Does wheel reversal cause frame damage on PT 422

scarg · Jul 27, 2005

I had my wheels reversed for maybe 30 hours or so.

What are your thoughts on wheel reversal and the broken frame problem I experienced?

It seems to make sense that if the wheels are farther out it would put more stress on all points involved.

No face this time I couldn't decide on which one to use.

FOURTEEN · Jul 28, 2005

( What are your thoughts on wheel reversal and the broken frame problem I experienced? )

 I have had no problems after 225 hours with my wheels reversed!
But, I feel safer, and smile a lot more! Do you think that the wheel reversal could be responsible??!!??

Marks481 · Jul 28, 2005

I don't think your broken steering cylinder pivot point is in any way associated with the reversed tires.

THe reversed tires would put more stress on the wheel motor bearings, and possibly on the articulating hinge, but really shouldn't affect the area where you had damage signficantly.

I think your damage is simply a result in a design flaw: the close location of the bolt hole and the drainage hole, with a weld between them that made this area more brittle, which was stressed by the steering cylinder. The ligament cracked, leading to stresing of the disattached section of plate until strain hardening caused by the flexing resulted in the pivot point ripping off.

I wouldn't worry about it. Although I would recommend welding a plate into the drainage hole and the bolt hole, since both of these holes are localizing the stress on your frame and could lead to a future failure. SOmething that I wil probably do to mine to avoid a failue similar to what you experienced.

SnowRidge · Jul 28, 2005

I think that the wider stance would increase the steering forces somewhat, but how much is hard to say. It may not be enough to matter and may be totally unrelated to the failure, or it may have contributed to it in some small way.

I certainly don't think it was the primary cause. That, I think, is either a design flaw or materials/workmanship defect, or perhaps a combination of those.

MossRoad · Jul 28, 2005

Hard to say, but I bet it didn't cause it.

BillCroasmun · Jul 28, 2005

I also doubt it was the "cause" but I do think it may have contributed to the manufacturing defect failing sooner.

As I just mentioned in another post the newer single cylinder steering design has moved the front attachment spot in several inches meaning less leverage in steering. This alone would increase the pressures on the attachment points and then with a wider stance you are loosing even more leverage thus causing more pressure.