400 - - broken steering bracket - cause ?

My son is working on a 400 that was given to him by one of his grampas. It has power steering. There is a large cast bracket mounted ahead of the fuel tank that the steering shaft feeds thru. This bracket was broken when we got it. It had been repaired before, but broke again some time in the past. Checking around other tractors like this, this seems to be a common problem.

A new unbroken bracket has been found, but I'd like to determine what causes these brackets to break, so we can fix that problem and prevent further breakages.

Any thoughts ?

Thanx!

Pete
 
Are you talking factory power steering. The reason they break from front wheel kickback is IH never did figure out a good way to anchor that steering motor. The gasoline models had two braces that twist out of shape and the diesels had one running down to the manifold bolt that always breaks off. When everything is bolted down tight, that shaft has to be perfectly free, no bind or steering will be lousy and stress the mounting bracket.
 
I repaired mine and it broke again. I replaced it. I think that rough terrain causes too much flex in the shafts and then the coupler ends up being pushed back and hits it and that breaks it. Try to move the coupler as far away from it as you can.
SDE
 
Our 450D broke a couple of the rods which went
down to the manifold. IH brought out a twisted
flat steel piece to replace the rod thing.

We've had no problems since installing it.
Jim
 
On dads 400 Gas factory power steering one of the flat braces broke. Took both off and reinforced. Been only 30 to 40 years and cannot remember exactly how we did it. Do know where the tractor is today.
 
Here is a picture of the break...
a203690.jpg

a203691.jpg
 

Sure looks like stress as pete 23 and others said.

I can't see much for bracing in your pics either.

pete 23 says 2 braces belong on there so you may need to fab up some braces also.

I am thinking you will not be using it out in the fields anymore so it will last you a long time.
 
The bracket looks like cast iron. The previous repair (weld) may have possibly caused a stress crack that gradually worsened.
 

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