Broke my tractor today

Gary Fowler · Jan 5, 2012

I Had some gravel being delivered for my driveway and brother in law wanted some shale for his road so the driver delivered him 14 yards in a tandem wheel dump truck that promptly got sunk to the axles on one side. B-I-L asked if I could come over and pull out the truck. When I got there, the truck was leaning downhill and high side tires were coming off the ground. I tried to pull him out with chain to front bumper of truck and chained to my drawbar. After several tries and tractor jumping up and down which is hard on the drive train, I stopped and decided that maybe I could push him from the rear but couldnt do that either. Finally positioned my FEL against his dump bed to dump his load That is when I noticed my drawbar hanging out the back at an angle. When I got off to examine it the cast steel bracket thru which the drawbar pin goes into the front of the drawbar had sheared the back half off and I found everything but the pin which was amazing in itself. I found both broken half circle back pieces of the bolt bracket and even the hairpin clip but never did find the pin. I guess they make the bracket weak so it breaks rather than break off a chunk of the tractor. Finally got him out after we got the 30,000 # of rock off. I put the FEL under the back low corner of his bed and lifted and pushed a the same time. It came right out. After breaking the bracket we finally did it the way we should have but was a little afraid to raise the bed since it was leaning so much. Will try to take a couple of photos of the broken bracket for later post.

creekbend · Jan 5, 2012

That is a lot of weight. Hopefully your tractor is not damaged too much.

Gary Fowler · Jan 6, 2012

As far as seen to date, it is just the drawbar fastening bracket under the belly of the tractor. I think I will try to remove it and weld the ears back on today.

sandman2234 · Jan 6, 2012

Ouch!!! Guess it could have been worse, but still ouch!
David from jax

Gary Fowler · Jan 6, 2012

Well folks, I welded the ears back on but I dont think it will hold. The material looks to be cast iron from the sparks made when grinding the bevels. At least it didnt crack and I put it in my rod oven for about an hour to normalize the whole thing in temps. I guess I will let it set in my shop for a few months while I go back to work overseas. Maybe my dealer can have a new one by then along with a pin. Still no photos but perhaps one of the completed work after lunch.

Gary Fowler · Jan 6, 2012

I finally got the bent rod straight via hydraulic jack, heating with oxy torch and sledge hammer. I first put a jack under it after finally getting it rotated to the BTC and picked up the whole tractor and it wouldnt bend back. Then got the torch to it and after a couple of tries with the full weight of the tractor on it, heating and jack slipping off, I got it straight enough to remove from the bracket on the tractor. Then the 16# sledge finished the job. It took more time to straighten that 3/4" rod than to weld the broken bracket.

SPYDERLK · Jan 6, 2012

From pics ... it looks like your drawbar is fixed length. Is that right? Are those 2 bolts the only fastening to the tractor, and required to sustain against the full drawbar load?
Thanks,
larry

Gary Fowler · Jan 6, 2012

You are correct, the drawbar is fixed length. This bracket bolts directly to the rear axle/ hydraulic oil reservoir housing with the two 7/8 or 1" bolts (didnt measure them but it takes a 27mm socket to fit) A pin holds the drawbar in place. The U-bolt allows the drawbar to be swung side to side and pinned in place for a little bit of offset. I was surprised to see that cast iron piece holding the drawbar as most larger tractors have much more sizeable attachments and are made from steel. It looks like they designed it so it would be nearly impossible to break the tractor housing before that little bracket crashed.

Bob77064 · Jan 6, 2012

Gary, I am sorry to hear that happened.

SPYDERLK · Jan 7, 2012

Gary Fowler said:
You are correct, the drawbar is fixed length. This bracket bolts directly to the rear axle/ hydraulic oil reservoir housing with the two 7/8 or 1" bolts (didnt measure them but it takes a 27mm socket to fit) A pin holds the drawbar in place. The U-bolt allows the drawbar to be swung side to side and pinned in place for a little bit of offset. I was surprised to see that cast iron piece holding the drawbar as most larger tractors have much more sizeable attachments and are made from steel. It looks like they designed it so it would be nearly impossible to break the tractor housing before that little bracket crashed.

Yeah, that is a light setup for that tractors potential capability. For some added safety margin you should make sure those bolts use the whole hole depth and are tight. If theyre short a quarter inch Id buy longer and custom cut or use a high strength washer or 2 under the head to adjust.
larry