front wheel popped of tractor

redbeard · August 07, 2011, 11:57:54 PM

I was carrying a load of logs when front right wheel went flying! I was extremely lucky no one was hurt. The fellow helping me was close by and we just looked at each other and i shut it down and calmly said this isn't good now we have to hand load your truck! The JD parts man said they usually break at the top of the 90 degree elbow. As you can see its amazing how long it lasted there wasn't much iron holding it together. Last friday and saturday i was keeping Chris (Meadow Miller) loaded with big heavy Firs glad it didn't happen then with a crowd of people.

fishpharmer · August 08, 2011, 01:01:46 AM

Sometimes driving a tractor across a rough field I worry about an axle breaking. You are indeed fortunate no one was hurt. ~~Is the new axle stronger?~~

EDIT- I meant to ask if new axle is engineered to be stronger then the original?

redbeard · August 08, 2011, 01:13:08 AM

Yes , I didn't or couldn't afford the down time searching for a used one, it was a steep price of 268.00 with new berrings but i'am back to using it, I can't function without my tractor. It was probably cracked or defected for years. tractor is 1983 model.

Meadows Miller · August 08, 2011, 01:33:34 AM

gday Jeff and James

Well thats luck you or the other bloke was not hurt I noticed it was working hard the other day but you gottado what you gotta do to get er done ;)

James congrats on the new to you mill ;) ;D 8) Im thinkn I might have to give you a free training lesson ;) :D :D ;D ;)

Regards Chris

ljmathias · August 08, 2011, 06:06:59 AM

So everybody seems to know already that James has a new mill, but he's not talking about it- embarrassed or just too busy learning how to use it? Come on, James, get us some pictures and tell us the story- inquiring minds want to know, and ours are still inquiring to some degree. ;D

Lj

fishpharmer · August 08, 2011, 06:08:09 AM

That was steep, not sure parts availability of other color tractors, great thing about green tractors is if you got the green$ you can get the new green parts for most any model.

Thanks Chris, I am sure I need a training lesson. ;D

bandmiller2 · August 08, 2011, 07:19:22 AM

JD has been fordging that same spindle for 60 years.Where it broke almost surely their was a slag inclusion or crack when it was fordged. Frank C.

Chris Burchfield · August 08, 2011, 07:58:19 AM

Youngest son has an old IH, similar thing happened to him. His broke where the outer turned area ended with the casting. The inside of the outer bearing load area. The pic does identify where there was not much holding. Glad no one was hurt.

MotorSeven · August 08, 2011, 08:30:16 AM

Quote from: bandmiller2 on August 08, 2011, 07:19:22 AM
JD has been fordging that same spindle for 60 years.Where it broke almost surely their was a slag inclusion or crack when it was fordged. Frank C.

I agree. My neighbor broke a 2.5" splined shaft on a JD brush hog. The thing had a huge void in the cast...there were even little tiny stalagtites & stalagmites in there. JD did step up to the plate and replace it even though the warranty was out by 2 years. I think the total ended up being close to $2K.

Brucer · August 09, 2011, 01:07:32 AM

That looks like a classic fatigue failure.

There was probably some sort of stress point on the bottom of the spindle where it wasn't machined. Vibration from the rolling wheel caused a small crack to appear at the stress point. Over a period of time -- possible years -- the tip of the crack acted as a stress concentrator, causing the crack to spread gradually upward. The spreading crack is the smooth, semicircular portion on the bottom of the casting.

As the crack spread upward the remaining metal had to carry more than its share of the load so the stresses kept rising. And eventually the stresses got so high the metal just broke. That's the rough looking part on the top of the spindle. The metal literally tore apart.

Magicman · August 09, 2011, 07:34:52 AM

It is just very fortunate that no one was injured.

Stuff can be repaired/fixed.

sawthemlogs · August 09, 2011, 09:21:05 AM

i can relate to the broken spindles......dads 2020 jd.. has broken 3 in past 4 years... last time just was raking hay and dropped into small sink hole,, broke the hub to ..it does have fel for moving round bales of hay...tractor just overworked...

Piston · August 10, 2011, 11:56:36 PM

Did you post this on tractorbynet.com as well? If not, someone over there recently lost a front wheel too.

redbeard · August 11, 2011, 10:52:05 AM

I do check the site out. But haven't posted anything yet. Lots of info there.

Piston · August 11, 2011, 02:27:17 PM

Redbeard,
I think you meant to say....

Quote from: redbeard on August 11, 2011, 10:52:05 AM
I do check the site out. But haven't posted anything yet. Lots of EXPENSIVE info there.

:D :D :D

I tend to find things on that site that I never knew existed for my tractor, then once I read about them, all of a sudden I NEED another attachment!

It's helped me a lot though, there is a lot of good info there....However, I don't find it as friendly and inviting as our FF. 8)