360-FARMTRAC BOLTS BROKEN

papy · Jan 13, 2008

HAS any body haveing trouble like me? i have a 360 dtc with only 120 hrs on it .the bolts that are in the front end all losen up they are the four bolts i call the steering knuckels bolts i think they are 16 mm thread bolt head are 22mm.well when i was greaseing the front end i seen this here bolt comeing out so i put a 22 mm wrench on it and lord and behold the dam thing is broken off in the houseing,i am still under the 3 year warrenty,but my dealer dont sell this kind of tractor any more,i am going to call them.and ask them what are my option.i think i am going to have to get a hauler over here and get it towed to a dealer.that i did not buy it from or call the factory and see what they say.ps i am going to put locktight on all the front end parts. allso do you guys think that because i was runing with chains on the front end this happened?
thanks PAPY

Slacker · Jan 14, 2008

I'll check mine this coming weekend and report back. I've not had much seat time in the past few weeks, I gotta get my priorities straight.

NewToy · Jan 14, 2008

papy said:
HAS any body haveing trouble like me? i have a 360 dtc with only 120 hrs on it .the bolts that are in the front end all losen up they are the four bolts i call the steering knuckels bolts i think they are 16 mm thread bolt head are 22mm.well when i was greaseing the front end i seen this here bolt comeing out so i put a 22 mm wrench on it and lord and behold the dam thing is broken off in the houseing,i am still under the 3 year warrenty,but my dealer dont sell this kind of tractor any more,i am going to call them.and ask them what are my option.i think i am going to have to get a hauler over here and get it towed to a dealer.that i did not buy it from or call the factory and see what they say.ps i am going to put locktight on all the front end parts. allso do you guys think that because i was runing with chains on the front end this happened?
thanks PAPY

Could you just e-z-out the bolt and save the transport expense? Not really that hard a job if you have the room to work.

John

bluechip · Jan 14, 2008

Not that this will be much help for PAPY, but it is a good idea to take a wrench on whatever nuts and bolts you can find when you do maintenance. It is normall to find loose lug nuts, and loader mounting nuts, but others can work loose under heavy usage. After you have torqued the bolts a few times, it will become less important (the bolts will have streatched all that they will).

The 3 year warranty on FARMTRAC is one year "bumper to bumper" followed by two years of "powertrain" coverage. I'm not sure if steering gear is part of powertrain. In my shop we'd fix it for our customer and take it up with Farmtrac. Not an expensive repair if you have easy outs at hand...

papy · Jan 15, 2008

HI BLUE CHIP
THIS is all could have been stoped if at the factory they put locktight on in the first place.
Well i called the NYS FACTORY REP JOHN CROOKS nice guy,and talked to him about the trouble i am haveing,and was told that this is (NOT covered by warrenty) but told him that this tractor is used only for plowing my drive way and small things around the house and i tighten all the bolts to spec after i used it for 10 hrs.went through the hole tractor.HE said he will warrenty it for me any way (its called good will)

And i know i could try to drill into the bolt and use a easey out to get it out,but here is the catch 22 if you cant get it out by some chance you brake a drill bit or a easy out .and the hole knuckel assemble has to be replaced then if you take it to a dealer they wont do it under warrenty because you messed with it. (Been There Done That)
note this tractor is not been put to heavy use. for two sides of the front end to be lose like that should have never happened,possible one side yes but two no way.lock tight is cheap insurance if it was done in the first place.
PS WILL LET YOU KNOW WHATS GOING ON NEXT
thanks to all who replyed to me HAVE A GREAT DAY PAPY