Only took me 72 hours to break my tractor!

[HawkinsHollow]

I dread even posting about this because I do not wish to draw negative attention to our beloved Bransons. However, after much research I do not think this is an epidemic, rather an isolated incident so I would rather turn these lemons into lemonade. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

I was doing some work, not light work but not ridiculously strenuous work either and that happened. Scared the $h!t out of me! Those welds do not look stellar by any means, but I think I just got a bad egg as I have not seem much of the same on my searches. Here is where the lemonade comes in! This happened Monday, my warranty part is now at my dealership pending pickup. I would like to applaud my dealer North Georgia Equipment and Branson Co. in Rome, GA for resolving this issue in as quick of a manner as humanly possible. My tractor has seen 72 hours of solid work since it's purchase in April and it continues to impress me! Thanks Branson for standing behind your tractors!

 

[Jesser02Ex]

Is that on the bucket? How did that happen? We need more of the story and a wider photo showing perspective. That is crazy.

 

[LouNY]

Yep, nice looking weld bead with no penetration, happens to many times especially with MIGS,

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Is that on the bucket? How did that happen? We need more of the story and a wider photo showing perspective. That is crazy.

It is the quick attach plates on both sides where they meet the arms. 100% symmetrical. About 2 inches of the "weld" popped. I was digging in some gravel.


Lou - I think you are correct. Some welds look good until you stress them.

Dealer says Branson sent me an updated coupler. Whatever that means.

 

[k0ua]

Yep, nice looking weld bead with no penetration, happens to many times especially with MIGS,

Yep, the MIG strikes again. Never welded. Just a nice pretty bead layered over the surface. For those that don't weld, MIGS are notorious for not being run right. TOO COLD. They will make a pretty bead, just like a caulk gun and weld nothing. The thicker base metal piece was never penetrated and melted. The welder was doing crack that day and did not turn up his machine. With stick welding, yes it is much slower but you don't often have problems like this. Migs can make good welds, but they must be big enough to do the job and they must be set right. And the welder has to have some brains.

 

[ruffdog]

That is not much weld (bubble gum) for that high stress area that takes all the load.

 

[jeff9366]

I was doing some work, not light work but not ridiculously strenuous work.

Bad welds. Good for Branson and your dealer stepping up promptly.

How much COUNTERBALANCE did you have mounted on the Three Point Hitch?

 

[Warsign]

Wow, no burn in at all. Most likely a robotic mig weld. If it makes you feel any better, I have moved 60 ton of rock and about 20 ton of VERY wet dirt (mud) with mine and have had no issues.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Glad they've taken care of you. Isolated incident I'm sure. I've had more load on my loader arms than it could lift off the ground, and dug deep enough into hard dirt mounds that the relief valve released without moving the loader, and my welds are fine.

You will be fine when your new parts get put on.

Keep working that Branson, it's what they're made for.

 

[K5lwq]

I went to look at the 20 and 25 series today and took note of the quick attach welds. Bothe series had the BL200 loader. What I noticed looking at about 5 different ones is the outside weld on that part was the whole length of the joint. The inside weld was only on the top part. The interesting thing was each one of them had a different length of bead on the inside. The shortest was about 2" long. One was about 8" long. The bead was rather small as if it was welded at to fast of travel speed.

If I do purchase one of these I might just redo the welds to insure a good joint. Really was the only thing I saw that was of lesser quality. Makes me wonder if Branson just outsources their quick attach and do not manufacture them. :confused3: