Broken bolts

[jwcinpk]

A while back I posted with a cracked block on my 3316 Hst.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mahindra-owning-operating/152496-15-16-series-block-cracks.html
Dealer and Mahindra replaced the engine and added bracing. Since then I have religously kept my loader bolts tight. I thought the problem was fixed until today. I have poultry houses and in cleaning them out I probably use the loader more than most users. Given the fact that the litter typically is so light I cannot see why the loader wouldn't hold up to it. However today I heard a ping and immediately stopped to see what the unusual noise was to find that 2 of the extra bracing bolts had snapped the heads off.
I have 3 Mahindras and have been a big fan of the product, but am beginning to become disheartened. It seems like every time I have to have the tractors something is broken. I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow to make sure I'm not voiding the warranty and then take the loader off, remove the broken bolts, and put new ones in. I have to have the tractor to get in the low clearance spots and can't really wait on the dealer to get around to fixing it. Can anybody tell me what I could be doing wrong?
Sorry for the rant!

 

[SPYDERLK]

I can only think that there is something amiss with the setup or the bolts are bad. What is their strength marking? [10.9 or 8.8] - The loader on my 7520 is used hard and the bolts have never moved on checks after my initial torquingto snug them up after delivery. They were way too loose when delivered. Are your bolts moving when you retighten or are they staying fully tight?
larry

 

[AchingBack]

Is it possible the bolts could have been over torqued? Nothing else makes sense to me.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

I think some of the problem has to do with the higher RPMs that the compact tractors operate at. I hear of the same problem with loader bolts on other brands and I just did a repair on a John Deere for the same problem, broken off bolts in the side of the engine block. I never see this problem on the larger tractors, which operate at lower RPMs.

 

[jwcinpk]

I think some of the problem has to do with the higher RPMs that the compact tractors operate at. I hear of the same problem with loader bolts on other brands and I just did a repair on a John Deere for the same problem, broken off bolts in the side of the engine block. I never see this problem on the larger tractors, which operate at lower RPMs.

I would agree. I have never moved the loader bolts on the 6000 in going on 7 years. Nor the 7010 in 4. I know there is this problem with compacts, but there has to be a fix. I'm afraid I'm on my own much as I was with the 7010 wheels. I guess I should start sending Mahindra a bill when we have to redesign something to make it last.

To answer the other questions. Yes the bolts do move ever so slightly to keep them "torqued". Maybe they were over torqued from the start. I save the head of one bolt and the bolt itself is still in the tractor. When I get a chance I'll post some pics.

 

[manganos]

I mark the bolts and the frame with a small line of paint. That way a quick glance will tell me if they have moved. So far so good.

 

[bindian]

I mark the bolts and the frame with a small line of paint. That way a quick glance will tell me if they have moved. So far so good.

We use torque stripe (it dries fast and leaves a thick bead) at work on critical blind bolts on our airliners. I am not sure what brand it is, but I think it is Locktite.
hugs, Brandi