Fractured LS 3039 Frame

[Bentley Meredith]

Anyone know if frame damage like this can be repaired, or is this tractor finished?

 

[Agvg]

How much damage is it? Just frame or more damage to engine, radiator or other components?

 

[Bentley Meredith]

Realize I am no mechanic when I use terminology...I believe when the frame was teewked, it pulled the drive shaft (?) out/away from the front axel/differential. It is not hanging or anything, just looks like it has somewhat separated. Another thing that I know is not right is when you turn one front wheel in say a forward direction, the opposing wheel wants to go the opposite direction. It has to be towed back to the shed backwards, no issue with all 4 wheels going in reverse.

The twisted frame as also bent the fan, the fan belt had come off down in the mud, but I am going to assume when it was extracted from mudd, that is whne the frame was broken, and the fan tweeked so it rubs against the faring(sp)! Have not even tried to put the belt back on. Cleared the exhaust of mudd and tried to start it, fired right up! Only bright spot in the last 10 days!

I guess I am worried that a completely severed frame means junk yard. I know if it can be fixed, it is going to be 1000's, just not sure if the broken frame is a game ender?

 

[mrmikey]

It definitely can be fixed, probably not cheap nor easy, it looks as if it's been broken for awhile, almost looks like cast iron. IMHO it's a verrry poor design, not a question of is it going to break but when..........Mike

 

[Agvg]

The only way to tell is to tear it apart, suppose this frame is bolted to the rear and broke where the front axle is mounted. Are you lucky you can host replace the frame.

 

[PCABE5]

It looks like the engine subframe broke. Pretty much holds the front axle, battery, and radiator assembly and is mounted under your loader mounts. It can be replaced or maybe even repaired but I'd guess it's twisted now.

I agree that it appears to have been broken for awhile.

 

[Bentley Meredith]

It was just broken 2 days ago. Maybe you are confusing mud for rust?

 

[mrmikey]

Maybe mud but the break doesn't look fresh, looks like it's discolored and been that way for awhile....maybe not, just my 2 cents worth........Mike

 

[George2615]

I'd suggest calling your LS dealer to have their mechanic look it over real well for damage other than the frame. They may be able to order a new frame or maybe repair the existing frame. In any case it will take a lot of time to replace or get the broken frame squared up enough to reweld and add extra gussets / plates for strength.

How many hours on it? What is it worth to you as is? Maybe the dealer may offer you a fair trade in price and then repair and sell it himself.

 

[Scook222]

How many hours on on the tractor? If it is low hours, I would definitely fix it. It looks like the frame is a multiple piece design and you could probably replace a piece at a time without having to remove the engine you would probably have to remove the front end loader and put the front in on blocks or jack stands. Blocking it up under the bell housing on the transmission should be fine. If you can find a parts tractor cheap, you should be able to fix it pretty easy. If you get the parts though LS they will probably be more expensive. The part that is cracked on the left side looks like a stress fracture and was weak to begin with. It might be the mud on it but it looks like where it broke wasn’t shiny like a fresh crack. I would also check with a machine shop to fabricate the parts, if you can’t find a parts tractor or LS is too high. When the frame broke it definitely moved the front end further forward and probably sheared bolts to hold it in place. As for the wheels turning opposite of each other, they do that on a 4wd tractor with the front end off the ground. If it is doing it with weight on the front tires it could be because the front end is disconnected just enough to make the spider gears stay locked together. I have done this on a farmall 560 before and had a parts tractor so it didn’t cost anything, it just took a lot of time and patience cleaning up the other front end and cleaning and retapping bolt holes to make sure everything can go back into place. We used big ratchet straps and chains to secure the front end to get it under a barn and moved it really slow. Did you put a chain on the front end to pull it out or was it on the frame, im just trying to figure out how it broke?

 

[Bentley Meredith]

It's 5 years old and has 880 hours on it, so not sure where that falls into low, medium or high? If it can be fixed and it is under $5000 I will go that route. I guess I am hearing the majority of owners think it can be fixed, so I will at least have it looked at and hope they say that it is not a write off. thanks for all the input, it is appreciated.

Take my word for it, it is not the tractors fault this fracture happened, it was a result of it being extracted due to the operator being a Nimrod. It was pulled out by a 150 hp JD from the tow bar at a perpendicular angle. I am not dumb, but I am slow thinking. Before I could use my mind to tell my neighbor, can you get behind the bank and pull it backwards 5 feet to get it out of the mud, he was already pulling from the side. Not sure if it was the 1st pull, or the 2nd, but one of them did it. I was against the idea, as I expected this to happen, but other factors conspired to make this extraction a now or never and this is what happened!

I got it stuck, I have to take responsibility for Everything that happened after that!

 

[bruceatlam]

This will not be a surprise to LS. It does look like this one has been abused a bit, but frame cracking in that area is a known problem. There is a kit available to install to strengthen the frame in that area but this one will need more than that and your warranty is long gone. It's worth asking your dealer if there's any chance you can get some warranty help.

 

[Scook222]

If you have maintained the tractor 880 hours on a 5 year old tractor isn’t bad. On our M7040, we have 2500 plus hours on it and it’s about 7 or 8 years old. I would think that 5000 would be more than enough to fix it even if you had the dealer do it. If not I’m pretty sure you could do it for less than that, especially if it’s just the frame. I wasn’t trying to blame you for it. I completely understand stuff happens and when in a situation like that you have to get it out before more damage with it being stuck. I’m not sure about LS, but can you order the parts online. I have ordered many different tractor parts online because I couldn’t get them where I live and it was cheaper, the shipping might be higher because of weight though.

 

[Bentley Meredith]

Have done the 50, 300, 600 and was just getting ready to do the 900 hour service, It has been serviced when it was supposed to be. If I could get someone to say do X, now do Y, etc..I could probably do it, shy of that, I would be lost!

I had no idea there were frame issues with the manufacture, this one falls square on me. The dealer I bought this from 5 years ago went out of business 2 weeks after I bought this. They were 2 miles from me, the next closest is 15 miles, but I would not trust them to put air in my tires. The next one after that is 30 miles. I have a friend that owns the New Holland dealership in Orange, if I have to put it on a rented trailer and take it somewhere will take it to him, as I will trust him explicitly! If he says it is something LS needs to deal with, will go to Mortons in Fredericksburg! After the way LS treated me regarding a warranty on my fuel tank, would never expect them to help with anything!

I have been very please with the tractor over the last 5 years, with the exception of the fuel tank issue!

 

[kthompson]

By chance is it insured? If so first thing is to find out is it covered.

 

[Bentley Meredith]

Not a stand alone policy, HO might cover it, but when you carry a $10000 deductible, it really does not matter!

 

[Avenger]

I would call your dealer friend first, see if he can do anything. He might be able to come out and pick it up saving your from renting a trailer. If you want keep cost down and attempt to fix it yourself, this actually looks not that bad. First thing to do is get it cleaned up. Take that layer of mud off so you can see the extent of the damage. Take the FEL off if you can for easy access. Remove the battery, radiator, and anything else above or attached to the frame in front of the break, this includes your front axle. Using jacks and blocks, or whatever else you can find, see if you can realign the frame back the way it was. I would put steel plates in side and out around the break after you ground it out and welded it back with 7018 welding rod. Do not use a wire feed. 7018 rod is considered structural, you are looking for strength here. I would then bolt these plates on around the break. Nothing major, using something like 1/4in hardened bolts, just to reinforce the area. The bolts will allow for a bit of movement in a weakened area. Ridged on a weak area might cause it to break right next to your weld again. Put everything back together after you inspect everything twice, and you should be good.

If you dont have the tools to do this yourself, I would not run out to get them. If you do, then you may only be out the cost of your time, welding rod, a few bolts, and reinforcing steel. I would guess less than $100. A welder, grinder, wrenches, jacks, etc, you are looking at potentially $1,000's. This all depends on if your frame is not simply broken, but rather broken and twisted. The only real way of knowing that extent is to see if it will go back together.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[Underdog57]

Read through this thread and the other threads it mentions, this a known problem with the LS 3039.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/ls-tractor-owning-operating/375192-3039r-engine-frame-broke.html

 

[Diggin It]

I guess I would wonder if it was cracked partially before the pulling issue and you just weren't aware of it. If so, it might be worth some kind of warranty attempt.

 

[ptsg]

A simple flat bar going from the loader mounts to the front of tractor, would prevent this from happening.

In Europe we don't get the OEM loaders. I think it's because they are actually just rebranded loaders from US manufacturers. Anyway, if we want a loader, it has to be aftermarket. So they all have this bars going to the front, which relieves lots of stress on the mid of the tractor.