Broken Tie Rod

[melgibson]

I broke a rear tie rod on my 2008 Toolcat several months ago when I was in crab steer. Besides the replacement tie rod my dealer gave me an extra, telling me that broken tie rods was common. I broke the same one again last weekend, again while in crab steer. In both cases I was moving/grading in a tight space on steep terrain, and mave have caught or pinned the rear tire in a rut or against the terrain.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is this a design defect, or am I unreasonably stressing the machine while in crab steer?

Thanks for your help- this is a great forum for Toolcat enthusiasts!

 

[DEWFPO]

Early last year when I was shopping for my Toolcat the salesman told me about the situation. He said Bobcat is aware of the problem. He also said it only occurs under the certain specific conditions (which he didn't mention) and said that Bobcat will replace them free in the field regardless of warranty. At least that's what the salesman said (he is no longer working there). I do not know if they redesigned or beefed up the tie rods on my 2009.

I assume when you say 'crab' steering, you are really talking about the all-wheel steering? "Crab" steering is when both front and rear wheels turn in the same direction and the equipment moves 'sideways' and forward (or reverse) versus AWS in which the fronts move in the opposite direction to create a tighter turning curve.

DEWFPO

 

[radman1]

If it is a known problem, shouldn't Bobcat make a different tie rod to fix the issue? Where does the break occur?

 

[melgibson]

Yes Dewfpo, I was in all wheel steer. I got my second tie rod, which I just broke, about six months ago, so I don't know if they've started building a stronger part.

Radman, both tie rods on the right rear tire broke about midway. It looked to me like what may happen if you held the right rear tire constant (like caught in a rut) and turned the steering wheel hard- the tire wouldn't move while the rear steering gear box was pushing (or pulling), and the tie rod snapped.

In both cases, I was working on a narrow dirt road/trail and working or trying to turn upslope from the road. Going forward, I'll be much more careful when using all wheel steer on a slope. I've had no problem with all wheel steer on a flat surface.

ps- after the tie rod broke it felt like I was in 'crab steer' mode.

 

[DEWFPO]

You know GM 3/4 & 1 ton trucks had problems breaking tie rods because of a poor design (too small a diameter rod for the stresses involved). In that case several aftermarket companies came out with Tie Rod sleeves (ex : PPE) which made the sleeved tie rod virtually indestructible; at least until the next weakest part broke.

DEWFPO

 

[DEWFPO]

When the service manager/mechanic was out today to replace the SB auger, hose and reprogram the CPU (safety issue) he said he's only replaced 1 tie rod and it broke in an accident. He said when he replaced it the new one appeared beefier than the one that broke. This guy was from a different dealer than the one that gave me the earlier information.

DEWFPO