Broken Frame Relacement (312-H)

[wh500special 2,275]

I just picked up a pretty nice 312-H today from an Ebay seller. I was primarilly interested in the attached generator and figured I could decide what to do with the tractor later (certainly all of you watched the tractor on Ebay).

At any rate, when I got the tractor home I noticed it rocked side to side very easily...the obvious symptom of a broken frame.

So, I looked underneath it and, sure enough, the frame is broken at the junction to the transaxle (a fairly common problem). It has been snapped for quite a while too and really doesn't lend iteslf to being rewelded due to the distortion of the torn metal.

So, my question is...

Has anybody ever swapped out a frame from the bottom of the tractor?

I know this won't be easy, but I'd rather not mess with completely disassembling the tractor from the top down to the ground. It looks like I can take off the engine and tip the tractor on its side and perhaps accomplish this feat, but I don't know. If I get to the point where the whole tractor has to be stripped I will be parting this sucker out (which would be a shame since the tractor is much nicer than the pictures showed...other than this major flaw of course).

Really, I am just wondering if this is a practical repair solution....might not be the ideal method but might be a possibility.

Looking up from the bottom, there really aren't but a couple dozen bolts passing through the frame and other than the steering there really don't appear to be many linkages and such that depend on the frame for positioning.

i don't hold the seller the least bit responsible for this either since he truthfully didn't seem terribly familiar with these tractors. Actually, the way the tractor leans to either side when you step on a running board makes it feel like it has a suspension system. It may actually have finished breaking in two in the back of the truck on the way home since I didn't pick up on it when I first laid eyes on it.

I can easily part the tractor and recoup all of my investment (and more) but I am not usually in the "junk" business and only tear stuff down for parts that suit my other needs. Having another C-style tractor might be handy too and I have a donor C101 for the needed parts.

I welcome all comments: Good, Bad, Indifferent...

Thanks,

Steve

[Kelly 1,033]

I think the more you get in to it the more you will find that you have to take apart.

Pull the engine, hood, front axle, footrest, pedals, clutch linkage, lower steering, front and mid tach a matics, bolts that hold the dash tower on, trans bolts, lower part of the lift(T-bar) That's all I can think of I'm sure I missed something. I think if I were to do it I would pull the motor, hood, front axle and stand it up on it's tail to do the rest. Just my thoughts.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

It's definitely going to be a major job, but it shouldn't take more than a few hours.

The more sub-assemblies you can leave together, the better off you'll be. Another set of hands to help you do it would also help greatly. (as would air tools )

I've built three tractors starting with nothing but a bare frame and piles of loose pieces. At least all of your pieces (but one) are right there in one spot.

I myself would split it at the transaxle as soon as you can, get the "new" frame bolted on, transfer the front axle assembly over, and then assemble all the other parts on the rolling chassis as you remove them from the original frame.

[pond195520032003 27]

Steve, Kelly is right you will have to disassemble it(you can leave the body intact) but the smaller parts will have to be taken off seperatly! it sounds harder than it is i saw the tractor on ebay and thought it was a good deal i would look for a frame and start swapping :P

[kj4kicks 154]

Steve, If you're handy with a welder, you could always just replace the trans mount area. After all, that section was welded to the angle iron part of the frame to start with. That way you would really only need to R&R the trans and the side covers, etc.

my $.02

Eldon.

[baerpath 517]

I've got one that was redone, the trans plate was cracked bolt hole to bolt hole. Took the trans and fenders off stood it up welded a 1/4 inch steel plate to where the trans bolts then redrilled the holes to mount the trans Wasn't hard took about 2hrs

Duane

[wh500special 2,275]

Thanks guys. Like most mechanicking jobs, even the simple stuff seems to balloon on me. I figured the frame swap might be pretty labor intensive, but thought I'd float the question to see if there was an easier way out that perhaps had been tried before. Stripping it down and building it back up isn't beyond my abilities, but just trying to avoid any needless work.

The mounting plate on this thing is completely shot so it will need complete replacement. That's one advantage the D-s had over the other tractors...a full length frame that captures the transaxle.

Looks like the 312 is going to get shoved to the back of the shed until I decide whether or not I should bother with it.

always looking for the path of least resistance,

Steve

[Rollerman 290]

I have a frame here if you'd want it.

Kinda on the wrong end of the state for you though.

They are pretty easy to come buy too.

Hope you can save it...sounds like a "couold be" nice tractor.