then.. they don't do anything anyway..really I think they shouldn't be threaded that far.. but anyway...

I had a couple mondo crescent wrenches with me and some generic bits in my tool box.. found a good (correct) sized lock washer, and a same thread nut to use as a jambnut ont he pin. Used one wrench as a 'lock' on the hex base of the pin, and the other wrench with a shorty 8" section of pipe I carry.. put my leg into it.. Guess I'll keep looking at it every time I mow to be safe.

I pickied up a spare cat 2 pin at the dealer today just in case.. but guess I'll wait to swap it out only if this one loosens up. ( I'll bet now that I've bought the 9$ pin.. the old one will -never- loosen up again! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Glad i noticed it.. I'd have hated for that mower to come half way off the tractor at full tilt!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Soundguy

 

[Solo]

Good advice Soundguy.
I check the wheel bolts every time I use my TC18. About four years ago I lost one wheel bolt and had a couple more loose, on the same wheel.
Anyone using a piece of equipment should make a quick check before they start working.

Solo

 

[RobS]

I had to chuckle when I read the title...

Saturday I did all the brush-hogging we normally do, about four of our ten acres. Somewhere along the way I ate a shear-bolt, no big deal. I replaced it, finding half of the toasted one on the deck of the cutter. Other half missing, but again, no big deal.

Sunday, the lovely Mrs_RobS is out weedwhacking. She comes back with half a shear bolt in her hand asking if I'd lost this. Now what are the odds of her finding the half bolt that I assumed was lost forever somewhere in about four acres of weeds???

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[slowrev]

Dang! I will have to get her to look for that top link pin I lost in the field. New one was $20 for my IH it is a wierd critter and have to get from IH.
Was Hogging a bit this evening and suddenly a big pop, broke both length adjustment bolts off of one stabilizer bar, bar was ok. Trip to the shop and all was well again. I use soft bolts in there for that purpose, bolts are cheap, stabilizers are not. I keep about 1 dozen hog shear bolts and nuts in the toolbox /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Someday I will put a slip clutch on it.

Ben

 

[GeneD14]

The vibration from bush hogging must be one of the worst culprits for loosening fastners. On my Allis Chalmers D14 I have had the 3/4" bolts that hold the 3 point hitch on come loose twice. To keep them on I had to use Loctite and lock washers.

 

[em14]

Soundguy,
You need to watch those things on the Howse 10. Mine are constantly coming loose. It is a good idea to check all the bolts on these guys every so often. I find bolts loose often and even after using a cheater bar to tighten some of them. Now having said that, be careful in tighting them, as many are Grade 5 and will shear in the gear box. Don't ask!
Leo

 

[Soundguy]

Those lift pin bolts are so mondo.. I almost have considered hitting them with a long cheater pipe.. then using my stick welder to tack a spot right where the thread leaves the nut, or to tack a spot between the facings on the jamb nut I ran up against the regular nut... Something easy to grind away if the need arose. Havn't done it yet. Have also considered the ?green? loctight.. thats the stuff you put on AFTER assembly.. suposed to snake through the threads and lock it up pretty good.. never used it.. but have a small sample sized bottle at the house...

Soundguy

 

[em14]

I'm sure lock tight will help ... but ... the way theese get kicked around, even being careful, there are a lot of force and vibration on them.
Leo

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sunday, the lovely Mrs_RobS is out weedwhacking )</font>

How did you get her to do that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif my bride of 42 years has no idea what a weed wacker is, except it is the noisy thing i use to keep everything trimmed. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bigbear]

Read,,,,,,,, and follow all instructions that came with your implement, tractor, etc. Check,,,,,,,, and tighten all bolts and nuts before operation......... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Crutches]

Hey Soundguy,
Put some green lock tite on it. I bet you will not break it loose then. Red holds very well but green is second to welding it!

 

[slowrev]

The most dangerous loose nut is the one that holds the steering wheel /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ben

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Read,,,,,,,, and follow all instructions that came with your implement, tractor, etc. Check,,,,,,,, and tighten all bolts and nuts before operation......... )</font>

i do.. as a part of my pre-trip-check.. kick tires.. look at lug nuts. mower pins.. lynch pins.. etc.

This one actually worked loose and I got lucky enough to catch it in progress.. course the shift in the mower 'feel' did help a bit.

Soundguy

 

[Noodlearm]

I have lost 2 while hogging as well, now keep 2 spare just in case they both go on me at the same time.

 

[Priz]

an additional little tip stolen from auto racing
it takes a few minutes with a drill bit and some wire to prevent
them from loosening, holes can be drilled through the nut/bolt
and if it's large enough a cotter pin can also be used
http://www.rc51.org/Finished%20Wire%20Pics/rear_axle.jpg

 

[Crutches]

Hey Priz,
The picture shows a very professional job right down to the wire installation. I did not see anything in your profile but I suspect you are not a rookie at spinning a wrench! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif