Tractor wheel fell off! :(

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello Everyone, Today while grading my right front wheel fell off my New Holland TC 24D.
I was moving down a steep slope and almost to the bottom and bam the wheel folded under! I quickly dropped the loader bucket and caught the tractor before it tipped over on its side. Upon examination I found no lug nuts on the axle or the rim. I found three of them later all very chewed up, even the lug nut holes in the rim had been reamed wider. I was able to take two lug nuts from the other front wheel and they went in ok and limped to an open flat area. I then visited Home Depot hoping to find some of these lug nuts, no dice.
I settled for some 7/16? bolts that looked like they should work but when I tried to get them in the holes the damage proved to be too severe. So I need to finish my project before the city/county finds out what I have been up to. I will go back to Home Depot and get some longer bolts and some nuts and then drill out the holes. I think this should work for a couple days unit I can get it to the dealer.
My question to all is: has this happened to you and if so will New Holland cover it under warranty. I checked the rest of the wheels all were good except for the left front wheel it needed to be tightened. I have had problems with the front axle bolts coming loose on the differential but I took care of that.
I could have been hurt bad if that tractor had rolled over. I urge everyone to check the lug nuts on their tractors ASAP! It was very scary and now I am worried on who is going to pay of the repair. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

George

 

[knucklehead]

You'll probably hear this from more than one person, but I'd not stick Home Depot bolts in there unless you know something about their hardness. Sounds like you need a new wheel, at least. Also sounds like you are setting yourself up for a hassle with the dealer because they will want to see the original damage and know you stopped at once, and when they find out you drilled 'em out, stuck hardware store bolts in, and kept going, they are rightly going to have a few little red flags go up in their minds. Kinda like the ones that are going off in my head right now. If you drill the hub it's all over as far as the warranty goes.

I guess you have a little dilemma resulting from some personal choices. I can't help you with that, but I can say those bolts may be a worse safety problem than the original problem, and you may need to choose between risking a spanking from the town and getting warranty service from your dealer - probably not both.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> So I need to finish my project before the city/county finds out what I have been up to. </font>
Huh? Whose tractor is it or are you doing some work that should have had permit? Oops. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

<font color="blue"> I will go back to Home Depot and get some longer bolts and some nuts and then drill out the holes. </font>
There's no way I'd do this. Take the wheel and tire, as is, to the dealer and get them to mount the tire on a new rim. Since the lug nut holes were also reamed wider, this means the wheel had been loose for some time. Odds are, the lugs were never tightened properly by the dealer as a part of pre-delivery dealer prep. That should be obvious as the wheel is now.This is definitely a warranty issue.

If you drill it out I think you might be in for a hassle. It will take you as long to go to HD as it will for the dealer to mount your tire on a new rim. Heck, they might just give you a new wheel/tire combo off a tractor just to get you on your way faster.

After you get this problem straightened out, find another dealer.

 

[markie61]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Odds are, the lugs were never tightened properly by the dealer as a part of pre-delivery dealer prep )</font>

Plus my NH owner's manual says checking wheel fastener torque is part of the 50 hour service (your profile says you have 76 hours) and every 200 hours thereafter. They should have checked it at the 50hour service.

Mark

 

[Rowski]

I think those bolts maybe metric.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> I think those bolts maybe metric. </font>
The bolts on the front wheels of my TC25D are 19 mm. I just checked 'em. They're snug. Didn't have a large enough socket (21mm?) to use on the rear wheels, so I used an adjustable wrench to see if they were snug. They were. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

George - You referred to 'lug nuts' in your initial post. Does the TC24 use studs and lug nuts or bolts?

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi George,

I’m sorry to hear about your troubles… /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I wouldn’t drill, hammer, or do nothing to that front wheel and assembly without the dealer taking a look see… and go from there…

<font color="blue">… NH owner's manual says checking wheel fastener torque…

…I checked the rest of the wheels…

…will New Holland cover it under warranty…</font>

I know you don’t want to hear this… but…

It’s the tractor owner/users sole responsibility to PM his tractor every time before he/she uses it… it’s no different than a pilot going through a check list on his aircraft before they taxi down the runway and take off into the sky…

You the owner/user… must go through a “tractor checklist” before every use…

… unfortunately there is nothing etched into stone, there is no “tractor-bible checklist standard”… but fasteners are at the top of the pecking order however intense or brief you may place as part of your inspection process…

I’d be very surprised if NH would cover this, as this should be the operator’s responsibility… /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

<font color="blue">… Remote Television Engineer…</font>

On to a brighter side note… What station do you work for? My Father for many years worked for a couple of our local television stations as Television Transmitter Engineer… (WTEN, WMHT, and a remote Berkshire station (can’t remember call sign?)) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[loner]

If I was in your shoes. If I went to see the dealer I would have my hat in my hand . Fully admiting all responcability and could ya help a fella out.I wouldn't have a problem with proper bolts and nuts and good wheel Before I spent large dollars on it .

 

[RoyJackson]

Just out of curiousity, who did your 50 hour service? Was it done? If the Dealer did it, they should have at least checked the torque on the wheel bolts.

That might give you some leverage...

But, that doesn't excuse any lapse in normal maintenance and a walk-around (preflight?).
I, personally, insist the dealer torques any fasteners, plug, what have you... This is to ensure I can remove those items in the field if the need arises. Bolts (or, in my case, the oil drain plug) airguned on can be extremely difficult to remove with hand tools. Of course, this means I've got to check those fasteners, plugs, etc. on a regular basis. By the way, I also insist on use of an anti-seize compound on any threads.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue">...in my case, the oil drain plug) airguned on...</font>

Hi Roy,

You best find someone else to service that tractor if they use an airgun on your oil drain plug... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"You best find someone else to service that tractor if they use an airgun on your oil drain plug... "

I can't say it was the dealer since I bought the tractor used (through the dealer). However, when I found I couldn't get it off, I did send it in with very explicit directions to torque the plug, no air gunning!

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue"> I think those bolts maybe metric </font>

I'd bet big money that they are metric. Don't know what size off the top of my head. Take one from the left side with you to the store. Be sure you are buying hardened bolts. There should be a number stamped into the head of the bolts you've still got. Match that. Or wait untill tomorrow & get them from your dealer.

As others have said, don't drill anything.

Good luck.

 

[cowboydoc]

Ditto what John Miller said. It's your resp. to make sure your tractor is safe and everything is in working order. Def. not a warranty issue in my book. Chalk it up to exp. and check your wheel bolts next time.

I baled hay all day today. We were late getting back from church this am but I still spent about 45 minutes before going out checking out the tractor and baler and greasing everything.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello everyone, well got my tractor fixed 2 days ago after 21 days waiting for a new rim for the tractor (see attachment). In addition to the rim the hub and the bolts had to be replaced as well. Everything was covered under warranty by New Holland. Apparently my incident was not an isolated one. Just 90 miles from me another TC 24D lost it front wheel except it was on the left side. New Holland management told me that the front axle assembly including the wheels had QC issues. This explains why all the bolts on the front axle were losing and fluid was leaking from the axle pumpkin at the halves.
I urge everyone to check the bolts on the their TC 24D’s in case there is another one that got away from the QC department.
Since I had to wait for so long I had to make things work so off to Home Depot I went and got some really questionable bolts that I was going to use to hold on my wheel. I was able to find some that fit the treads of the hub (only 2 were not stripped out) I also got some washers, lock washers and nuts to go with them. I then drilled out the bad holes in the hub and inserted a bolt and bingo I was back in action. I had lots of work to get done and as they say, a man has to do what a man has to do. I also moved 42 tons of heavy wet clay like dirt. Must have been the heaviest load my 54 inch bucket has ever lifted. I kept an eye one the bolts and they seemed to be holding. After the task I checked the nuts and they were starting to work loose so I tightened them and off to the next task. This time it was very light duty, just spraying weeks. I noticed the wheel was moving a little so I stopped and checked and they were loose go figure. So I guess I owe Home Depot some gratitude for keeping in business while my dealer looked for a new front wheel.
I know many out there must be horrid at my deed but solutions like that is why they don’t pay me the big bucks. It does not help that I have all these can do people around me either.
So in conclusion we have learned that one must check their nuts often /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, and bolts too. And where there is a will there is always a way.

George

PS: Thank you for the great advice it keep me on my toes. And the dealer was great they even sent out their best man, a really nice guy.
Oh and for who asked what kind of engineer I am. Remote Television Engineering is my gig; I keep TV on the air when there is a big event such as a Nascar Race or big trial.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Picture 2 of 2

 

[RedDog]

Well that is great that it was under warranty /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif,,, as I thought it should have been!!

I must be the minority!! I sure don't look at my lug nuts every time I use the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif To me, this is going overboard!!!

Do these people that say you should check lug nuts, check theirs everytime, including their personal vehicles??? I think not. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RedDog <font color="orange"> Kioti DK65 </font>

 

[GaryM]

I notice they didn't need a jack for the front end! Used the built in one.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

In the future, go to a better hardware store & get some grade 5 or grade 8 bolts & nuts. Use lock nuts, or get the bolt long enough & put 2 regular nuts on each bolt, tighten the nuts against each other. This would have kept them tight on your temp repair, & been more than strong enough. The price would have been less difference than the gas it took you to go buy them.

Otherwise, as long as drilling things out was ok with your dealer, I think you did fine carrying on as you did. If it were me, I'd sure check that out _first_ before getting the drill, or you might be erasing evidence that this is a warrenty reapair....

--->Paul

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello everyone, I agree I could have used a whole heck of a lot better hardware but being that the Home Depot is just 10 miles from home it was very convenient. And it is hard to find a regular hardware store around here. Use of the very best bolts and nuts would be the safest things to do. For everyone out there I can prove that Home Depot hardware can hold up to some very serious work. I should also add that the holes I did drill out used a larger bolt and 2 washers and 1 lock washer. There was not enough room for 2 nuts on the back end. It was very fortunate for me there was even enough room for the temp fix anyway. I would have been more completive about drilling the hub but I was under a deadline and felt I could get the tractor back in action while I waited for the parts to repair it properly. I must admit that my wife and I were very concerned that it would not be covered under warranty if I tried to repair it. Also people who posted on this subject really made me feel that it would not be covered at all and maybe I should beg for forgiveness. As it turned out it was never an issue it was covered and no discussion about it ever came up. They were very concerned that I was not hurt and knew they had to get it fixed because I would work it anyways until the parts came in. That really bothered them since I really feel they did not want to see me hurt and then not be able to upgrade to a bigger unit later. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif When it comes right down to it the dealer can make thing happen and one should buy from a dealer that makes them feel ok. New Holland’s warranty also seems to stand up and take charge when it is needed. Trust me I deal with lots of companies big and small and New Holland and my dealer have taken care of me the way I expected them too, at least so far. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif