Fractured LS 3039 Frame

[Caveman3250]

Wow! Looks pretty messed up. My LS almost broke in half once when using bucket to lift. Weak point there where yours broke. Was able to straighten out and add reinforcement to both sides to repair and prevent further problems. Had to replace fan, shroud where they hit. Then later the cross member that the axle front pivot was attached to broke causing the front axle assembly to tear loose breaking the drive shaft inside the axle and tearing fittings off of power steering cylinder. Fixed those and rewelded cross bar back and worked fine again. LS is a pretty weak tractor in my opinion. Won’t buy another. It’s broken now in shop with timing issue. Good luck!

 

[Bentley Meredith]

Well, $4200 and 9 weeks after I got it stuck my RS is running again!

 

[ovrszd]

Awesome. Thanks for the update!!!

 

[VIEWQUEST]

The reason IMHO that these tractor frames are cracking and breaking is because of a poorly designed/engineered loader frame mount. The frame mount as shown in blue in your picture should have extended all the way to the top of the front axle area. Anything shorter than this will act as a fulcrum point on the frame at the lower edge of where the mount is bolted. It doesn't matter if the tractor is "smaller" or "bigger", a poor design is a poor design. The Korean engineers need to go back to physics class and study up on lever arms.
In fact I've noticed that LS has started to change this mounting system on some of their newer models.

 

[Bentley Meredith]

I will state it again. This frame broke because this 39hp tractor was pulled out of 3 feet of mud at a bad angle by a 150hp JD tractor. Period. Maybe there are LS frame issues, but this had nothing to do with a bad frame, this had to do with a bad, rushed extraction, plain and simple. I don't like to see a Manufacture get blamed for something that was not there fault.

Having said that, my starter went bad 2 weeks after this was fixed. I called to find out how much OEM was, they said $1567. I seriously laughed and ask them again what the price was. They said that is a correct price for the part. Got one on Amazon new for $137. For this reason alone I would never buy an LS tractor again. And I love mine.

 

[jaydee325]

Ridiculous priced parts are not an exclusive to LS. Look across this website and you will find many examples!:2cents:

I will state it again. This frame broke because this 39hp tractor was pulled out of 3 feet of mud at a bad angle by a 150hp JD tractor. Period. Maybe there are LS frame issues, but this had nothing to do with a bad frame, this had to do with a bad, rushed extraction, plain and simple. I don't like to see a Manufacture get blamed for something that was not there fault.

Having said that, my starter went bad 2 weeks after this was fixed. I called to find out how much OEM was, they said $1567. I seriously laughed and ask them again what the price was. They said that is a correct price for the part. Got one on Amazon new for $137. For this reason alone I would never buy an LS tractor again. And I love mine.

 

[lilranch2001]

I HAVE TO CHUCKLE EVERY TIME I READ A POST FROM ONE OF THE GREENIES OR ORANGES THAT ACT LIKE THEIR "FAVORITE COLOR" NEVER HAS MADE A MODEL WITH A POOR DESIGN OR BAD PARTS....

i GUESS THEY DO NOT READ MUCH ON THE TBM SITE REGARDING THEIR OWN COLORS!
:laughing:

 

[Bentley Meredith]

A moot point I guess. Having seen your post...I guess I am glad this will be the last tractor I ever purchase.

Ridiculous priced parts are not an exclusive to LS. Look across this website and you will find many examples!:2cents:

 

[goeduck]

I will state it again. This frame broke because this 39hp tractor was pulled out of 3 feet of mud at a bad angle by a 150hp JD tractor. Period. Maybe there are LS frame issues, but this had nothing to do with a bad frame, this had to do with a bad, rushed extraction, plain and simple. I don't like to see a Manufacture get blamed for something that was not there fault.

Having said that, my starter went bad 2 weeks after this was fixed. I called to find out how much OEM was, they said $1567. I seriously laughed and ask them again what the price was. They said that is a correct price for the part. Got one on Amazon new for $137. For this reason alone I would never buy an LS tractor again. And I love mine.

I do not know if I would throw in the towel on LS tractors given what I see in this thread. The tractor clearly was broken by an incorrect attachment/pull direction. As to the starter, someone had to be looking up the wrong thing if they quoted $1567 unless that was an installed price with a slower than book installer (not sure what book would be, but it seems high). I do not have an LS but I have formed a positive opinion based on the many happy LS owners out there. Every brand has pros and cons.

 

[Bentley Meredith]

Yes, just as I have stated several times in this thread.

You obviously don't believe me, I called 3 different dealers. I encourage you to call one up and ask them yourself.

I do not know if I would throw in the towel on LS tractors given what I see in this thread. The tractor clearly was broken by an incorrect attachment/pull direction. As to the starter, someone had to be looking up the wrong thing if they quoted $1567...