Something else to check for loose bolts.

Gary Fowler · Feb 24, 2013

On my 50 hours oil change, I noticed these bolts loose, very loose and tightened them up. NOW got about 78 hours and was fooling around with my disc and decided to grease the 3-4 zerks on it and noticed that these bolts were REALLY loose now, some 4-5 rounds and a big gap in the bottom of the joint. I used the FEL to get the weight off and started tightening them up (19mm socket required). GOT to the last bolt and it had broken off but it did leave enough to get vise-grips on it and get out the stud. After getting the stud out and tightening the rest of the bolts (I loosened them all back up to get the broken stud out) , I checked the other wheel and they were loose also. While tightening those, one broke off but I was able to unscrew it by hand. Looking at the end, it was rusted about half way thru and evidently had been broken for a while. I have carried some pretty good loads of dirt with the FEL so that may be why they are loosening off.
Everyone should check these axle to steering hub bolts, especially if you have a P 7010.
The two broken bolts were in the same location except flipped 180 degrees, one was to front of tractor and the other was toward the rear

Mike1369 · Feb 24, 2013

I will check mine this week... Should these bolt have pressure washers to keep them locked in.

MrChris · Feb 24, 2013

Good catch! It's interesting because on my Mahindra I actually noticed some daylight at the same location on the right side after about 50 hrs. No broken bolts but the lower ones were loose enough to notice the separation. Tightened them up and haven't had an issue since. I soon learned afterward that the right hub is part of the assembly process here in the States.....oops! (Several people with same model had similar issue here on the forum) The left hub bolts never loosened.

Gary Fowler · Feb 24, 2013

Mike1369 said:
I will check mine this week... Should these bolt have pressure washers to keep them locked in.

Yep, they have lock washers but not doing the job. Maybe it is time for some of that blue or red Loctite. First I have to find 2 of the 10.9 grade x whatever mm those are (look to be about 12mm or so and fine thread) by about 25mm long bolts.

Mike1369 · Feb 24, 2013

Maybe a higher grade so the heads don't snap off.

Gary Fowler · Feb 25, 2013

Mike1369 said:
Maybe a higher grade so the heads don't snap off.

I don't know of anything higher than the 10.9 grade of bolt. I would suspect that the bolt broke because it got stressed when the rest of them loosened off.
Most of the bolts are 8.8 grade but these are super high strength.
I looked up on google and found that they do make a 12.9 with 1220 MPa strength compared to the 10.9 at 1040 MPa (150,800 PSI). You rarely find anything more than 8.8 grade. The 10.9 is equivalent to the ASTM A490 bolts which are classified as high strength bolts for use in structural steel and bridges

Dr Dave · Feb 25, 2013

If one bolt broke do to stress, then the others were probably stressed also. Replace all of them and use locktight.

Dave

Gary Fowler · Feb 25, 2013

That is probably the best solution. Which color Loctite would be best for these bolts RED OR BLUE>

Dr Dave · Feb 25, 2013

I always use red on steel or cast iron parts.

Dave

Mike1369 · Feb 25, 2013

Doesn't red require heat to remove bolt later. Won't blue do the same.

Gary Fowler · Feb 25, 2013

I just got back from the Fastenal fastener store. I had to order the 10.9 grade x 1.25 pitch threads x 40mm length ($2.10 each) along with some super dupper lock washers ($1.00 each). The lock washers are two piece contraptions with ridges like a normal lock washer except these have them all the way around inside and out so the two halves lock together and the outside edges have knurled like edges. He guaranteed them not to loosen up with these washers so I am going to forgo the Locktite at this time and keep a check on them. I took a bolt with me to check thread pitch and he said he didn't see any signs of stretching so I went with same 10.9 grade of bolt rather than try for a 12.9 upgrade.
They may be in by Thursday.
Weather is calling for snow flurries later today and tomorrow. Right now its a fine mist and 45F.

Gary Fowler · Feb 25, 2013

The washers are called NordLock and photo is on about page 10 of their lock washer search.
http://img4.fastenal.com/productimages/0129500_2.jpg

Gary Fowler · Mar 1, 2013

Well I got my 16 new grade 10.9 bolts that are 12 mm x 40 mm x 1.25 thread pitch along with 16 Nordlock washers and a .34 oz bottle of blue Loctite for $89 at Fastenal bolt store. I think my original post for pricing was wrong or they changed it, the Locktite blue was about $10 so the bolts with the washers ran $4.93 each including tax per bolt. I got all the old ones out which I am saving as they don't seem to be hurt, dust blown out of the holes and blue Loctite plus the Nordlock washers installed and torqued down, which means as much as I could put on a standard breaker bar. I removed one old and installed a new one then moved to the next one Those 10.9 grade bolts don't stretch at all, finger tighten and then about 1/4 turn and that was all I could get. After getting them all in, I went back around all of them and snugged down any loose ones.
I think they will be there now, but I will sure keep a visual eye on them to verify that they are staying tight. When it warms up again I am going to go over all the FEL bolts again to see if they are still tight since last summer. Havent used it much since I tightened them but may as well check them out again while I still have a little strength in my arms to pull them as for most part, end wrenches are all that you can get on them so my Impact guns are of no use.

Mike1369 · Mar 1, 2013

I will be checking mine tomorrow

Looking4new · Mar 1, 2013

I will be checking mine as well, tomorrow.

Gary Fowler · Mar 2, 2013

While there, don't forget to check those FEL frame bolts and Wheel lug bolts as well. Those were also loose on my tractor after 60 hours or so (maybe before that but that is when I checked them)

Jesse Shoemaker · Mar 9, 2013

Great thread

Jesse Shoemaker · Mar 9, 2013

I took my tractor to my dealer bc my FEL wasn't level all the time usually one end was higher than the other. After he took the cylinders apart he found that in one the piston was loose inside and something else wrong with the other. That being said he also found loose FEL frame mount bolts that were loose. He explained to me that when the two powder coated metals bolted together the powder coat actually acts as a lubricant and with the loads and angles the tractor is operated on caused things to move a bit and that caused the bolts to loosen up. He removed the loader completely, sanded the powder coat off the mating surfaces and put everything back together and replaced a couple of worn bolts. So I'll see how it does over the next several weeks. Oh and I had 53 hours on it when I took it in. Great warranty service, it didnt cost me a dime. I just thought I would throw that in there about the powder coating though because I sure didn't know that.

Gary Fowler · Mar 9, 2013

That powder coating is pretty thick also. I have some flaking off on the loader and it looks to be almost a millimeter thick, add that to the paint on the tractor frame and one can readily see how with just a little wearing down of the paint, a bolt could become loose enough to cause problems. I suppose that if all the dealers sanded down the paint, some customers would complain about rust.