Welding???

[JimR]

You made the right decision to replac eit. Good luck with the backhoe. Wish I had one for mine, someday maybe.

 

[wushaw]

Thanks for all the replys. I broke it because I did not do a quick inspection of the 3 pt hitch assembly. I had found a pin when I was taking off my mower and wrongly assumed it was the one I had lost the previous week. The upper pin came out and when I was backing up the lower arm dug into the ground and "pop" goes the casting. As I pilot I always do a preflight of an airplane. Now I know I should do the same on my tractor.

I'm going ahead and replacing the axle housing as I have been quoted $200 or $300 for the part and 3 hours labor. I am getting a used backhoe installed at the same time. ($5000 for a JD 48).

Thanks again,
Will

PS: Don't forget to take a quick look at your pins so you don't end up out $500 or more. Lesson learned.

Tractors...airplanes thay are equipment that require a walk around inspection before going to work/play.
I'm sure that will be the last time you forget your walk around inspectcion before gettin all comfy in the seat.

 

[Soundguy]

I think you are doing the right thing. Any time the repair is approaching 2/3 of the 'repalce' cost.. the replacement starts becoming the better deal.

Cast iron repairs are best left to 'non stress' areas. or for parts that are otherwise irreplaceable.. and you have nothing to loose by trying to repair them.

Your axle trumpet doesn't fit these categories.

Soundguy

Thanks for all the replys. I broke it because I did not do a quick inspection of the 3 pt hitch assembly. I had found a pin when I was taking off my mower and wrongly assumed it was the one I had lost the previous week. The upper pin came out and when I was backing up the lower arm dug into the ground and "pop" goes the casting. As I pilot I always do a preflight of an airplane. Now I know I should do the same on my tractor.

I'm going ahead and replacing the axle housing as I have been quoted $200 or $300 for the part and 3 hours labor. I am getting a used backhoe installed at the same time. ($5000 for a JD 48).

Thanks again,
Will

PS: Don't forget to take a quick look at your pins so you don't end up out $500 or more. Lesson learned.

 

[gbick]

Ahemm, isn't that part aluminum?

 

[Soundguy]

What part are you refering to?

No quoted message to refer back to..?

Soundguy

 

[gbick]

Please help!!!! I have a JD 4400 in which I have broken the casting for the 3 pt hitch on the frame. Can this be successfully welded? I'm not sure if it is cast iron or cast steel.

This casting is aluminum on my 4310

 

[gbick]

How did you make out. We are waiting to hear. Greg.

 

[Soundguy]

Wow.. an aluminum frame for the 3pt... Hope it is thick stuff.

Soundguy

 

[gbick]

Yes, aluminum. I was concerned/perplexed when I noticed this part was aluminum because cast iron intuitively seems like a better material for this application, especially when one considers that cast iron would lower and move back the center-of-gravity. My 4310 is stictly a loader tractor (at present), so all that is on my 3ph is a 1000# ballast box. I'm guessing that cast aluminum is more expensive than cast iron, so JD must have had a good reason for going with AL. Heat transfer?

 

[JimR]

More than likely an overall weight issue on the tractor. I wonder what the load limit is on an aluminum housing versus a cast iron housing?

 

[Soundguy]

I wonder if there is a similar tractor with similar rear housing in CI that you could compair weight specs / lift specs to?

My first guess is this was a bean counter move.. I.E., they figured what it should carry.. reversed engineered the system to only carry that weight.. saved 3 cents in overall cost, and in the end, left the tractor design with a working lift casting that is up to 'specs'... but doesn't exceede them, like a ci casting 'might'.

There may also be other variables.. like thickness.. and heat disipation..e tc.

IMHO.. I'd want iron or steel back there.... I work with heavy equipment every day.. and none of our big yellow equipment is using aluminum castings in weight bearing members.. though quite a few gear cases covers are cast aluminum.. while the transfer cases themselves are CI.. etc.

Soundguy

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

One thought.. If it was aluminum.. I think it would have a much better chance at being welded back together than CI... etc..

Soundguy

More than likely an overall weight issue on the tractor. I wonder what the load limit is on an aluminum housing versus a cast iron housing?