another hydro another broken frame

[876wheelhorse 46]

got this c141 noticed today pushing dirt that the seat was moving up to under stress. was thinking same thing happened when i was doing same thing to my 876. looked under where the hydro bolts to frame and tada cracks all over it. whats up with these frames cracking under load. its a easy fix i think. im going to weld some new heavier steel in there to fix it. just wondering what is the right way to fix this and who else has had this problem?

[leeave96 488]

FWIW, I've never heard of a frame cracking on a Wheelhorse, except a few years ago, I remember some discussion of the frame/plate where the tranny attaches on a 520H w/60 inch deck were seeing some cracking - and Toro beefing-up that area with later model 520H tractors.

OTOH, the frame is so simple on a Wheelhorse, some welding ought to fix your problem.

Good luck,

Bill

[KC9KAS 4,744]

I have read several threads on here about cracked frames where yours is cracked.

Some just weld up the cracks, others actually replace the flat steel with thicker steel.

Like you said, it should be a simple fix.

My guess would be that the bolts become a little loose and you start with a little movement. The holes may "waller" out some causing more movement, then finally something breaks. Make sure the 4 bolt holes in the tranny are nice and clean and not stripped. If they are sloppy, you should probably fix them with a heli-coil. You want to fix it right the 1st time!

[squonk 42,789]

I've had 3 or 4 parts tractors come thru with cracks around the trans mounting bolt holes. I had a 520 with a reinforcement plate welded there that looked factory

[littleredrider 409]

I'm redoing my 854, I knew the frame had cracks, but this was all the way thru the plate, from top to bottom. I cut it out and used a plate off a C-141 I parted out. Has ribs in it for extra bracing. Used a grinder to get them off, then cleaned up and welded. Can get some pics if yah need....

[Don1977 604]

Here is a transmission mount fix in this thread.

[jusjeepn 59]

It's usually caused from abuse when using the dozer blade. You know when your moving snow and you just need to push a little further? You back up and give it a little bump (more like ramming it with all it's got). The extra force is tranfered from the blade to the transmission assembly and so on and so forth. The weakest link is the frame mount (be thankful that it's the weak link). Reinforcing this area seems like a great idea, IF (and I emphasize IF) the tractor is used as intended and not as a bulldozer. If it's continued use is abusive, guess what will beak next....

[Forest Road 594]

Unfortunately its not at all uncommon. I've seen a few that looked like they went through a high school Welding class. The best fix is a piece of 1/4" plate or thicker. It is a 30+ year old machine. And let's face it. These lil red tractors are well worth the repair!

[Tankman 3,520]

The 1/4" steel plate replacement should work for many more years.

As Forest Road said, "It is a 30+ year old machine."

[whfan74 2,068]

I agree with Pat.......even though we are proud of what they can and will do, sometimes we push the envelope a little too much. Repeated use, or should I say abuse, will cause something to give. All machines have their limits. Usually this isn't from a one time ordeal since they were made so well but many years of general abuse.

We have run across a few with the same thing. Weld and grind it smooth.

[Kelly 1,031]

I'd have to say 60%+ I've had here have had at least cracks in them, some so bad they were almost not repairable, and I've seen all kinds of repairs from good to very bad.

[sorekiwi 761]

The 876 that was broke was 46 years old, which by my math is quite a bit more than "30+ years old" ! :)

[Kelly 1,031]

I'm 46 and there is days I think my back is broke, or at least feels like it.

[whc160 74]

Here is another link to the trans plate fix. There is a pic I posted of the plate with measurements to make one. The plates are no longer made by Toro or Partstree.

[gomer gump 8]

most of the problems i,ve seen with the wheel horses i,ve rebuilt over the years is just plain ol neglect an abuse idiot who will take a perfectly good wheel horse tractor an run them ragged an do no maintence to them and try to do things a garden tractor isn,t built to do . alot of the tractors i,ve rebuilt though have weak areas the frame where it meets the unidrive as they showed above the front pivot pin,s go bad alot the lift arm for the implements go bad and the hood stands are flimsey an very thin metal especially below the seat pan an wheel horse made the 60 in mower deck for the 520h an thats way over kill too heavy for that tractor the 42 or 48 " mowers work really good an won,t tear up the tractor an lighter wt if your good with a welder an torch you can fab up your tractors to work real nice but anyone who abuses these fantastic ol tractors outta bbbbbbb eeeeee shot