Combines Rear wheel spindle break

Had the same thing happen to an R50 last year. Mine broke right behind the inner wheel bearing where the spindle was cut down to the proper size for the bearing. The local dealer had it in stock because he has seen it happen a few times before. The local machine shop said it broke because the way it was made was to cut the spindle straight down to size and this gives it a line to break on. The taper needs to be cut in a radius where it is cut down from the larger shaft size so there isn't a definite score line for it to break on.

Gleaner does have an issue here. Short of building you own axel or changing to a RWA unit there are a few things you can do. Turn you back wheels so they trail backwards, they will grip the ground better and have less rolling resistance. Don't fill the grain tank all the way up, empty more often. Never run a gear higher than you cut crop in when loaded, hitting a rut hard when loaded may even damage a final drive. I have helped jack up a loaded combine on a slope that we could not get a truck to unload. We fixed the spindle and moved on, not a fun situation. Be patient out there when loaded......

it is important that the turning stops be adjusted correctly to prevent a lot of breakage problems.gleaner has sent several notices to dealers over the years about this. the spindle should never contact the stop!!!!!! adjust the steering cylinders to bottom out before they reach the stop. this alone stops most rear axle breakage problems!!! vstk