Loose ROPS Bolts
- Thread starter Harv
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Bird
Rest in Peace
Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Harv, I think what Gordon was talking about is just to the right of the close-up, so it isn't shown there. It appears that a square "bracket" was spot welded to a round axle housing to mount the ROPS on and one of the spot welds appears to be cracked.
Hmm, I shouldn't have posted any response, since I don't know how to do neat things to pictures, like you and DaveNH.
Bird<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Bird on 12/31/00 01:21 PM.</FONT></P>
Harv, I think what Gordon was talking about is just to the right of the close-up, so it isn't shown there. It appears that a square "bracket" was spot welded to a round axle housing to mount the ROPS on and one of the spot welds appears to be cracked.
Hmm, I shouldn't have posted any response, since I don't know how to do neat things to pictures, like you and DaveNH.
Bird<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Bird on 12/31/00 01:21 PM.</FONT></P>
DaveNH
Gold Member
Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Attached
See picture or I'll write a 1000 words!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DaveNH on 12/31/00 01:30 PM.</FONT></P>
Attached
See picture or I'll write a 1000 words!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DaveNH on 12/31/00 01:30 PM.</FONT></P>
DFB
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Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Harv, in the first photo, on the right, just above the hole. Its not in the closeup
Harv, in the first photo, on the right, just above the hole. Its not in the closeup
OP
Harv
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Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Bird -
You identified the problem without the fancy photo work -- don't ever hold back. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Having said that -- nice work with your digital crayon, DaveNH. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Attached is a closeup of the real problem, but the question now is, how concerned should I be?
I could:
a - just keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse.
b - have it hauled to a dealer for repair.
c - try to find a local welder who makes house calls.
d - use this as an excuse to buy a welder, learn to use it and then fix it myself. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Any words of wisdom?
Bird -
You identified the problem without the fancy photo work -- don't ever hold back. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Having said that -- nice work with your digital crayon, DaveNH. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Attached is a closeup of the real problem, but the question now is, how concerned should I be?
I could:
a - just keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse.
b - have it hauled to a dealer for repair.
c - try to find a local welder who makes house calls.
d - use this as an excuse to buy a welder, learn to use it and then fix it myself. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Any words of wisdom?
DaveNH
Gold Member
Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
If the remaining welds are good, (slight tap of a hammer)
then I'd let it go but check on it every once in a while.
Then next time it's serviced, see about a touch up.
Doesn't look all that bad to me.
DaveNH
If the remaining welds are good, (slight tap of a hammer)
then I'd let it go but check on it every once in a while.
Then next time it's serviced, see about a touch up.
Doesn't look all that bad to me.
DaveNH
Bird
Rest in Peace
Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Tough call, Harv. Gordon may know more about that than I. I'm inclined to agree with DaveNH, but if the tractor is still in warranty, I think I'd at least talk to a dealer about it. If it were NOT in warranty, then I'd probably do just a little light welding myself./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Bird
Tough call, Harv. Gordon may know more about that than I. I'm inclined to agree with DaveNH, but if the tractor is still in warranty, I think I'd at least talk to a dealer about it. If it were NOT in warranty, then I'd probably do just a little light welding myself./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Bird
Jag
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Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Dave, good call.
Dave, good call.
gordon
Veteran Member
Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld
Harv, I know that you already knew that the crack was there and were just testing us if we looked at the pictures that you post. So we passed the test. Now to your questions.
If this were a multiple choice question test I would go with D. Buy a ac/dc arc welder. Or a small mig.
I would keep a close eye on it for now. The only thing that worries me is that a weld should be stronger than the steel around it. So we know that it's a crappy weld. Just keep an eye on the upper part it looks like it's got some pretty good penatration into the steel. The loose bolts from the rops probably helped show the cracked weld. Also if the tractor is under warranty show this picture to the dealer and have him note it on your file. Keep a copy of the paper for yourself then when you do take your tractor in for service you can get it covered under warranty.
Gordon
Harv, I know that you already knew that the crack was there and were just testing us if we looked at the pictures that you post. So we passed the test. Now to your questions.
If this were a multiple choice question test I would go with D. Buy a ac/dc arc welder. Or a small mig.
I would keep a close eye on it for now. The only thing that worries me is that a weld should be stronger than the steel around it. So we know that it's a crappy weld. Just keep an eye on the upper part it looks like it's got some pretty good penatration into the steel. The loose bolts from the rops probably helped show the cracked weld. Also if the tractor is under warranty show this picture to the dealer and have him note it on your file. Keep a copy of the paper for yourself then when you do take your tractor in for service you can get it covered under warranty.
Gordon
RJohnson
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Harv,
I am not a tractor owner (yet) but I would like to point out the bracket welded to the axle is a poor design. I have welded brackets to axles before and adding a box around a circular cross section does not allow for good welding. The welder is trying to fill in the large gaps created by the bent plate bracket and the crack is the result of the welder trying to fill up a poor joint design. I have attached a poorly drawn sketch showing a possible design change and the problem with the existing design.
Does Kubota add this bracket or is it a dealer added bracket? The plate thickness for the bracket appears to be too thin compared to the size of the bolts and the connector plate used on the top and bottom. All of the loads from the ROP and whatever is attached to it (canopy?) have to be transferred through the welds to the axle housing. The one cracked weld may be okay as is but if you have it repaired be sure and remove the defective weld and have it replaced. Do not just weld over the cracked weld as it will just crack again later on. Post is getting a little long, hope this helps.
Randy
I am not a tractor owner (yet) but I would like to point out the bracket welded to the axle is a poor design. I have welded brackets to axles before and adding a box around a circular cross section does not allow for good welding. The welder is trying to fill in the large gaps created by the bent plate bracket and the crack is the result of the welder trying to fill up a poor joint design. I have attached a poorly drawn sketch showing a possible design change and the problem with the existing design.
Does Kubota add this bracket or is it a dealer added bracket? The plate thickness for the bracket appears to be too thin compared to the size of the bolts and the connector plate used on the top and bottom. All of the loads from the ROP and whatever is attached to it (canopy?) have to be transferred through the welds to the axle housing. The one cracked weld may be okay as is but if you have it repaired be sure and remove the defective weld and have it replaced. Do not just weld over the cracked weld as it will just crack again later on. Post is getting a little long, hope this helps.
Randy
