MF 1250 Loose Bell Housing Bolts

[wrenchturner]

While using my MF1250, I noticed the gap between the instrument cluster panel and the hood become wider with a load in the bucket. Previously, At times I had difficulty changing gears as if the transmission pilot bearing had seized up. I immediately loaded the tractor onto the trailer and brought it home. I removed the cowl and place a jack under the transmission and observed the gap between the transmission adapter and the engine open. Also the loader support arm on the right side had broken. Here is what I found.

 

[evan price]

Blue Locktite is your friend!

Get a good welder to gouge out the crack and weld it up, then add gusset plates top and bottom, do it on both arms because the other side is the same.

Good catch before it broke something expensive!

 

[art]

Good thing you cought that when you did!!!

 

[wrenchturner]

Unfortunately I did not catch it in time. The lower left bell housing cracked where the trans to engine adapter plate began flexing after the right loader support arm broke. The loader support arm apparently was taking a lot of the stress due to the loose bolts. When I bought the tractor I tightened the transmission to adapter bolts (they were very loose) but would have had to disassembled the tractor to get to the adapter to engine bolts. I have been welding the broken piece back in place using nickle rod.

Fortunately, this tractor has a heavy bracket that connects the transmission to a heavy bracket on the engine. The engine bracket goes all the way to the front of the engine. I think bolts coming loose on tractors with out these brackets from the engine to the transmission is why they brake all the way apart.