lower link boss sheared off rear axle housing - stupid mistake = very bad day

[Rightsaidfred]

Hi guys, sharing my stupid *** mistake with you, its been a bad weekend. I sheared the cast boss off the rear axle where the 3 point hitch arm mounts on my 2011 Mccormick CX100 XtraShift (same as a Case CX100).

Forgot to put the pins in the sway limiters and they're the telescoping kind. long story short one limiter came out of its sleeve and allowed the right lower link arm to be pushed so far over it levered off the boss on the axle housing.

I was discing the field at the time (3 point mount set), made one pass, turned at the bottom of the field and that was all she wrote.

I found the large part that broke off right away, but didnt see the smaller part

I dropped off the tractor right away at the dealer yesterday, and now it waits till Monday (Not being a patient kind of man, I had to drop it off then and there, somehow I feel better knowing she is waiting for surgery at the dealer)

Back at the farm, I went back to the 15 acre field, metal detector in hand, and found the other piece!! Nowhere near the first bit, I took that as a sign from the farming gods that it can be welded and my baby will be as good as new.

Failing that welding option, a new right rear Axle housing will need to be purchased and installed (if one is available, id prefer this) that will not be cheap. Of course if they have to pull the right axle housing to weld it anyway, I know I would better off to buy a new housing, we will see what is available.

Im aware of the challenges with welding cast iron. (im guessing is cast iron and not cast steel), but my repair guy at the dealer tells me it can be welded and re-enforecd with mild steel.

Im gutted, feel sick to my stomach, my tractor is my baby, im the guy who waxes his tractor and I even use tire shine, she's a 2011 and looks like a 2020. Stupid is expensive. Ive been beating myself up for 24 hours with no sign of it letting up.

Someone tell me it will all be ok and Ill be able to use my 3 point again.

Here are the horror pics.. not for the squeamish, graphic content, parental discretion advised.

 

[Roadworthy]

Sometimes they can break without doing anything stupid. Sometimes you can figure a workaround without replacing the axle housing. I broke the rear axle housing on a Mitsubishi. I fabricated an adapter for a new three point stabilizer attachment point. I must not have done too badly. I probably used it that way for ten or twelve years. It never broke.

 

[Rightsaidfred]

Got pics of that Roadworthy ?

 

[shovelmike]

I grew up around my grandfather's 8N, it had been rear ended hard. My father found it out on a dealer's back lot, axle housing split open, they had it welded among other things needed to rebuild it, a noticeable bead across the housing but no trouble with it at all.
I agree, a new housing would probably be preferable if it doesn't cost a king's ransom.
Don't beat yourself up too bad, we have all had mess-ups like that.

 

[07wingnut]

Had the same thing happen to a CIH885. Brought in a reputable welder who spent a couple of hours welding it back on, a very slow process in cast iron. Then he added some reinforcement, never had a problem with it in the 10 years that I owned it after that.

 

[Rightsaidfred]

Good news that they can be successfully welded.

my guy at the dealer gave me the rundown on the slow welding process if we go that route. (1 inch at a time, cooling between welds, peaking after each weld etc). McCormick has a right side axle housing, jus waiting for a price on it, they working on getting me a better price. (no idea what the "list price" is)

One option I may consider is having it welded and re-enforced if its a couple of hours labour, and still buy the axle housing just in case. Keep it here on the shelf so to speak.

 

[shovelmike]

Good, sounds encouraging.

 

[Rightsaidfred]

Pricing is in.

$4900 CAD for a new one
$1600 CAD for a used one

Im going USED. We will put new seals in while its apart just to be sure.

New coat of paint will go on the used axle housing.

Stupid is Expensive guys. The more stupid you are the more expensive it is.

 

[ruffdog]

Pricing is in.

$4900 CAD for a new one
$1600 CAD for a used one

Im going USED. We will put new seals in while its apart just to be sure.

New coat of paint will go on the used axle housing.

Stupid is Expensive guys. The more stupid you are the more expensive it is.

Sounds like a plan. If you get the old one fixed, you will never need it. Keep it for a spare though.

 

[Texasmark]

Funny, since you posted this I had an aftermarket lift arm on the 2000 shear in half like you cut it with a knife. Never had an OEM do that.