Combines Main shaft broken on l2 whyIJ

[Tom]

Duane, sorry to hear of your misfortune. I ran M2 and l2 Gleaners for many years and never had main shaft problems, but I heard of guys who did. I understand it is caused by a faulty torque sensor where the thrust bearings are not allowing the guts inside to turn freely or the ramps are scored causing binding and jerky operation. The same problem can occur with the thresher countershaft if that sensor isnt serviced properly. I cant remember the correct name for the ramp parts, but they are clearly identified in your service manual. Good luck, Tom Russell

 

[Ed]

I had the same machine and had this shaft break the first or second year of use. The welding of the stub into the tube wasn't much better than what I'd have achieved myself. The replacement shaft was made a lot better and gave no problem.

 

[Duane]

Thanks for the info...I got the NEW shaft put

 

[johnboy]

Duane, don't feel so bad we must have been just unlucky too because the shaft on a l2 we had broke in the same place. It also broke on a friday afternoon in the middle of harvest. john

 

[Dan]

Broken weld could be bad weld or torque sensor. Broken threw grease hole would likely be sticking torque sensor. Make sure bolt that holds idler on is not full threaded. If it is it could snap and allow idler to fall off causing a loose belt for a moment and then a shock load to belt and shaft. Be sure spring thrust bearing is good and mating races are smooth without raised edges. Be sure sliding hub moves freely on inner hub. We hone ID of sliding hub and polish sliding surface of inner hub. We look for about .006" clearance between hubs. We use power sander to polish sliding surfaces of cams. Be sure oring is placed in groove next to belt area only for the grease needs to leak out other oring groove area to get on cams. I'm unsure if that extra groove is in l2 hubs. Put it all together with lots of grease. Be sure unloader pulley gets put on tightly. Grease the zirk on outer edge of pulley daily and cycle cylinder speed threw a full range often. Engage seperator at idle. Good luck.

 

[Jeremy]

I'm not a trained engineer but have read lots of books about design and machining_fabrication. I'm not sure why "engineers" build things like shafts with built in stress risers. Any time you drill holes in thing, you create all sorts of places for cracks to start. I read someplace that if you have to drill in shafts, you can take a ball bearing that's larger than the hole, place it in the hole and give it a good whack with a hammer. This will peen the edges of the hole and help eliminate breakage. Radiusing the edges of holes with a dremel tool or air die grinder will help as well. Just my $0.02 worth.