953 nut 55,776 #1 Posted August 24, 2019 A couple months ago the right rear axle on my GT-14 let lose! My presumption was that the snap ring had broken allowing the axle to come out. I finally got around to tearing into it and this is what I found. Fortunately there was no other damage done and I will be replacing bearing and seals to freshen it up. I'll post the back story later. Guess I need another axle! I have posted a "Wanted Ad" in our classified section, but if anyone has a good GT-14 Right Rear axle (15") or a "D" axle (16.5") they would be willing to part with please PM me and let me know. 3 1 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Burnerman 758 #2 Posted August 24, 2019 😲😲😲 Are you pulling houses around? 1 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #3 Posted August 24, 2019 This GT-14 was owned by a landscaping company and used with a front end loader and landscape rake for about forty years prior to the time I bought it. It has a limited slip differential, wheel weights and loaded tires, it hasn't been pampered. Since the failure took place in the differential housing I don't think weight was an issue, just torque and metal fatigue. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,725 #4 Posted August 24, 2019 without a doubt that landscaping co and front end loader , shock / stress cracked that axle years ago, just time and torque finished it off, you are lucky that it was a clean break, without imploding your deferential , pete 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #5 Posted August 24, 2019 Here is the back story written on the day the axle let go. If this had occurred on level ground it would have been an inconvenience. However, our driveway has an elevation change of eighty five feet in three hundred feet with a couple of turns. I was driving my GT-14 down my Very Steep driveway when the right axle decided to work its way out of the differential (guess the snap ring came off). With that the began picking up speed rapidly. My guesstimate is that the GT-14 was traveling about 30 MPH by the bottom of the driveway! I lowered the FEL bucket but it didn't help much. I didn't want to hit a tree because the sudden stop would hurt for sure. I rode it out until it crossed the road and headed for the creek. As it approached the ditch I bailed off, when I got up I saw it sitting harmlessly at the edge of the creek. My neighbor and I pulled it back to the barn (had to jack it up and shove the axle in a couple times). God was watching over me for sure! I will have a little black eye and have a few bruises, but considering how it could have ended I feel blessed. Disney has nothing on me! Don't have any pictures, don't even ask! I Know, I Know, that means it never happened. 1 1 10 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,337 #6 Posted August 24, 2019 As they used to say in Nascar, "It done broke"! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,337 #7 Posted August 24, 2019 Did you have that proverbial clean pair of shorts handy? Glad you are ok ! Sounds alot like a bobcat l rented when l built my house a few years back. It let loose went down a steep hill and in the creek below. I rode it out!! Weee!! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JPWH 6,092 #8 Posted August 25, 2019 (edited) Wow! What a rude. Glad you are mostly ok Dick. What is the diameter of the axle? I have several but don't know what they came out of. I will look tomorrow. Jay Edited August 25, 2019 by JPWH 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #9 Posted August 25, 2019 8 hours ago, JPWH said: What is the diameter of the axle? The axle is 1 1/8" diameter and about 15" long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,134 #10 Posted August 25, 2019 Sounds like divine intervention you're still here. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,230 #12 Posted August 25, 2019 WOW! Glad you're OK and can a few laughs about it now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,065 #13 Posted August 25, 2019 Ouch, glad to hear you‘re good so far. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,096 #14 Posted August 25, 2019 Wow, I’m glad that story ended well enough! Thankful the damage to you and the tractor was minimal! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #15 Posted September 6, 2019 I have located an axle and it should be here today! Thanks Tyson @Shuboxlover, you saved the day! Having a bit of down time and having had to remove so much sheet metal I decided a little beauty treatment was in order for the GT-14. Previous owner had painted it an orangey red color I wasn't too fond of. 5 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,065 #16 Posted September 6, 2019 looks a bit like Laundry at Wheelhorse .. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,355 #17 Posted September 7, 2019 14 hours ago, Tractorhead said: looks a bit like Laundry at Wheelhorse .. True. Funny thing is... When Trina paints our stuff she ... Literally... Hangs them out to dry on our laundry line. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 17,522 #18 Posted September 7, 2019 Glad to hear you made it out of that one ok. I’ll take a bruise over a broken bone any day. I wish I would have known you needed an axle as I have some in the storage unit. Just glad you are alright. 👍 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,355 #19 Posted September 7, 2019 Not to be hijacking the thread but will those 15" axles "bolt in" and replace the (12"?) Axles in an 8 speed? If so, would that be ok to widen the stance on Colossus? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #20 Posted September 7, 2019 5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Not to be hijacking the thread but will those 15" axles "bolt in" and replace the (12"?) Axles in an 8 speed? If so, would that be ok to widen the stance on Colossus? Yes! This post by @19richie66 has all the information you will need to pull it of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,355 #21 Posted September 7, 2019 @953 nut Excellent. Thanks for sharing that!!! @19richie66 thanks for making up that thread. I'm thinking Colossus is getting an axle transplant..... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,096 #22 Posted September 7, 2019 40 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Not to be hijacking the thread but will those 15" axles "bolt in" and replace the (12"?) Axles in an 8 speed? If so, would that be ok to widen the stance on Colossus? I’ve got a feeling that Rylee’s Screamin’ Jimmy has had an axle transplant using something wider... It’s got a super wide stance compared to Jada’s or any other of our 60’s tractors. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,776 #23 Posted September 7, 2019 44 minutes ago, pullstart said: Rylee’s Screamin’ Jimmy has had an axle transplant using something wider. If they are 1 1/8" that could be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,096 #24 Posted September 7, 2019 14 minutes ago, 953 nut said: If they are 1 1/8" that could be. I think they’re only 1”... but he to hub that axle is much wider than other ones in the barn by far Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,739 #25 Posted September 7, 2019 Like the others have stated, so glad that you made it through that event without more than bumps and bruises. God was definitely looking out for you my brother! It is great to see that you are putting the GT into some fresh clothes since it is so far apart anyway! I can’t wait to see the finished product... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
