Unintended Tractor Split

jsr8011

Member
Over the weekend, a search of this site returned an old post between gurus that implied that loaders, such as a McCormick #31 can cause some tractors to split. One of the posters, I think Allen NE, suggested making a support between the axle bracket and the frame rail with threaded rod to prevent this from happening. Is this something I should be concerned about and take the time to do? I have not seen any comments (that I can recall) about this regarding loaders for an H or similar tractors .
John
 
I was raised with our 41H with a model 30 loader, and it got worked hard. I never heard of any one having trouble with the tractor splitting. They do put a lot of pressure on the steering though, including increased wear on the steering gears. Our tractor had fluid in the tires, 3 sets of wheel weights, and if we were loading gravel from the creek bed we added a platform with 5 or 6 tow sacks of gravel on the back for extra traction. It was used for loading gravel to maintain roads, hanging beefs and hogs to butcher, and anything else it was needed for.

I still have that tractor in my shed, and every year drive it to town for a parade and show.
 
(quoted from post at 09:03:40 04/02/18) Over the weekend, a search of this site returned an old post between gurus that implied that loaders, such as a McCormick #31 can cause some tractors to split. One of the posters, I think Allen NE, suggested making a support between the axle bracket and the frame rail with threaded rod to prevent this from happening. Is this something I should be concerned about and take the time to do? I have not seen any comments (that I can recall) about this regarding loaders for an H or similar tractors .
John

Yes. Such things can happen. I personally have witnessed it. Happened to my dad many years ago while he was clearing snow. Torque tube broke right where it bolts to the engine.

Good idea to add those braces. Better safe than sorry.
 

One big thing to do that will help prevent a catastrophe. Periodically put a wrench on ALL the bolts that hold the torque tube to the engine, and also on the other end. There are bolts up inside the torque tube at the rear. I will almost guarantee those bolts are loose.
 
I also spent many, many hours on an M with a model 30 loader. Loaded dozens of loads of cow manure and never had any problem. The skids and their leverage system helps with the initial lift.
 
Problem isnt with the loaders it is with the operators. Those loaders were built for loading manure now everyone thinks he has a loader that will lift anything he wishes like thousand lb bales ect
 
How would you break a tractor at the bell housing with a #31 loader??? The loader arms pivot back at the rear axle. All the "push" happens against the rear axle.

This is an Ertl Precision toy, but it's pretty true to the original:

mccormick-deering-31-power-loader_1_bee967a3d1cdc9b4a20c5225f888a937.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 04:51:12 04/03/18) How would you break a tractor at the bell housing with a #31 loader??? The loader arms pivot back at the rear axle. All the "push" happens against the rear axle.

This is an Ertl Precision toy, but it's pretty true to the original:

mccormick-deering-31-power-loader_1_bee967a3d1cdc9b4a20c5225f888a937.jpg

But where does the "lift" place the stress? A front end loader is designed mostly for lifting, and a little bit of pushing. Torque tubes (bell housings) DO break.
 
The skids on a Model 30 loader are critical to take the "Break Loose" impact - until the skids are completely extended down, there is no vertical force on the tractor. However, some farmers removed the skids which may be causing the problems you cite.
 
(quoted from post at 07:07:00 04/03/18) The skids on a Model 30 loader are critical to take the "Break Loose" impact - until the skids are completely extended down, there is no vertical force on the tractor. However, some farmers removed the skids which may be causing the problems you cite.

Actually, those skids were there to INCREASE the "break it loose" capability. Once the load is free of the ground, the weight is ALL on the tractor. The #31 loaders did not have that feature.
 
There are a lot of other loaders that are more prone to breaking the tractor in two than the Model 30 and 31. The large cage Farmhand loaders were famous for that as several of our neighbors broke their
tractors in two. The rear mount was such that it put a lot of force on the center of the tractor. Many people extended the framework to connect to the front where the front arms attached.
 
Don't mean to "Nit-Pick", I am certain the load is on the Model 30 skids until they are off the ground.
Any idea why they were not on the Model 31?
 
(quoted from post at 10:27:30 04/03/18) Don't mean to "Nit-Pick", I am certain the load is on the Model 30 skids until they are off the ground.
Any idea why they were not on the Model 31?

From what I've been told, those skids were in the way more often than not and they got tore up.
 
(quoted from post at 09:51:56 04/03/18) There are a lot of other loaders that are more prone to breaking the tractor in two than the Model 30 and 31. The large cage Farmhand loaders were famous for that as several of our neighbors broke their
tractors in two. The rear mount was such that it put a lot of force on the center of the tractor. Many people extended the framework to connect to the front where the front arms attached.
are you talking about the "haystacker" cage loaders or the F11 and similar?
 
But where does the "lift" place the stress? A front end loader is designed mostly for lifting, and a little bit of pushing. Torque tubes (bell housings) DO break.

The "lift" places stress on the front bolster of the tractor, which would apply that stress straight down on the front wheels. As far as I can tell there should be no stress on the bell housing.

I agree, they can break. I've seen it myself. Just not with these low-arm loaders. Usually it's a conventional modern loader that's mounted exclusively to the tractor frame ahead of the bell housing, with no attachment to the rear axle.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top