Combines 30 1020 header breaking the support arms

[canuck]

I'm surprised but I'm not.It's not just the 30' header that has that problem.I have a 5 year old 25 footer and I think everyone has broken there.The poly skids saved alot of mishaps.I am sure it is just a flaw in the heat treatment process.A quick weld with some 7018 fixes it permanently.I'm surprised that they havent remedied this yet and glad that I din't replace them with the same design.Hope this helps!

 

[Mo_Rice]

This is a everyseason thing i have to replace almost all over them every season even the ones i have welded back.

 

[canuck]

Are you using a hot low-hydrogen rod like 7018...i know 6011_6013 wont do it.Mig maybe with lots of heat to anneal the surrounding metal.Try it,its cheaper than new.

 

[Big_Al]

Hey Canuck I am looking at a 1996 30' 1020 very soon am just wondering where exactly do I look to see if these supports have been broken or welded. I don't quite understand where you mean to look any info. would be appreciated.

 

[grain]

We have two 30' 1020's and we've had the same trouble. I finally took each of the arms off, cut the old skid plate off and welded a new one to it. It's a lot cheaper than replacing the whole arm and seems to last longer than just welding the cracks.

 

[canuck]

If you look under your header,you'll see from 6 to 10(depending on width of your header) or so curved pieces of square tubing I would guess about 2 and a half inches square.One end is fastened to the back of the header via a swivel assembly.The front is attached to a special skid shoe and is what keeps your knife assembly in position.You will see 2 bolt holes that attach this shoe to the guard.Mine usually cracks about 2 inches behind the bolt holes(hard to see if you have poly skids).If you can twist the guard up or down(i use a boxed end wrench over one guard point),the shoe is probably cracked under the poly.I've also had one break where the tubing is welded to the shoe assembly.Hope this helps.

 

[Big_Al]

Thanks for the info Canuck I have looked at the header and some have been welded thanks for your detailed description.