Broken hydraulic Cylinder Case

[Taktiks]

Got post hole digger leveraged in a clay hole and the rear case broke apart. So odd as I have dug many a hole. I think I may have tried to upright the auger and a whole lot of force was exerted on the 3pt lift arms.
Anyway, disassembled, purchased new cover but contemplating how to go about fixing the two broken apart bolt holes? The third one sheered off and I will weld a nut on and extract.
The cover is held on with several more bolts so how important is the integrity of the two broken apart holes? Do not want to replace entire case.
Weld, drill, tap? JB Weld? Drill and tap two new holes next to the broken ones? Any ideas? Dunno.

2017 Branson 2400H 150 hours
Top and Tilt hydraulics
Hydraulic diverter/3 rear spools
Peruzzo Fox Cross Flail Mower (excellent machine)
Frontier 48" Tiller
Speeco Auger (need reversible)
Amsung 60" belly mower
Pallet Forks
Box Grader
Rotating aerator
Quick hitch

 

[BeezFun]

Wow man, that is quite a break. If you have the small pieces of the casting that complete those bolt holes I think they could be welded back together since that casting probably hasn't absorbed any oil and it's got enough mass to be able to sink the heat from welding. Take it to someone who does castings a lot, or take them some photos. If they have a mobile setup they might be able to come to you. The will probably tig weld or tig braze that.

 

[Leejohn]

I would buy a new rockshaft housing and repair the 2 bottom casting bolt holes. You better check the 3 pt piston and make sure the relief valve (safety valve) is set right .

 

[LD1]

Any warranty left or help from the dealer?

I have seen top-links rip the rear of the tractor apart like that....but its usually because of people using 3ph backhoes, or logging winches, or the dynamic forces of having something really heavy back there and driving over rough ground.

But I have NEVER seen one fail due to just the static forces of the 3PH lifting. There is no way under hydraulic lifting power alone that the tractor should be able to destroy itself

 

[Harry in Ky]

I doubt this was caused by simply lifting the three point. The first post indicates an auger (possibly stuck?) in the ground and attempts to free or redirect it. We don't have the full story here but the tractor was probably moving in one direction or another in that attempt so the forces applied to the lift arms weren't strictly from the hydraulics.

 

[KWentling]

Might be possible to make studs of the appropriate length and weld them to the casting. Would depend on if there is enough room to drop the top cover over the studs.

 

[5030]

tig braze that.

What the heck is TIG brazing?

 

[BeezFun]

What the heck is TIG brazing?

It's just like oxy acetylene brazing but you don't need flux because you have a shielding gas. It doesn't melt the base metal, just the filler, so it can be done with less heat transfer into the base metal. It uses different filler, it's much cleaner and easier than using oxy.

 

[5030]

Never heard of it but I'll take your word for it. I TIG weld all the time. Mostly stainless and aluminum

 

[BeezFun]

Never heard of it but I'll take your word for it. I TIG weld all the time. Mostly stainless and aluminum

Brazing works well for joining 2 different metals. Since you already know how to tig it would be easy to do, the standard filler is silicon bronze which will work on almost everything. Use DC and lower current so you just melt the filler. For cast iron you can use AC and aluminum bronze filler, the AC gives you the same cleaning action on the casting that you get when you weld aluminum.

 

[5030]

Candidly, looking at the broken off part and all the various threaded parts and bearing surfaces for the rockshaft, if it was mine, I would (and this is just my opinion and what I'd do), is, I'd order a new rear casting and replace it rather than attempt to cobble it back together because no natter how you 'fix' it, it will never be as structurally strong as a non compromised casting and the resale value of the machine won't be good either (once a prospective buyer sees the welding).

I do know what a comparable Kubota rear casting costs, It's around 6 grand for the part on an L model, 15 to repair and replace (labor included). Lots of components to remove, replace and clearances to be set.

 

[BeezFun]

Candidly, looking at the broken off part and all the various threaded parts and bearing surfaces for the rockshaft, if it was mine, I would (and this is just my opinion and what I'd do), is, I'd order a new rear casting and replace it rather than attempt to cobble it back together because no natter how you 'fix' it, it will never be as structurally strong as a non compromised casting and the resale value of the machine won't be good either (once a prospective buyer sees the welding).

I do know what a comparable Kubota rear casting costs, It's around 6 grand for the part on an L model, 15 to repair and replace (labor included). Lots of components to remove, replace and clearances to be set.

He said he bought a new cover, so all the things related to the broken rockshaft will be new. The only thing being considered for repair is the 2 broken bolt flanges.

 

[Taktiks]

Wow man, that is quite a break. If you have the small pieces of the casting that complete those bolt holes I think they could be welded back together since that casting probably hasn't absorbed any oil and it's got enough mass to be able to sink the heat from welding. Take it to someone who does castings a lot, or take them some photos. If they have a mobile setup they might be able to come to you. The will probably tig weld or tig braze that.

Arc welded with proper materials. Thank you

 

[Taktiks]

Candidly, looking at the broken off part and all the various threaded parts and bearing surfaces for the rock shaftt, if it was mine, I would (and this is just my opinion and what I'd do), is, I'd order a new rear casting and replace it rather than attempt to cobble it back together because no matter how you 'fix' it, it will never be as structurally strong as a non-compromised casting and the resale value of the machine won't be good either (once a prospective buyer sees the welding).

I do know what a comparable Kubota rear casting costs, It's around 6 grand for the part on an L model, 15 to repair and replace (labor included). Lots of components to remove, replace and clearances to be set.

Well, I went to blacksmiths, foundries, fabricators, and machining companies, and no one would accept the cast iron failure rate. So, what did I do? I found the same model of the tractor at Richie Bros that also had a heated cab, snowblower, skid steer quick attach, and 3rd function hydraulics. Haven't had time to start it but those parts Imentioned list out at $5700. I paid $5K for a repo-as insurance if my welds do not hold. But there are 7 other bolts so we'll see and I will use a hydraulic skid steer auger in the future.
Thank you

 

[Taktiks]

He said he bought a new cover, so all the things related to the broken rockshaft will be new. The only thing being considered for repair is the 2 broken bolt flanges.

Correct.

 

[Taktiks]

Wow man, that is quite a break. If you have the small pieces of the casting that complete those bolt holes I think they could be welded back together since that casting probably hasn't absorbed any oil and it's got enough mass to be able to sink the heat from welding. Take it to someone who does castings a lot, or take them some photos. If they have a mobile setup they might be able to come to you. The will probably tig weld or tig braze that.

Thank you sorry for the reply delay. Hurt hand. 8 surgeries. So we welded in two studs and extracted 3rd. Now with two hand I will reassemble. Hope cast iron stud welds hold up but again there are nine total bolts holding cover to gearcase. Fingers crossed.
Got another same year 2400h barn find and it has forward hydraulics, a snowblower,cab,skid steer quick attach. Started stopped and made a significant clang like a rod issue. Don't know where to start. Remove pan? Should I start a new thread? Haven't found any mechanics near Marseilles IL. Any tips on finding one?

 

[Taktiks]

Candidly, looking at the broken off part and all the various threaded parts and bearing surfaces for the rockshaft, if it was mine, I would (and this is just my opinion and what I'd do), is, I'd order a new rear casting and replace it rather than attempt to cobble it back together because no natter how you 'fix' it, it will never be as structurally strong as a non compromised casting and the resale value of the machine won't be good either (once a prospective buyer sees the welding).

I do know what a comparable Kubota rear casting costs, It's around 6 grand for the part on an L model, 15 to repair and replace (labor included). Lots of components to remove, replace and clearances to be set.

Wow man, that is quite a break. If you have the small pieces of the casting that complete those bolt holes I think they could be welded back together since that casting probably hasn't absorbed any oil and it's got enough mass to be able to sink the heat from welding. Take it to someone who does castings a lot, or take them some photos. If they have a mobile setup they might be able to come to you. The will probably tig weld or tig braze that.

Thank you sorry for the reply delay. Hurt hand. 8 surgeries. So we welded in two studs and extracted 3rd. Now with two hand I will reassemble. Hope cast iron stud welds hold up but again there are nine total bolts holding cover to gearcase. Fingers crossed.
Got another same year 2400h and it has forward hydraulics, a snowblower,cab,skid steer quick attach. Started stopped and made a significant clang like a rod issue. Don't know where to start. Remove pan? Should I start a new thread? Haven't found any mechanics near Marseilles IL. Any tips on finding one?

 

[5030]

Thank you sorry for the reply delay. Hurt hand. 8 surgeries. So we welded in two studs and extracted 3rd. Now with two hand I will reassemble. Hope cast iron stud welds hold up but again there are nine total bolts holding cover to gearcase. Fingers crossed.
Got another same year 2400h and it has forward hydraulics, a snowblower,cab,skid steer quick attach. Started stopped and made a significant clang like a rod issue. Don't know where to start. Remove pan? Should I start a new thread? Haven't found any mechanics near Marseilles IL. Any tips on finding one?

You really need to have a Branson dealer do the replacement, not some shadetree wrench because there are critical clearances that need to be set and it takes specialized tools as well. Does your newly acquired unit have good oil pressure? Rod bearing slop don't clang. It makes a light slapping sound. If you can, remove the entire engine from you broken unit and put it in the new one.

 

[LouNY]

I would investigate to see what the loud clanking sound was.
If possible to pull the pan with the engine still in the tractor I would to look at the bottom and if it has them
the balancers. A loud clank could be a lose flex plate or hydro static drive.
Other wise your engine into the new unit, repair that engine and put it in your old unit with the new cover and now you have two good tractors.

 

[Taktiks]

You really need to have a Branson dealer do the replacement, not some shadetree wrench because there are critical clearances that need to be set and it takes specialized tools as well. Does your newly acquired unit have good oil pressure? Rod bearing slop don't clang. It makes a light slapping sound. If you can, remove the entire engine from you broken unit and put it in the new one.

I am an engineer albeit a one-handed one. But I did think of doing a Frankenstein and combining them. Right now I'm looking into the injectir pump. Since it sat I would think the fuel system is a mess. Would there be a way I can send you the video which has the engine audio?