Florida hobby farmer
New User
I may have imposed the death penalty for my 1958 TO- 35. I am a small hobby farmer in Florida and I got this 35 for playing and small chores. Last weekend I was pulling palmetto stumps (they are basically like giant crab grass. lots of small surface roots about the size of a pencil. no tap root soft and spongy. stumps are about 4-8 inches across). I would wrap a chain around the stump and clip the chain to my 3 point ( was a middle buster) and drive away in granny gear until it rips out of the ground. Not a lot of strain unless I tried to do too many at once. I was not using any hydraulics just drive gear. I have done hundreds of these over the past 10 years no problem BUT this time as I drove forward I heard a pop not real loud. Pulled the stump fine drove forward fine but I saw that the 3 point had dropped down. Thought I may have hit the lever but no action when I moved it....Than I saw it... The rear case split, both sides and the plate on top.. oil was oozing out the split. I knew it wasn't good so I tied up the 3 point and drove it back to the shed ( drives perfectly normal). After the shock settled down I started to think this may be the end. I am just looking for opinions from the experts. I would really miss my baby if it's DOA. My kids and wife know I am beside myself. I keep replaying the pull over and over in my mind trying to think what might have happened. The only thing I can come up with is that the chain may have got under the blade of the implement and as I drove away it lifter or twisted the 3 point ?????? Thanks in advance for any input.[/img]