TuffLine not so Tuff!

[SCDolphin]

The night that I posted this on TBN I sent a note to Tufline. So far I have not heard from them. What's funny is when I bought it "new" the paint was so faded it looked several years old. Maybe it had sat on the lot so long it started to rust.,,,,,ha.

I would like to thank those who offered to fix it. I doubt if Tufline would fix it but thought I would see what they say. If not I might call Ya.

Anyone going to the Sportsman Classic this weekend in Columbia



Thanks everyone

 

[firemanpat2910]

dumb question but how well supported is it when its being transported on the trailer? I know with some implements I have had to set one gang on a 2x6 so that the weight was not hanging on the 3pt. Also when you bind it to the trailer, make sure its not stressed.

 

[Gizmo36]

I have seen that a lot . when you back off a trailer and the disc is not high enough. The back digs in and the weight of the tractor go on the disc it will brake them. the deer hunters do it all the time around here. I have seen a lot heavier set then that brake the same way.

 

[SCDolphin]

UPDATE

Tufline has not reponded to my email to them. I posted it the same time as I posted this thread. Supprised that I did not get a reply. I did get the thing rewelded. Will post some picts. I repair looks ugly but it was done by a fellow that welds for a living. I think bcjsc's idea would have been much better but did not have time to take it to him.

Thanks

 

[LeadPoison]

I have had quite the different experience with Tufline. I have been well pleased with my disc and I have even had responses from online customer service for a question I had.

I would definitely try calling them.

 

[N80]

I considered buying a Tufline disk. They make a wide range of disks, some of which look just like any of the lower end products you would see at TSC, etc. But, they also have a number of models which are seriously well built disks that look beefier, better built and heavier than many other popular and quality implement manufacturers. A fellow I know has a 6 footer with 24" disks and that thing is big, heavy and tough. I wanted something similar to his, but could not afford it so I got another brand.

But even the lower end brand that I have has the front cross piece made of tubing rather than angle iron. As someone mentioned, the little support braces seen on Hugh's disk indicate that Tufline knew that that angle iron was not sturdy enough for the job. Tufline should respond. I think they generally have a good reputation but if they don't answer Hugh's emails, etc, then their reputation will certainly be damaged in my eyes and probably anyone else's who reads this thread.

Unfortunately, now that repairs have been made, I'm not sure there is much they can do at this point.

Hugh, I wouldn't worry about whether the job is pretty or not just as long as the thing works and you didn't go broke having it fixed. I hope you won't have any more trouble with it.

 

[SCDolphin]

I am in the process of rebuilding a 2 row JD 71 flex planter with a Cole side dresser. I have been amazed at the quick response from Yetter, Cole-Covington looking for parts yet not a peep out of Tufline! My friend that welded it says that the front design was not well designed. It is certainly not their cheapest model

 

[N80]

My friend that welded it says that the front design was not well designed. It is certainly not their cheapest model

That is what is so puzzling. That's a nice heavy disk, with nice heavy duty pillow block bearings and big (22") disks and steel tube construction everywhere else. Why they would put angle iron at the point of highest load is really odd. I can understand angle iron on a light disk, framed entirely with angle iron, but just at the front? Very weird. I'd try to find some pics of that model and see if all of them have angle iron in the front.

 

[SCDolphin]

Update:

I still have not heard from tufline. What an outfit! A friend of mine volunteered to repair the disc. He has been a welder by trade and felt the front of the frame was poorly designed or maybe a batch of poor quality steel. Anyway he straightened it out and rewelded the frame back to original. He then added a steel plate on the front and then welded some channel on the back of the frame at an angle. He said that he fixed it the old fashioned way......he stick welded it. I know nothing about welding but he said he thought stick was the strongest way to repair it. I gave it a pretty good workout this last week and sofar no cracks.

 

[N80]

Glad you got it fixed Hugh. Looks like your friend has beefed it up (the way it should have been to begin with). I suspect you'll get years of good use out of it now.

I went and looked at my friend's disk. It is made the same as yours, with angle iron on the front rather than tubing. I was shocked. That disk is so heavy my little 45 hp tractor could hardly pick it up. All that weight on angle iron just seems nuts. How much money could that possibly save Tufline?

Anyway, what's done is done. Your disk is fine now, but I'll probably pass this story along to my buddy and let him know he needs to be real careful with his disk. He might even want to beef it up a little before something goes wrong. He pulls it with a full sized 65hp JD ag tractor.

 

[Redbug]

I was just checking the internet this morning with a cup of coffee and looking at Hugh's Tuffline welding pics, too. Just thinking about it, an average person would never know that it is an inherently bad design. I wonder how many other folks have had that happen and had to have some welding done.

I better go look at my Leinbach to see if it is angle or tubing. I can't remember which...

One last note...in the Tuflinerepair3 pic....that looks like a pair of Carhart's you are wearing!

 

[N80]

My Leinbach, which is the 300s ( 7' with 20, 20" disks) has tube framing in the front and everyhwere else except the peice across the back (which gets little or no load at all). That piece is angle iron. It is much lighter than the Tufline too.