[ENafziger]

...check the bolts on your rear end. Yesterday was a bad day for me. I finally got the wheel weights on the 1855 and was starting to get some work done, when the tractor started making a funny noise, smoke began rolling out from under the seat pan, and I saw sparks shooting out around me. I shut it down, lifted the seat, and this is what I saw:

The entire rear end assembly started to come out from under the tractor. It snapped part of the cast aluminum case assembly, and cracked a hydraulic line. There are 3 bolts on each side that hold the rear end to the tractor...2 bolts down low and 1 up top. Upon inspection, it looks like one of the rear bolts and fallen out, and the other worked loose. This allowed enough play in things that it snapped cast housing around the remaining top bolt. You can kindof see the bolts in these pics:

I've never heard of this happening before, and fluke things often happen to me that never happen to anyone else. BUT, it's worth the 5 minutes it will take for you to get a wrench and tighten these 6 bolts before you start your tractor again! This tractor only has 673 hours on it, and was primarily used for snow blowing. Now, get off your computer and go grab a wrench!

--Eric

 

[TAHOE]

Oh Snap!!! ....literally.

Man that sucks big time!

 

[MH81]

That's just sad.
Can it be fixed? Being cast aluminum, can it be welded?
Any way to brace off something else in there to take stress off the repair?

 

[jimbobbillyray]

wow. yes, that can happen. to assume it can't is a big mistake. sorry for your loss. :wallbanging:

 

[adolphsson09]

OUCH!!!!!!!!! I just went and checked mine out and both of the main 3/4" headed bolts were loose that go into the casing!!! Sorry for your luck but on the flipside THANK YOU!!! You may have just saved some headaches for others!!

 

[shorty]

Man, that's a rough day. I hear ya on the fluke things that happen, it's the same at my house.

 

[KennyP]

That's not supposed to happen! Is that a Peerless rear end? I've got an extra, might have change axles though!

 

[Bolens QT-17]

Wow that must really suck. :mad2: I would be so mad if that happened to me.

 

[propane1]

I am usually the one that weird stuff happens to. I see that its not just me. Never had that one happen yet, and hope I don't. Sorry for your trouble, looks nasty. I had a couple of bolts loose on my lgt165 Ford once. nothing happened, but I always look now, when I am around the rear ends. Noel

 

[Talntedmrgreen]

I had a wheel fall off mowing the lawn, but nothin like that!

 

[101 senior]

Hope its an easy fix.

 

[glgrumpy]

Man, what luck. Have to get out the New shovels start of this winter then, I guess.

 

[Sugarmaker]

Wow! Yikes. I guess it could have caught on fire and burnt up too!

Not a good thing!

When I read the title of your post, I thought you were watching me be lazy and just wanted me to go do something productive for a change!

Hope you can get this fixed soon!

Regards,

Chris

 

[limebuzz]

I have actually bought a 1650 and a 1655 with the top right tab on the rearend that was broke off already. Need to see if I can get them welded back on. I'm out of spares. Lol. Sorry about your luck.

 

[ENafziger]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm going to try to re-align everything, tighten the bolts, and replace the bolt that is missing. I did just get a spool gun and bottle of Argon for my MIG welder, so I may try my hand at welding that top boss back on.

...but it might be a week or so until I get to it. The head gasket just blew on my daily driver truck and filled the radiator with oil Grrrr.....

 

[chieffan]

Along those same line if you have an MTD built machine, watch the area where that tin can frame is bolted to the axle. Frame has a tendency to crack and work up the sides. Best fix I have found is a 10" piece of bed rail with the narrow side on the axle. That is the first place to look if the drive belt jumps off when shifting to reverse.