Topper - Shear Bolt breakage

thesilentone · Apr 29, 2021

Start up shock- load of the PTO is the problem.

I would do two things:

1) Contact Fleming and see if they recommend anything.
2) Try a 12.9 tensile shear bolt (if you can get in that size), it takes more to shear, however more risks to the topper aswell.

Paddington · Apr 29, 2021

Nothing catching in the PTO shaft ? After years of never breaking a shear bolt I went through half a dozen in one day. I couldn't work out what I was doing wrong, I even used a torque wrench to set the correct shear bolts which came from the dealer. After replacing one I moved the PTO shaft slightly and saw that the end of the shear bolt was hitting the UJ, the bolts were too long....

JR27 · Apr 29, 2021

Had the same with my old Renault Ares 540 and a 9ft Fleming topper, think it was just too harsh a PTO engagement by default. Did the PTO on/off/on thing to try and feather it a bit and it kind of worked most of the time.
On the other hand, accidentally started it in eco 540 using for first time with current Claas Arion 420...was waiting for it to go but was no problem, even though you'd expect more torque going through. So sounds like Fleming toppers are susceptible to it, mixed with how smoothly tractor engages PTO.
Pain in the arse getting in to replace the shear bolt too

Jon · Apr 29, 2021

Patrick brian said:
My new tractor to me is a case cx90 but when I put on the Fleming topper and have pto at 540 it breaks the shear bolt which are 10.9x8mm bolts do I get a stronger bolt are is there something wrong with my tractor it can work the slurry tanker and the side cast dung spreader without any problems can anyone help

My McConnell I now use the 1000 pto at 540 revs and the take up is far more gradual .

box · Apr 29, 2021

Ugh, shear bolts.....give me a belt drive any day.

Moors Lad · Apr 30, 2021

Try some shear bolts from a different source. I once had a terrible job with my 6 ft topper with some new shear bolts from a local guy.
Tried some new bolts from a different dealer and the problem just went away.... MUST be worth a quick try!

Derrick Hughes · Apr 30, 2021

Change the shaft to a 10 mm bolt, those 8mm are useless

Zebbedee · Apr 30, 2021

Make sure holes where bolt goes in are not worn and also make sure that there is a shank on bolt as opposed to thread in shear area

Ffermer Bach · Apr 30, 2021

Derrick Hughes said:
Change the shaft to a 10 mm bolt, those 8mm are useless

I was just thinking that, and then use an 8.8 bolt

Henarar · Apr 30, 2021

Patrick brian said:
My new tractor to me is a case cx90 but when I put on the Fleming topper and have pto at 540 it breaks the shear bolt which are 10.9x8mm bolts do I get a stronger bolt are is there something wrong with my tractor it can work the slurry tanker and the side cast dung spreader without any problems can anyone help

ask your case dealer if there is anything they can do to make the pto start more softly
I take it that you didn't have any problems with the tractor you had before ? in which case its the fault of the tractor not the topper

agrotron · Apr 30, 2021

Start the pto while your driving at tick over. Had same problem with a deutz tractor. Quick press on and off while driving managed to get it going.

cosmagedon · May 1, 2021

Ffermer Bach said:
I was just thinking that, and then use an 8.8 bolt

It's not a good idea to use a 8.8 as a shear bolt, you would think it would break easier however they tend to deform rather than break cleanly so over time the hole ends up elongated.

cosmagedon · May 1, 2021

One permanent fix you can do is find the hydraulic test port for the PTO and tee a accumulator into it, that will take out the initial shock of the PTO starting.

Mur Huwcun · May 2, 2021

Another thing, what’s your tractor’s idle speed? Have seen tractors idling at a 1000rpm which will not help. Also being a Doncaster IH heritage what oil is in the back end?

njneer · May 2, 2021

Patrick brian said:
My new tractor to me is a case cx90 but when I put on the Fleming topper and have pto at 540 it breaks the shear bolt which are 10.9x8mm bolts do I get a stronger bolt are is there something wrong with my tractor it can work the slurry tanker and the side cast dung spreader without any problems can anyone help

Built in feature with the Fleming toppers, the gearbox on them is only rated to about 60hp,and make sure it is bolted properly to the frame as they tend to rattle slack and fall off.
probably a 12.9 bolt be better .

Buggerallbandwidth · Jul 4, 2021

NH TC 40 on tickover breaks shear bolts on my Flemming Top5.
Pain in the proverbial. Just need a bag of them ready

Any recommendations for bulk supplies of quality bolts?

Highland Mule · Jul 4, 2021

Buggerallbandwidth said:
NH TC 40 on tickover breaks shear bolts on my Flemming Top5.
Pain in the proverbial. Just need a bag of them ready
Any recommendations for bulk supplies of quality bolts?

Screwfix.

Wellytrack · Jul 4, 2021

Buggerallbandwidth said:
NH TC 40 on tickover breaks shear bolts on my Flemming Top5.
Pain in the proverbial. Just need a bag of them ready
Any recommendations for bulk supplies of quality bolts?

Shear bolts are misery. Slipclutch is the way.

gmc541 · Jul 4, 2021

Patrick brian said:
My new tractor to me is a case cx90 but when I put on the Fleming topper and have pto at 540 it breaks the shear bolt which are 10.9x8mm bolts do I get a stronger bolt are is there something wrong with my tractor it can work the slurry tanker and the side cast dung spreader without any problems can anyone help

If you bring the pto lever forward gently, it will engage slowly, if not the rod might need adjustment

Moors Lad · Jul 4, 2021

Moors Lad said:
Try some shear bolts from a different source. I once had a terrible job with my 6 ft topper with some new shear bolts from a local guy.
Tried some new bolts from a different dealer and the problem just went away.... MUST be worth a quick try!

Hope you guys have read this and tried it - it REALLY did happen and I was getting thoroughly sick of those blasted bolts going, AND was blaming everything but them . I have still got them if you guys get addicted to the job!!

Topper - Shear Bolt breakage

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page