I Broke It $ $ $ 3400 HST

[Soundguy]

The crack is in a major weight supporting member like the axle trumpet.. why on earth would you want to fix the thing that holds your tractor off the ground, and holds up the thing that's meant to save you ( rops ).. if the tractor rolls over? Would you bet your life on jb weld?

Soundguy

 

[Shimon]

Gotta agree with Soundguy on this one. I would not JB Weld or try to repair the cracked unit in any way. Too much riding on that piece (literally). R&R is the best bet.

 

[Greenfield Dave]

OK guys, you are right...I did not read the whole thread before I posted to see how bad the crack was...

After reading, I would replace it...Maybe the whole tractor??!!

 

[Kendall69]

I would just take it to the dealer, it's a big job, and once you get inside, you don't need surprises.

Your going to just have to take your lumps on this one, sure it sucks, but dealing with big heavy stuff if you are not set up for it, may bring injury to you. For what you can save by doing it yourself...ain't worth it.

Besides, you need to trust the machine after the repair, and I would trust someone who works on tractors every day, rather than once in a blue moon.

 

[john_bud]

The crack is in a major weight supporting member like the axle trumpet.. why on earth would you want to fix the thing that holds your tractor off the ground, and holds up the thing that's meant to save you ( rops ).. if the tractor rolls over? Would you bet your life on jb weld?

Soundguy

OOPS! I thought the differential housing was cracked, not the trumpet.

If you can change a wheel, you can change the trumpet. Seriously, it won't be that bad. Just get the gaskets, seals and go for it. Be sure to check if the replacement has bearings in it or not. To move the tractor, you should immobilize the rear wheels. Take off the rears and set the differential on a steel or wooden skid and drag it. If there is a chunk of iron in there, you don't want it to wedge between gears. Teeth are hard, but not tough. They can and do snap off and the repair $$ will multiply like a bunch of rabbits! Sadly, I know.

jb

 

[8226hamer]

You are crazy and unsafe.. and are giving crazy unsafe advice to another that could get him killed....

if the axle trumpets are indeed cracked.. and the rops bolts to those housings.. are you seriously implying that you think they should be welded? CI welding is iffy even in good conditions.

That is to state it differently.. modify a safety feature???

You willing to bet 'his' life that that welde dCI axle trumpet will be as strong.. and as ductile ( not brittle ) as it was when OEM?!?!

If it were me.. and it were broke trumpets.. i'd be replacing the trumpets... I doubt that is as expensive as it sounds.

Assuming the axles are ok.. I'll bet it is ntotheing more than the trumpets.. and bearings and seals.. and some gaskets. The trumpets will be the spendy parts.. so will the labor .. still better than some other repairs I see listed here after catastrophic accidents..

To the poster.. get that machine checked out ASAP.. if the axle trumpets are cracked.. you could loose either or both at any time.. and if they go under load.. then bet on replacing axles.. and any final drive or planetary gearing, and most associated parts that could be damaged int he center section when the machine lets go and colapses. Might damage center housing.. and pto section or more.. Could go from a 2000$ repair to a 8000$ repair fast...


Soundguy

Ahhh, I think I said depending on how bad it was broken whether it could be welded or not. I wasn't betting his life just trying to save him some money. If a certified welder could weld this then yes it would be stronger than the original. It may break again, but the weld won't be what breaks, but the weak ,not heavy enough housing that ROPS bar mounted to. Modify a saftey feature??. If running into a tree limb did this then yes, something need to be modified I would think. I just jumped off the crazy train.

 

[RobJ]

OK guys, you are right...I did not read the whole thread before I posted to see how bad the crack was...

After reading, I would replace it...Maybe the whole tractor??!!

Whole Tractor?? Somewhere between Hot and Cold...there is warm.

 

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. I still can't see trying to weld up a cast axle trumpet. If it were steel.. -maybee- Even if the welder could get the actual repaired area as strong or stronger than it was originally.. the metalurgy of that part wil be changed significantly. Ductility will change.. and hard/brittle areas will be present along previous stress and damage lines. Heat warpage could also be a factor. Given that axle trumpets are machined to exacting tolerances to hold seals and bearings.. etc.. It's not a part I'd make a wager on fixing.

I don't expect a safety device to -not fail- I expect them to do their job.. even if they have a partial failure. The issue witht he rops breaking the axle when it hit the tree.. well..If I rolled that tractor and the same thing happened.. IE.. the rops didn't fold. but did cause damage to the tractor.. then I'd be 'happy' they worked.. not complaining that they broke.

Id never trust a rops structure bolted to a kludged up welded support structure. I've got too much left to do in my lifetime.. too much family to care for etc. The price of a couple axle trumpets doesn't even make a blip on the radar when i think about the risk/benefit ratio.

This is of course my opinion. You are free to do as you please should you ever have the opportunity to weld up something such as this after a failure.

I'm just saying that my life is worth more than that.. etc. And technically.. there may be more at risk than personal harm. What happens when that tractor with the fractured and welded up axle supports is driving down t he road.. colapses on t he street, sends parts flying.. and in the aftermatch the school buss full of orphans and nuns' wrecks and burns tryingto avoid running into you cause you saved a few hundred bucks on a repair vs a replacement. A long shot? for sure.. but then.. the ship designers never thought the titanic was gonna sink either.. and on it's maiden voyage if found the deepest hole in the n. atlantic to inhabit...

Soundguy

Ahhh, I think I said depending on how bad it was broken whether it could be welded or not. I wasn't betting his life just trying to save him some money. If a certified welder could weld this then yes it would be stronger than the original. It may break again, but the weld won't be what breaks, but the weak ,not heavy enough housing that ROPS bar mounted to. Modify a saftey feature??. If running into a tree limb did this then yes, something need to be modified I would think. I just jumped off the crazy train.

 

[8226hamer]

Hmm.. I still can't see trying to weld up a cast axle trumpet. If it were steel.. -maybee- Even if the welder could get the actual repaired area as strong or stronger than it was originally.. the metalurgy of that part wil be changed significantly. Ductility will change.. and hard/brittle areas will be present along previous stress and damage lines. Heat warpage could also be a factor. Given that axle trumpets are machined to exacting tolerances to hold seals and bearings.. etc.. It's not a part I'd make a wager on fixing.

I don't expect a safety device to -not fail- I expect them to do their job.. even if they have a partial failure. The issue witht he rops breaking the axle when it hit the tree.. well..If I rolled that tractor and the same thing happened.. IE.. the rops didn't fold. but did cause damage to the tractor.. then I'd be 'happy' they worked.. not complaining that they broke.

Id never trust a rops structure bolted to a kludged up welded support structure. I've got too much left to do in my lifetime.. too much family to care for etc. The price of a couple axle trumpets doesn't even make a blip on the radar when i think about the risk/benefit ratio.

This is of course my opinion. You are free to do as you please should you ever have the opportunity to weld up something such as this after a failure.

I'm just saying that my life is worth more than that.. etc. And technically.. there may be more at risk than personal harm. What happens when that tractor with the fractured and welded up axle supports is driving down t he road.. colapses on t he street, sends parts flying.. and in the aftermatch the school buss full of orphans and nuns' wrecks and burns tryingto avoid running into you cause you saved a few hundred bucks on a repair vs a replacement. A long shot? for sure.. but then.. the ship designers never thought the titanic was gonna sink either.. and on it's maiden voyage if found the deepest hole in the n. atlantic to inhabit...

Soundguy

I think I would just junk the tractor and never climb on another after reading soundguys last post. Removing rear wheels sounds very dangerous. I see the possibility of dropping one of the wheels on your foot, while jumping around screaming, yelling and cussing in pain, you trip over the jack handle, fall crack your noggin, cutting a severe gash in your head. Your wife comes to investigate your screams of agony, she sees you lying there out cold, and your blood coverd head, faints on the spot hitting her head also, on the cracked trumpet of all things, causing a severe gash. Before either of you come to you both bleed to death. Don't attempt this repair. The risk/benefit ratio of this type of repair is not good and your life is worth more than that etc..

 

[john_bud]

I think I would just junk the tractor and never climb on another after reading soundguys last post. Removing rear wheels sounds very dangerous. I see the possibility of dropping one of the wheels on your foot, while jumping around screaming, yelling and cussing in pain, you trip over the jack handle, fall crack your noggin, cutting a severe gash in your head. Your wife comes to investigate your screams of agony, she sees you lying there out cold, and your blood coverd head, faints on the spot hitting her head also, on the cracked trumpet of all things, causing a severe gash. Before either of you come to you both bleed to death. Don't attempt this repair. The risk/benefit ratio of this type of repair is not good and your life is worth more than that etc..

Hammer - FREEZE!! Don't move a muscle. Ok, now carefully email me your address, then belly crawl to the door, toss out your tractor key. I'll be there in the morning to take away that potential death trap! Don't take any risks with getting paper cuts either. Leave all your money next to the tractor keys. Try and stay calm ... help is on the way...