Disappointed in my Deere for the first time.

eee · Oct 1, 2004

( 40 year old part ) 

If I can 20 years out of my new JD axle housing replacement I would be happy.

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 1, 2004

"If I can 20 years out of my new JD axle housing replacement I would be happy." 

Of my axle housing or me, I'm a lot less concerned about the axle housing being around in twenty years. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 1, 2004

"(Is this experience) going to make you a little "gun shy" now?" 

I really don't know. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'd like to think not but I'm sure I'll never forget this. With what Roughcut tells me about the new part I guess I'll be less concerned unless I find the one that broke is already the new style.

I asked my Cat mechanic friend who's going to do the work about doing both sides and he was more than amenable to the idea. Armed with that 'go ahead,' I'm taking a chance that that's not the case and going ahead and ordering the other side. I think having two new heavier pieces there would put the concern about doing this again out of my mind.

The odd thing to me was that I really wasn't doing anything unusual when it happened. I'd already been over this same ground three or four times with my box blade with only two scarifiers extended when I hit whatever I hit (I'm still guessing a tree root but give everything else I've uncovered there nothing would surprise me). I was in low range and travelling at walking speed or just above. Even at that the jolt lifted my ample behind off the seat. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Of course, for all I know I could have lost the clip from the pin (neither of which I've found) and the pin could have been out far enough that the strain was not perfectly perpendicular to and divided equally between the two lobes but might, in fact, have been slightly torqued to one side and all on the one lobe that broke.

If that's not what happened then the clip must have been sheared from the pin after the lobe broke allowing the pin to slide out through the ball joint and the other lobe and fall to the ground. I'm not sure which scenario truly is more likely but the first one seems a bit more likely to me. That clip is pretty heavy to have been sheared by lateral movement of the pin against the outside of the lobe. Essentially, I think it's easier to lose one that to shear one.

If that's the case then I'm less disappointed in Deere for the design/material choice. In any event, it looks like I could be up and running again as soon as late next weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Again, thanks to everyone for their help here. I really appreciate it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

horseman1 · Oct 1, 2004

Gary,

I am glad to hear you have a good plan to get this resolved. Having friends help you out in a time like this is a big deal.

The times I have seen aluminum used in some "why did they choose to do that?" situations is because it dissipates heat better than cast iron doesnt it? This might not apply here, but is just a thought.

Kurt

cowboydoc · Oct 1, 2004

Gary,

I would talk to your dealer. I have never not been able to get a part by 8:00am the next day. I would think he's going the cheap on the shipping. They make a 100% or greater on parts so they can afford to get you the part the next day on something that expensive.

JATO_RaT · Oct 1, 2004

Gary, I just finished my brake housing replacement. I'm just waiting to let the liquid gasket setup before I dump the 10 gallons of hydraulic oil back in. It was pretty easy other then the brake cam which was actually pretty easy too, but holding the axle housing and axle in place while turning the cam to slide into a slot was a it of a balancing act. One thing that really helped was power washing the whole tractor down yesterday so I had reasonably clean parts. I'm now off to use a press to straighten my lower link arm. It's about an inch thick steel and will take some convincing to move. Get some brake cleaner to clean the mating surfaces for the gasket sealer.

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 2, 2004

"Having friends help you out in a time like this is a big deal." 

Truer words have never been written. And they apply equally to friends I see regularly as well as those I've never met from here on TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Again, thanks to everyone for their help, insight, suggestions and support (and for just letting me vent a bit, too). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif