How many Class 1 owners had their wheels fall off?

[SacandagaBrad]

Trying to tie two threads together to get a feel for just how common the problem is. Is it always the front wheels that fall off? Is a FEL common to the problem (Rick mentioned he was using his earlier in the day)? I wonder if the hub/wheel mounting system is too weak for the strength of the 12LA loader. These are not highway speed vibrations causing this to happen. From the cases I can recall here on TBN, there was not even noticable loose bolts, just all of a sudden. Stripped threads and sudden failure sounds like stress to me. Could it be the lugs/bolts system is the weakest link in an otherwise solidly made tractor? Maybe the basis for a recall as LAGeorge has suggested.

This is not fun reading for someone waiting for delivery. I can handle maintenance issues, but structural failure due to poor engineering is troublesome.

Brad

 

[Inspector507]

Had I not caught mine in time, it would have fallen off. All the lugs were loose, VERY loose. I happened to look down and saw the left front tire/wheel wobbling. This is on a TC18.

 

[LAGEORGE]

When my wheel fell off it was the right front not filled. I was using the 12 LA loader on a TC 24D. I was moving mulch into position up and down a steep slope and on the way down the wheel just came off. There was no warning it just folded under when I started to turn left. The dealer claimed it had not happened before but the mobile service guy said he had just fixed one but on the left side. The tractor had just been in for it’s service and now that I recall 100 hour checkup. I had to wait 3 weeks to get the parts to repair the front end. As some of you may recall I made up some quasi bolts from Home Depot using a bolt, washer, lock nut and nut. The system worked well for many hours and over 70 tons of dirt! I did have to check the bolts often but they remained fairly tight considering the job they were asked to perform.

I take issue with the solid tractor thing. I have had lots of thing break on mine with the latest being the seat plate on the tractor. That is the sheet metal the seat is bolted too, it cracked and now I am on week two waiting for the part. And now that I think about it I do go over some rough terrain that at times can cause the tractor to hop up and down. But hey it’s a tractor it is supposed to take that stuff? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
George

 

[shoppintractors]

On one of my comparison shoppin' trips I was able to see a New Holland TC24D and a Kioti CK20H in the same aisle. By visual observation I would estimate the front axle of the Kioti CK20 to be 1/3 larger in size than the New Holland TC24D. The CK20 also having larger front tires than the TC24D. Another minor observation was the axle oil fill plug on the TC24D was plastic, on the CK20 it was steel. I was told New Holland beefed up their front axle to accomodate the 12LA loader.

Just an observation...

Don

 

[pekabu]

Mine haven't fallen off, but I know a nearby friend (JimG) had his loosen up and ruin the left side rim(I believe). Knowing that, I torqued mine at 10hours and when my torque wrench hit ~40 pounds they started moving. I don't think that is a true representation of the actual torque amount, but none the less they were loose and the left wheel was more loose than the right. The back ones didn't move much if at all.

I wrote the torque numbers on the back cover so I can look them up real quick.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[BillyP]

I see loose wheel bolts are an issue on a lot of CUTs, all colors. I'm just wondering why they can't fix this? Seems to me it would be an easy fix.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Mine are still on and I expect they will stay that way. I think the reality is we all are responsible for checking our tractors out from time to time. Reading threads on TBN you can find bolts that fell out of ROPS, wheels, etc on virtually every brand. And that is probably related to a lot of different things like not being tight in the first place, or by loosening over time, or by vibration or by a dozen other factors.

Maybe I am naive, but I have a large selection of wrenches and from time to time I actually use them to tighten things. Heck I even noticed a loose hinge on the wife's Mountaineer the other day and thought that I would wait for the door to fall off instead of tightening it! Her life insurance is paid up. . .

Regarding the earlier post about Kioti front axles being heavier than NH, I would question if that is supposed to mean anything? I mean what type of metal is the front end of each made of, I'd rather have thin and strong than thick and weak, and depending on the type of steel and how the steel is treated/tempered, etc then that will determine the strength, not just the thickness of the metal. I have not idea which is stronger, Kioti or NH, but Japan is known for quality steel works, I can't say the same about Korea. Just an observation.

 

[BillyP]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Mine are still on and I expect they will stay that way. )</font>

Well, mine are too but that wasn't my point. My point is it shouldn't happen as much as it does, not nearly as much.

Good thing the car industry does a better job on lug nuts /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I agree, wheels should not fall off. Ever. But we, as owners, are responsible for checking things. Dealers also bear the initial burden as they should be checking everything before they deliver the stuff, but I think in many cases the way the thing rolls off the truck from assembly is the way it is delivered.

I suppose that auto makers are more liability conscious given that a wheel falling off at 55mph is a lot more dangerous than one falling off at 3.5mph.

I guess I look at my tractors as tools. Big expensive tools, but tools that need to be looked after and checked out. I don't know about anyone else, but I checked the bolts on my ROPS unit just to make sure it was on there tight shortly after getting my tractor. And I checked again yesterday afternoon too. I don't check the wheels as often, but I did check them about a week ago just before I put on a set of EZ Weights because I knew that they would be covering up the bolt heads one the wheels when the weights were installed.

 

[CtRick]

I agree completely that it is my responsibilty to maintain my tractor and respond to things before they become a problem. Which is exactly what I've been doing. I have babied my tractor in a manner that would probably make most of you boys think I'm nuts. The main reason being that I promised the Chief that I would keep her for the rest of my life (the tractor, not my wife - although i sorta made the same promise to her /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif). I was checking the bolts every few hours and I never found one even close to being loose. I don't think it's practical to ride around with a wrench in your pocket to check your wheels every few minutes while your working. I'll do it if I have too, I'm in this for better or worse (again, owning the tractor). You can't imagine the embarassment I'm feeling; all my friends that thought I was crazy to buy one in the first place. So if anyone ever asks, tractor wheels fall off all the time, at least that's what i've been telling my friends /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.