Broke my B26TLB rear axle shaft

[gstrom99]

I will guess the cause was the tire ballast was not removed when the backhoe was on. OP indicated tires were loaded in post #8.

I no longer own my TLB but the manual says for the B26tlb the rear ballast (loaded tires) should be removed when the BH is attached. So maybe a rear end overload situation??

I think tire ballast doesn't put much/any stress on the axle. A backhoe sure does.

I've never liked the idea of one on a small(ish) tractor, but they sure seem useful, until something breaks...

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I've had my B26 for about 10 years give or take and it had loaded tires when I got. I have never unloaded them but I have used the three point hitch a lot bush hogging and such.

kinda same on my end.....
Kubota warns though that on B26tlb and many other models they do not want the BH on at the same time the tires are loaded.
So if I choose to use my BH then they want the ballast from the tires removed.
A choice I had to make or risk over weighing the rear end so I went a different route. BH was enough weight when on. When BH off then a 3pt implement was used for weight (i had a nice/handy/compact logging winch that fit the bill)
If I didn't have a BH I too would consider filling rear tires.

 

[rScotty]

kinda same on my end.....
Kubota warns though that on B26tlb and many other models they do not want the BH on at the same time the tires are loaded.
So if I choose to use my BH then they want the ballast from the tires removed.
A choice I had to make or risk over weighing the rear end so I went a different route. BH was enough weight when on. When BH off then a 3pt implement was used for weight (i had a nice/handy/compact logging winch that fit the bill)
If I didn't have a BH I too would consider filling rear tires.

I don't think Kubota is concerned about the ballast of the filled tires as much as the effect of that much weight being held out at a distance from the axle support bearing - which is what we have when the stabilizers raise the rear tires off the ground. With the tires lifted, all that weight is now just hanging out there unsupported.

Then add in the quick high axle stresses from operating the backhoe - particularly the bouncing around we get when digging though tough soil.... and that combination of weight and impulses may be what broke that axle.

The OP's original photo shows a typical break right where we would expect from too much combined bending stress.

rScotty

 

[civilian]

will you remove the ballast now or the backhoe to match up with manufacturers weight warnings or going to continue to run with both?

cheers

Nope

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I don't see how 100 pounds of ballast would break an axle, if Kubota is building the axles that close to its breaking point, I'd be very surprised to not see most all axles break!

 

[rScotty]

I think tire ballast doesn't put much/any stress on the axle. A backhoe sure does.

I've never liked the idea of one on a small(ish) tractor, but they sure seem useful, until something breaks...

I don't see how 100 pounds of ballast would break an axle, if Kubota is building the axles that close to its breaking point, I'd be very surprised to not see most all axles break!

I don't think the problem is the ballast or the weight of the backhoe. It's all in how the backhoe is operated.

Anyone who uses a hoe knows how by using downforce on a backhoe bucket the hoe can easily pick up the back of the tractor - which greatly increases the penetration of the backhoe bucket in hard ground. It's tempting to work the hoe that way, because it really speeds up the digging - especially when cutting through rocks & roots. But everytime I do that, with every bucketful I can feel how I'm really beating up the whole machine. Ballasting the tires just adds even more unnecessary stress out on the ends of the axles.

Kubota obviously knows that, and knows how strong their tractors are or aren't. Take a look at the optional equipment Kubota sells for their TLBs, some models allow wheel weights & some even allow multiple wheel weights with a backhoe. Other models apparently don't.

These are inexpensive homeowner machines we are talking about, not commercial duty backhoes. Of course they have limits. They are still handy tools, in spite of the limits.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[woody]

What rScotty says makes sense, so my question would be with the outriggers down do I raise the rear wheels off the ground completely or try to get the majority of the weight off the ground and leave the tires barely touching?
Of course that would be according to the ground situation.

 

[shooterdon]

What rScotty says makes sense, so my question would be with the outriggers down do I raise the rear wheels off the ground completely or try to get the majority of the weight off the ground and leave the tires barely touching?
Of course that would be according to the ground situation.

Don't think is a wise way to operate the BH on a tractor. The outriggers are stabilizers. Lifting the tractor is going to put a lot of stress on it. A TLB is built a lot stronger.

 

[LouNY]

On my little Kioti CK2620 the manual says to use the hoe to lift the tractor then place the outriggers. So the outriggers are not lifting the tractor just stabilizing it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im confused… how does your homeowners insurance pay for a broken tractor axle?