Finally broke something

[Tymanthius]

Went to move some small downed trash trees today and when I looked down one of my front tires was pointed the wrong way. The bar that goes between the fronts broke just a bit inboard of the joint at the wheel.

This sucks. Tractor is still in warranty, so shouldn't cost me anything, except maybe a wrecker to pick it up if I decide to send it in instead of just getting the part.

I may do that as it's time for the 50 hour service anyway.

 

[Deere Dude]

Good luck with the warranty claim.

 

[oosik]

That's what I was thinking, Deere Dude. The OP must realize - he has a tractor, not a D8 dozer.

 

[4570Man]

That's what I was thinking, Deere Dude. The OP must realize - he has a tractor, not a D8 dozer.

I seriously doubt LS is going to pay for operator error.

 

[Diggin It]

Went to move some small downed trash trees today and when I looked down one of my front tires was pointed the wrong way. The bar that goes between the fronts broke just a bit inboard of the joint at the wheel.

This sucks. Tractor is still in warranty, so shouldn't cost me anything, .

As you can see, we need pictures and more details about what happened and how. If it was a bad weld for example, you might be covered. If you ran into/over something, you probably won't be.

 

[Tymanthius]

As you can see, we need pictures and more details about what happened and how. If it was a bad weld for example, you might be covered. If you ran into/over something, you probably won't be.

I'm not going to get pics right now, but it's flat ground, no stumps, I'd just driven it ~800ft in largely straight lines down my gravel drive and across a yard. Was just moving back and forth with a light load in the grapple.

It looks like it's broken just behind the the threads for the toe(?) adjustment. Any time I am working in the woods, I have the grapple pretty low to scrape stuff up.

I really don't think this is OP error (not that I haven't made such), but considering it was just a week or two ago that my tractor was fully operational from the dealer (leaks, more leaks, and a bad 3rd function switch), I'm more inclined to go with this is warranty. Especially considering the other guy who had a similar failure and he modified his. Mine isn't modified.

 

[ruffdog]

Sometimes, where it broke you can see half of it is rusty or darker, meaning it had been cracked for a while.

 

[Tymanthius]

Sometimes, where it broke you can see half of it is rusty or darker, meaning it had been cracked for a while.

I'll look at it again this evening, but other than mud, I didn't notice any discoloring. My dealer is ordering parts today.

I'll try to take it apart and get a good look at it 'soon'.

 

[papachaz]

I'll look at it again this evening, but other than mud, I didn't notice any discoloring. My dealer is ordering parts today.

I'll try to take it apart and get a good look at it 'soon'.

not trying to start anything, but did you notice all the ones saying it won't be covered own different brand tractors? I find that curious as to how they know what LS will do when they own orange and green....

almost as curious as to why they are in the LS thread anyway, trolls maybe?

 

[Tymanthius]

not trying to start anything, but did you notice all the ones saying it won't be covered own different brand tractors? I find that curious as to how they know what LS will do when they own orange and green....

almost as curious as to why they are in the LS thread anyway, trolls maybe?

I did not notice.

I did have some issues w/ my dealer's service dept, but the sales guy was very good and helpful. Essentially, the service dept never put a load on the 3rd function hydraulics, so missed 1 leak that was fairly minor under no load, and much worse one under load. Then there was a known issue from the factory that the buttons on the handle were bad. I don't entirely blame them for that bit, as the manufacturer was quick to ID and sent a new handle with bright red buttons.

But I've been happy over all with how they have responded, even if they aren't quick.

 

[Username Taken]

I'm not going to get pics right now, but it's flat ground, no stumps, I'd just driven it ~800ft in largely straight lines down my gravel drive and across a yard. Was just moving back and forth with a light load in the grapple.

It looks like it's broken just behind the the threads for the toe(?) adjustment. Any time I am working in the woods, I have the grapple pretty low to scrape stuff up.

I really don't think this is OP error (not that I haven't made such), but considering it was just a week or two ago that my tractor was fully operational from the dealer (leaks, more leaks, and a bad 3rd function switch), I'm more inclined to go with this is warranty. Especially considering the other guy who had a similar failure and he modified his. Mine isn't modified.

Is it a Heim Joint that broke or are you talking about a panhard bar or track bar or Drag Link type of deal?

 

[Tymanthius]

Is it a Heim Joint that broke or are you talking about a panhard bar or track bar type of deal?

I don't know what enough of those words meant to answer.

Give me a link to a parts diagram and I'll point it out tho.

 

[s219]

not trying to start anything, but did you notice all the ones saying it won't be covered own different brand tractors? I find that curious as to how they know what LS will do when they own orange and green....

almost as curious as to why they are in the LS thread anyway, trolls maybe?

Most folks on TBN browse by "new posts" and don't limit themselves to just the brands of tractors they own. And most folks here have decades of experience on many brands of tractors. It would be silly to think people should recuse themselves from participating in threads on TBN just because of the brand. Similarly, folks who are new to the forum and/or tractors should be more open to advice from the experienced folks here. I can understand the skepticism, as we have seen many many threads from people who broke their tractor doing something stupid, and I am sure many people in the thread broke their tractor doing something stupid. I don't think that's the case here -- sounds like the OP was just doing routine work -- but I bet most people just jumped to a certain conclusion based on past experience.

We've seen failures from all the brands and in many cases it's obvious it was a material/manufacturing defect. No brand is immune to it. Pictures can be really helpful in diagnosing that.

 

[Username Taken]

Drag Link from 4WD chevy

Panhard Bar

Pan hard and track bar are the same thing. I got a little mixed up and was thinking drag link.

Suspensions aren't my thing. I was just curious if, push ever came to shove, if one could be fabricated if the parts from the Factory get stupid pricing.

There's other tractors out there (I won't name them, but they're green and yellow) that spend all their engineering time making life next to impossible for people trying to fix stuff on their tractor.

We broke a little Mid PTO drive shaft on my buddy's snot-colored tractor and I figured, "No problem, we'll just cut the knuckles off and take it to a drive line place.

Problem was, one of the knuckles was trashed. Totally junked it. His fault but I would have never known the zerk fitting was there. And to get at it, you literally had to dismantle the top of the tractor. Stupidity at its finest. American Engineering on display.

So I figured, "No problem. A knuckle should be easy to find."

They're not. At least the female, splined, end. Impossible. Nobody could find one.

So we had to start looking for a new driveshaft. And the snot-colored manufacturer makes CERTAIN that you can only buy it from one place -- Them. Because they use a proprietary spline unique to their tractors and their tractors only.

$800

Eight Hundred stinking dollars for a driveshaft that's worth about $100 on a good day. Tops. And there aren't any used ones around. They don't exist. I bought a 4 inch aluminum driveshaft from Ford Racing, complete with knuckles, U-Joints, pre-greased and ready to rock n' roll for $120 back in the day and it stood up to 500 SuperCharged Horsepower for 25 years...... So far. They're a LOT more now but Summit still has them for $349. And Summit's no bargain when it comes to Ford parts. Ford Performance Parts Driveshaft Assemblies M-462-G - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

I would buy a mule before I'd buy a snot-colored tractor.

So I'm curious how LS operates. If they spend all their engineering time on making their customers miserable or if they spend it making their customers' lives better.

End rant

 

[Diggin It]

Remember that LS makes tractors and parts for several others. Also remember that some tractor parts are made by third party companies many of us have never heard of and are shared across many brands.

This part that broke could be on any number of other color machines under different part number schemes.

.

 

[Tymanthius]

@Username Taken

It looks most like the panhard bar. I am hoping that tonight I can get under it and take the parts off and be ready to swap once my dealer gets the new ones in. I'll try to remember to take pics for all you **** addicts out there.

 

[Username Taken]

Remember that LS makes tractors and parts for several others. Also remember that some tractor parts are made by third party companies many of us have never heard of and are shared across many brands.

This part that broke could be on any number of other color machines under different part number schemes.

.

Excellent point.

@Username Taken

It looks most like the panhard bar. I am hoping that tonight I can get under it and take the parts off and be ready to swap once my dealer gets the new ones in. I'll try to remember to take pics for all you **** addicts out there.

Thanks, appreciate it.

 

[Ford850]

Does it look like this tie-rod from a NH?

 

[jaydee325]

I'm guessing item #2 or #6 is what broke?

 

[Tymanthius]

I'm guessing item #2 or #6 is what broke?

View attachment 592194

And also for @Ford850

It's item 4, right behind the notch pretty much.