TO 35 is this the end of her

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]

Hello,
It does not sound good but not all is lost. There should be plenty of usable rear ends in breakers. Can you post any photos of the damage?
DavidP, South Wales

There is that risk anytime an ag machine is doing earth mover jobs. An old fergie dealer I know cracked the case of a 35 they had since it was new. Doing the same stump work as you broke yours.
It should be weld-able, by a proper professional, and otherwise repairable, but it's a big job unless you find a complete arsend... basically the same item- from what David? 1955 to 85? 95? Till the newer models couldn't interchange anymore?

Breakers is what Americans call salvage yards or junk yards,you should be able to find a
rear axle at one or it could be weldable.

Hi, that's not good. As mentioned there should be tractors around that the back end is usable on that is as long as
your front end of the tractor would justify the expense. Engine condition etc.
DavidP

That's from pulling roots??? You sure it didn't fall out of an airplane? It shattered in so many directions, so many places, it looks more like a hydraulic pump explosion. There just wasn't any tensile strength left to the metal I guess... too bad...

Hey FHF. This is what my 55 TO35 looked like when I bought it,I replaced all the broken pieces from
parts I found at a wrecker, the lift cover is from a 65 I was told,I used the original pump and lift
cyl. In my opinion the repair was well worth it. (The TO35 is one of the nicest tractor that I have
ever owned.)

How was your 3 point lift height adjusted? If it was able to go up to high it will cause the pumps relief valve to blow off. If the relief valve is clogged or stuck, the hydraulic pressure has no place to go and things break. I had this happen and was lucky only my hydraulic cylinder cracked apart. Unless you put a big shock load on your three point, the way your top cover is trying to lift at the front looks like your relief valve didn't open.

It can be fixed. If you do the work yourself it will cost much less to fix your tractor than buying another one.

Dan

Hobby Farmer, I feel your pain. Not trying to be a wise guy. When that first picture came up, a tube of JBWeld, popped into my head. The next set of pictures all welded up amaze me. If I see a rear end I'll let you know. Looks like it would be easier to put a new rear in than weld all that up. Good luck, Joe.

Will a TO30 rear work. There is one for sale in Michigan for $100, Joe.

(quoted from post at 20:35:08 07/14/16)
Will a TO30 rear work. There is one for sale in Michigan for $100, Joe.

Click to expand...

From what I have seen I think a 30 is smaller. I do have family in Michigan so I w may have them take a look for me just in case

Dan thanks in a way that would make me feel better than to think that pulling some roots was too much strain. I can't help but think that dragging an implement through hard pan would be a lot worse. I did have it on full up because I was just using the weight and gears to do the job

Do you know if that was welded in place or was it broken down then welded. Man it would be nice to at least consider getting it welded

TO20 and TO30 rear ends and top covers are different. You need the rear end from a TO35, MF35, MH50, MF50, or F40. Pretty sure the center section from some MF65s would work as well. Keep in mind that there are differential housings with 7/16 and 1/2 inch axle stud sizes, so if you are going to re-use your axles with a new center housing make sure to check what you have. Quickest way to get back up and running is to find a parts tractor that still has the rear end intact. Either way I would buy and install a new relief valve in the pump just to be on the safe side.

Dan

Sorry I do not know. It kind of looked like the housing might of been welded in place.

Thanks Dan at least I have a list of tractors to start shopping for. I live about half way down in tropical Florida so old farm tractors are not in abundance. Unless you are looking for a Ford. I have some longtime locals that I will get looking for me.

Thanks again

Too bad you are not in Texas, you can throw a rock in any direction, and hit one.

Fitts Tractor, Cascade, VA has lots of Massey parts. It's a fairly large and old tractor junk yard. 434/685-7850