Another 3 pt. stabilizer failure story

[jtygoku]

Had intentions to brush hog today and did - for about 5 minutes. As I was backing up, heard a metallic pop followed immediately by a hissing air sound. Turns out the right stabilizer broke and as the wheel turned, tore the valve stem off. Of course it couldn't of happened in a worse place - bottom of a steep hill amongst the tallest weeds I was hogging on the hottest day so far this year. So, first get my 6' Titan off the 3 point, after a fair amount of sweating and cussing, success. Then limp my Kioti up the hill on a flat tire hoping I don't ruin the tire.
Anyway, got it back to my shop, got the tire off and will take it in tomorrow. Hopefully, I didn't do any permanent damage to the tire.
I've been happy with my DK40SE but have always thought the stabilizers didn't look any beefier than some of the other brands I'd read TBN'ers having problems with. Guess that certainly was the case, for me anyway. The whole thing turned out to be a big PITA. However, as I often tell the folks who work for me when they get into a complaining mood, you can always come up with a worse scenario then the one we're currently dealing with - I suppose that's true in this case, too.

 

[chvfrk98]

Man that sucks... I'm going to be keeping as eye on my stems. I'm seeing too many stories like this lately.

 

[GManBart]

What did the hog hit to cause the stabilizer to break? In some ways, they are a failsafe and break before expensive stuff does, but that make me wonder why the adjustment pins are grade 8, and not something softer.

 

[RaydaKub]

I've never seen a Kioti in real life that I know of. But I admit to being curious what the stabilizer looks like that failed.

 

[jtygoku]

Good point about the pin. If it had sheared I think (?) I'd been better off. I don't really know what put the stress on the stabilizer, was just creeping backwards at the time. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The part that broke was the "fork" that pins onto the bracket underneath the axle. After looking at it closer, may have been a bad weld. Hopefully, I can get it all put back together tomorrow.

 

[Zebrafive]

I notice when backing my brush hog, when the tail wheel turns 90 degrees, I feel a bind, then the tail wheel completes it turn to 180 degrees.

 

[GManBart]

Good point about the pin. If it had sheared I think (?) I'd been better off. I don't really know what put the stress on the stabilizer, was just creeping backwards at the time. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The part that broke was the "fork" that pins onto the bracket underneath the axle. After looking at it closer, may have been a bad weld. Hopefully, I can get it all put back together tomorrow.

It does sound like it could have been a bad weld if you didn't notice anything obvious to cause the stress. I broke one a while back, but I misjudged a turn, and bounced the side of my mower off a stump, and put a 90* side load on it. I cut out the broken/bent part, and welded it back together (actually, my neighbor did) and it's still holding fine a year later. I bought a replacement set, but now that I think about it, I'm going to get some low grade bolts to replace the factory pins....if they break, they're a lot cheaper/easier to replace than the stabilizer itself.

 

[ovrszd]

Stabilizers take a tremendous load, especially when brush cutting. I never considered the stabilizer as a built-in shear point to avoid damage elsewhere. I consider the stabilizer as the part that holds together so no other damage occurs such as your flat tire experience.Hope your tire survived with no permanent damage.There's a thread on here about adding shields for valve stems. Wheels with R4 tires usually have them. Just a short piece of pipe welded to surround the stem. Would be a very good time to weld one on while the tire is down.

 

[jtygoku]

Well, got it all put back together and finished up the hogging. No permanent damage to the tire - at least in respect to the beads sealed and it held air throughout the evening. However, I was a little shocked by the charge from tire store. I took the wheel off and took it to the tire guy, he installed a $10 new valve stem but charged $60 for the entire repair. That seemed like a lot but he said that was the going rate for a 24" tractor tire. Hopefully, that's the last flat I have for awhile.
I rewelded the stabilizer with some additional stiffeners - I would have pictures but I'm a bit ashamed how bad my welds looks. Crappy HF welder along with limited talent on my part will usually result in something functional but not very pretty. Becoming a better welder is one of the many "to do's" on my personal improvement list.

 

[chvfrk98]

That definitely seems on the high side for replacing a valve stem. Live and learn I suppose.

I feel you on the not wanting to "show your work" sometimes. I have a decent welder so I don't have too much of an excuse other than me.

Hope she holds together.