Bent Axle?

Diggin It · Jun 4, 2020

Sawyer Rob said:
A good welding shop will make it stronger than a new one.....

They can rebuild it. They have the technology. They can make it better than it was. Better, stronger, faster.

Well, not sure about faster. And it shouldn't cost $6 million dollars either.

ovrszd · Jun 4, 2020

Repair it and keep working. When the new wheel arrives take it home and store it for a spare.

Ford850 · Jun 4, 2020

Repair the bad areas and I think I'd add a couple stitches to the remaining 'good' welds too. No doubt they were all stressed so adding welds for support now will be the easiest time.

TMGT · Jun 4, 2020

It can be repaired but those wheels are pretty inexpensive and easily available used. If the backspacing matches, you can buy a new wheel/tire assembly for about $114-135 (depending on tire) through Kubota wholegoods.
You can also find a lot of used ones since that size was used on a lot of garden and sub-compact tractors.

I love repairing things but sometimes it just doesnt make economic sense.

Gary Fowler · Jun 4, 2020

Fill the rim with water up past the weld area (if not already filled with ballast fluid) to keep the rim cool when welding. Also remove the valve core so it can vent any steam buildup. We dont want any exploding tires.
I would reweld all the welds, not just the broken ones.

s219 · Jun 5, 2020

I think a repair would be as good or better than a new rim. And for that matter, I wouldn't be solely dependent on LS -- chances are you can get that rim elsewhere. Why a big company like LS doesn't have these readily available is odd to me.

traderfjp · Jun 5, 2020

I had the repair done yesterday. The guy did a good job of welding the rim. I'm back in business. We are going to try to get LS to pay. When the new rim comes in - I'll have a spare.

Diggin It · Jun 5, 2020

s219 said:
Why a big company like LS doesn't have these readily available is odd to me.

Well, it's not exactly a common failure item or one people buy as accessories.

TMGT · Jun 5, 2020

Diggin It said:
Well, it's not exactly a common failure item or one people buy as accessories.

I'd have to disagree, that size wheel is used for all 3 tire types on that tractor. I would imagine the dealer would have a additional wheel/tire assemblies available. That should be a very common wheel.

s219 · Jun 5, 2020

Diggin It said:
Well, it's not exactly a common failure item or one people buy as accessories.

Yeah but when I have gone to my local Deere/Kubota dealer they have stacks of wheels and tires. Even if they were meant to be paired with a crated tractor, one could be pulled out of stock for a situation like this.