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TheOldHokie 01-26-2013 15:34:01 108.22.203.170 Report to Moderator	Bulldozer said: (quoted from post at 10:31:43 01/26/13) Replacing the center axle with a 2" X 4" X 1/4" wall structural steel tube would increase the allowable dynamic working load to ~ 1475#. The gap in the center support weldment is 2 5/8". Believe the a 2 1/2" X 4" x 1/4" structual steel tube will fit. Using this size of member, the allowable dynamic working load would increase to ~ #1840. If all you want to do is beef up the center axle why not use solid flat bar with approximately the same or even a slightly larger cross section as the cast axle? It can be easily bent to match the cast OEM axle and won't create a whole bunch of geometry problems. Unfortunately I don't think that would help much. In practice most of the loader induced damage does not occur in the axle member itself. The failures we commonly see are cracked oil pans, hogged out, bent, or broken axle supports, badly worn axle pins, bent radius rods, and/or damaged wheel bearings/bent spindles. Fractured center axles are rare. Damage to them is usually a badly hogged out center hole at the pivot point which can often be repaired with a sleeve. Exceeding the design loads on the front end causes excessive wear and damage to all of the components - not just the "axle". TOH This post was edited by TheOldHokie at 16:16:52 01/26/13 5 times. [Reply]   [No Email]
Bulldozer 01-26-2013 18:57:41 24.165.92.6 Report to Moderator	Do not believe there is much wear to the axle. The wear occurs on the king pin and king pin bushing causing bending of the radius rod. The bushing and king pin should be on the maintenance list, since the load is applied as a single line load, which creates high contact stress on non hardened steel material and accelerates wear. Do not believe the axle is weak for the loads it was originally designed to handle and has ample safety margin. In my opinion the axle is under designed for front loader add on accessory.   [Reply]  [No Email]