front wheel came off

[GaryS]

I think the hub is ok. I had very little shavings from the tap. I'm of two minds regarding the bolts too. I'd rather have them fail than rip up the hub but when I'm on a hill and there's stress on the wheel, I really really want the bolts to hold

When the snow dies down and we warm up, I'll pull the wheel again and really give the hub a close look.

 

[IH3444]

Heli coils have already been mentioned, but I prefere case savers if there is enough room on the hub. You drill out the damaged threads, tap the hole to a next larger size. Then red loctite the case saver in. Now you are back to all lug bolts being usuable, and of the same size. I check my lug bolts, and major tractor frame bolts twice a year. In the spring, and then the fall. My neighbor had his front wheel fall off his John Deere 650 4WDseveral years ago. He just didn't check them ever I think.

 

[Soundguy]

I good well stocked hardware or old fashioned hardware. I've had very good luck with True Value. TSC doesn't tend to carry metrics.

they do.. but not in bulk.. they are inthe baggies inthe lil bins opposite the bulk isle..

also have nylon, stainless, and some brass fasteners too.. iffn' you can afford them per piece in them baggies..

soundguy

 

[GPintheMitten]

put helicoils in where the threads are damaged, put the right OEM bolts in, torque it to spec and it will be good for life. Tire bolts don't just fall off when they get bored or tired.... my guess is they were not torqued right at some point in their lives.

wayne

That bored or tired thing cracked me up.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

That bored or tired thing cracked me up.

What you have never heard of "metal fatigue"? . There are some great replies on here. I am always picking up bits of wisdom from this site. Eventually I may know a thing or two!

 

[KennyV]

Clean the threads if you must. Then get grade 8 bolts, screw them from the inside out... You now have studs that you can replace if necessary. Get the appropriate lug nut.
Mount these new studs with red locktite. With hardened studs mounted in the hub you will not have to worry about damaged threads.
If you have room for a lock nut on the inside you have room to mount a bolt as a stud. Plus you will never have a problem removing the wheel because you forgot there was a locking nut inside. KennyV

 

[Wayne_H]

What you have never heard of "metal fatigue"? . There are some great replies on here. I am always picking up bits of wisdom from this site. Eventually I may know a thing or two!

metal fatigue has nothing to do with bolts falling out. If his bolts all sheared off, the casting broke or something like that you can attribute it to fatigue, but in this case my money is on they were not torques properly.

On my 4400 they specifically tell you to re-torque the wheel bolts on a new machine after a few hours.

I'm still of the school that if you repair any of the damaged threads with your favorite thread repair system, put new OEM equilvilent bolts in, torque them to spec, you will be good for life and the bored lazy bolts will stay put!

Wayne

 

[Tailrotor]

From what I see from your Pictures of the bolts, and you had it to the dealer for inspection. My guess would be the Mechanic used a impact gun to install the wheels and over tighten the bolts. I have seen this many times the casting is harder then the bolts and the bolt keeps tightening to the point that it strips out ( rips the threads off ) from the impact gun and the wheel will stay tight for a while until the bolts back out and wheel falls off. You can see from the bolts that it was rotation force that took the threads off.

Just My opinion but I would say Impact gun damage.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

metal fatigue has nothing to do with bolts falling out. If his bolts all sheared off, the casting broke or something like that you can attribute it to fatigue, but in this case my money is on they were not torques properly.

On my 4400 they specifically tell you to re-torque the wheel bolts on a new machine after a few hours.

I'm still of the school that if you repair any of the damaged threads with your favorite thread repair system, put new OEM equilvilent bolts in, torque them to spec, you will be good for life and the bored lazy bolts will stay put!

Wayne

Sorry Wayne you might have missed the sarcasm in reference to the "tired" bolts and metal fatigue. I really do know that was not the problem. I mentioned in posting number 2 on this thread that the bolts not being tightened down right may have started the whole failure. I am guilty myself of not rechecking the lug bolts on my tractor after I had the fronts filled with foam..

 

[Glen Watkins]

You guys are mentioning foam. Is this for weight or for punctures? Or both it sounds like. Never heard of foam for weight ballast! Google?

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2009/01/comparing-types-of-liquid-tire-ballast/