Broke my side lift

fenneran · Dec 5, 2003

We had our first snow this year last night and I was able to use my newly aquired scraper blade. Man, what a difference. Five hours last year to clear the drive with the FEL, about 20 minutes this morning. Just as I was putting on the finishing touches, I heard a clunk. Looked back and saw the blade listing to one side. The right side link (adjustable) had snapped off right above the buckle attaching to the 3pt arm. Do you all think it was just old, or did I do something wrong to cause it? At the time I was pulling a very light load of snow toward a stream that corsses the drive (maybe 1 inch of snow to a 3 inch deep stream, gradual slope), so I don't think it was the horizontal stress, but I'm wondering if I put some verticle stress on the unit when the front wheels went down into the stream a little.

My tractor shop is on the way to work and they had a replacement, so I'll be ready for tonight's storm, but I don't want to break this one tomorrow! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Thanks for any insight.

-Frank
Staunton VA - In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Chuck52 · Dec 5, 2003

If it snapped at a weld, I would assume a bad weld. Otherwise, if it's seen lots of use, at some point it probably just developed a weak spot which finally gave out. Metal fatigue. Funny how some of those old arms, like on my ancient L-210, will go on forever, lifting way more than they should, and some will just go. All steel parts are not created equal.

Chuck

PineRidge · Dec 5, 2003

Frank I don't think that there was anything that you might have done with your blade by moving a bit of snow to cause your failure. I really think that you might chaulk this one up to metal fatigue. And don't they always break at the wrong time?

Egon · Dec 5, 2003

What did the break surfaces look like. Was it all clean and course or was their a rust spot the break radiated out from in sort of concentric circles?

Egon