Rear axle broke right inside cover

[smallfarmer]

I am looking for any thoughts advice on why my rear axle would have broke right inside the cover, between the bearings and nut. I was plowing and I hear a crack and then the tractor would not move forward. At first I thought it was a transmission problem but I tried locking the differential and then I could move forward. I got out and saw the right wheel at the axle seal was leaking.

So took off the whole wheel / assembly and yep, it broke just about an inch inside the axle hub. Lucky to not have been under or in the tractor when it fell. As it was, we had it jacked up when we took off the tire and it was just shocking to see how little of the axle shaft was holding it up...

Any thoughts on why that would happen? My tractor is a 1979 M4000. Thanks.

 

[ETRon]

Age and metal fatigue are what comes to mind. Just outside the bearings is the highest stress point (IMHO). After 34 years or so, if it's been worked hard I'm not sure you can hardly fault it. Should be able to find a replacement in a tractor graveyard.

 

[hodge]

X2. Age, fatigue, and how many different people have used the tractor in those years? Not everyone respects machinery and drives it accordingly. Some people could break an anvil with a rubber mallet- who knows how they treated your tractor? I'm not accusing, just generalizing. 34 years is a lot of time and use- the older a piece of equipment gets, the more likely it is that something will break.
you might try West Kentucky Tractor Parts (wkytpstore.com) they have a tractor graveyard.

 

[olthumpa]

X2. Age, fatigue, and how many different people have used the tractor in those years? Not everyone respects machinery and drives it accordingly. Some people could break an anvil with a rubber mallet- who knows how they treated your tractor? I'm not accusing, just generalizing. 34 years is a lot of time and use- the older a piece of equipment gets, the more likely it is that something will break.
you might try West Kentucky Tractor Parts (wkytpstore.com) they have a tractor graveyard.

I have had good luck getting scarce parts from them.

Good luck!

 

[ETRon]

yep.. West Kentucky - just couldn't think of the name when I wrote the last message!

 

[targabill]

I am looking for any thoughts advice on why my rear axle would have broke right inside the cover, between the bearings and nut. I was plowing and I hear a crack and then the tractor would not move forward. At first I thought it was a transmission problem but I tried locking the differential and then I could move forward. I got out and saw the right wheel at the axle seal was leaking.

So took off the whole wheel / assembly and yep, it broke just about an inch inside the axle hub. Lucky to not have been under or in the tractor when it fell. As it was, we had it jacked up when we took off the tire and it was just shocking to see how little of the axle shaft was holding it up...

Any thoughts on why that would happen? My tractor is a 1979 M4000. Thanks.

This is actually a Design FLAW by Kubota, how they attached th hub actually weakened the Axle by like 75%. Class action in the works.

 

[TheOldHokie]

This is actually a Design FLAW by Kubota, how they attached th hub actually weakened the Axle by like 75%. Class action in the works.

Class action for an alleged axle design flaw in a 50 year old tractor.

Extra butter and salt on my popcorn please.

Dan

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Class action for an alleged axle design flaw in a 50 year old tractor.

Extra butter and salt on my popcorn please.

Dan

New member, first post to wake up a 12 year dormant string. Call me in when the movie starts.

 

[targabill]

My tractor is only 8 years old with this break, and it's a confirmed design flaw

 

[TheOldHokie]

My tractor is only 8 years old with this break, and it's a confirmed design flaw

This thread is about a broken axle on a Kubota M4000. The last production year for that tractor was 1981.

If you have something newer you should start a new thread and identify the tractor with this "design flaw".

As far as a suit goes what do you hope to win in way of a judgement? Broken axles are not uncommon and typically replaced under warranty.

Dan

 

[whitetiger]

My tractor is only 8 years old with this break, and it's a confirmed design flaw

Who confirmed the break as a design flaw???????

 

[targabill]

This thread is about a broken axle on a Kubota M4000. The last production year for that tractor was 1981.

If you have something newer you should start a new thread and identify the tractor with this "design flaw".

As far as a suit goes what do you hope to win in way of a judgement? Broken axles are not uncommon and typically replaced under warranty.

Dan

The thread is title a Broken Axle which happens of several models, I was simply sharing what I have been seeing going on the Topic of Broken Axle...

It's not my suit, But i'm watching it.

Several machine shops verified it as a design flaw, But you do not have to be a mechanical engineer to see it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Well I'm not a mechanical engineer but I'll assume 'they' are saying there's not enough 'meat' left in the axle after machining the hole ? IF so, you'd assume ALL , or most, of the tractors with that axle would have failed. So does the axle fail, that then breaks the case ? Or is the axle fine and ONLY the case broke ?
This is somewhat interesting...similar to 'can I put duals on my BX23 series tractor' threads.

 

[BAP]

My tractor is only 8 years old with this break, and it's a confirmed design flaw

What is your tractor? Most people list their tractor in their profile and post it in their post so people know what they are talking about to help them better

 

[TheOldHokie]

The thread is title a Broken Axle which happens of several models, I was simply sharing what I have been seeing going on the Topic of Broken Axle...

It's not my suit, But i'm watching it.

Several machine shops verified it as a design flaw, But you do not have to be a mechanical engineer to see it.

You said your (unidentified) machine suffered that failure did you not? Please tell us what it model and year it is, what you serecfkingvwhen it broke. and what if anything Kubota did to help?

I am not taking sides but I am a technicsl sort of guy and still have serious doubts about how a third party has determined this is s basic design flaw. I am NOT a mechanical engineer and that picture tells me nothing more than it broke through that hollow section

If I were a mechanical engineer what I would have to see to declare that underdesigned is a well documented record of multiple failures and/or an FEA of that axle under expected loading. An FEA would involve material and heat treating specifications among other things and I am pretty sure thats what Kubota engineering used when they designed it.

I suspect the "machine shops" have none of that, lack the expertise to understand it if they did, and are simply speculating.

Now start a new thread with a link to the actual suit including:

1. Claimants supporting documentation
2. Models and model years
3. Incidence of failures and operating conditions
4. Expert testimony from the machine shops
5. Kubotas response including any testimony from their experts
6. What judgement the claimants are asking for.

Dan

 

[Fedup]

yep.. West Kentucky - just couldn't think of the name when I wrote the last message!

Only problem here is they have been closed for three or four years.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Only problem here is they have been closed for three or four years.

Yeah, butt ...

to wake up a 12 year dormant string

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Several machine shops verified it as a design flaw, But you do not have to be a mechanical engineer to see it.

Well, a mechanical engineer would actually see that there may be 75% of the cross section material missing but the axle is not weakened by 75%.

Good luck making lawyers rich