Entry step

[metalbender]

Just a heads up on a problem that popped up on my 1742 cabbed model. Being a heavy guy, there's lots of stress on the step bolts. Had the front bolt snap. The resulting flex makes for nervous entry and exit till it's repaired. Having the step fail could cause some serious hurt. The broken part of the bolt came out easy with the drill rotation. Welded nuts are behind as there is no room above the tank. My suggestion is to get some better quality 8mm bolts to replace the existing spaghetti bolts.

 

[TheLandofSnipers]

Just a heads up on a problem that popped up on my 1742 cabbed model. Being a heavy guy, there's lots of stress on the step bolts. Had the front bolt snap. The resulting flex makes for nervous entry and exit till it's repaired. Having the step fail could cause some serious hurt. The broken part of the bolt came out easy with the drill rotation. Welded nuts are behind as there is no room above the tank. My suggestion is to get some better quality 8mm bolts to replace the existing spaghetti bolts.

I do mostly forest work with my 1735M and ran my step into a tree sump. The step bent back into the tire and rubbed for about 100' before I noticed the strange noise. I removed all three, intact, bolts, hammered it back into shape, painted it sparkly blue to remind me not to do that again and bolted it back up.
FYI
A grade 2 bolt will shear at 8Kn or ~5800ft-lb
A grade 5 bolt will shear at 16Kn or ~11800ft-lb
Pretty sure you are not that big. More likely just a defective fastener that got missed.