Just broke a knuckle arm 4520r

[Branson Bob]

Here are several short videos of me taking the knuckle off for a weld repair. Sorry about having so many short videos. I should have combined them.

Welder did a good job. It’s working well for now until the dealer replacement. I’ll keep the repaired piece for any future breaks.

Welder noticed the break had some rust where it must have started to crack earlier.

First time seeing a skidder attachment for a CUT. Pretty cool. I lived in Buffalo, NY for 35 years. We would sometimes get 10' snow per winter but the temperatures were not that extreme. Were you using the fahrenheit scale? Good luck on the repair and stay warm!

 

[North to Alaska]

Yes sir, Fahrenheit.
I enjoy the cold, just dress for it.
We live south of the Alaska Range, so it’s not nearly as cold as the interior (north of the range). -20 to -30 is common for us here but not usually this early in winter. I’m in a microclimate as well where cold air settles in.

 

[North to Alaska]

K5lwq, thank you for the tip. However, the dealer will be putting on the new one.
I will keep the repaired one for future use though.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t all that cold. Just dress for it.

 

[North to Alaska]

Glad I did it yesterday
This mornings temp
Truck started right up (had to help neighbor out who was stuck). Glad I have a good 0w oil in. Didn’t have time to plug it in.

 

[ArtMech]

Glad to hear you can run your tractor until a knuckle will be replaced in Jan.

 

[ArtMech]

BTW in the videos it's clearly visible old rusted part of crack on a knuckle. I guess it's not cast iron. It must be some kind of special steel.
Try not to overload your FEL. That much affects front axle. Overload plus low temperature make any steel brittle.

Stay safe, don't get cold.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Good repair meanwhile. Hope it last you over new years?

 

[North to Alaska]

Or not…..
Broke again while trying to push some snow.

Talking with dealer mechanic
Can bring it down to them so that they can confirm it is the same part as the one that has been sitting around for a few years. I can then take the new part home with me and put it on. This way I can use it while waiting to bring it down for the Jan 5th appointment. They can check things over and make sure nothing else needs work at that time.

 

[K5lwq]

That is disappointing. I thought that repair looked solid. I wonder why there is so much stress there? It is not the logical stress point to me.

Hopefully the part they have is correct and will hold till they can look things over.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Ah man, that is too bad.

I'm curious if it broke right along the weld, or did it take a new line?

I haven't looked that closely at mine, but I would be very surprised if it isn't cast iron.

It can be successfully welded, but there is some special prep work involved.