300cx Loader - How Loose is Too Loose

[Spudland_Dave]

Have had my 3520 Cab w/300cx for 75 hours now...this weekend while plowing I noticed that my loader "Felt" & Seemed loose...when you pick it up or put it down the Mast's seem to tilt inward & outward.... Promptly brought it into the garage and made sure everything was fully tightened to spec...quick park is disabled which makes it a bit tighter...but I still honestly think the amout it deflects is a bit silly for lack of better terms...The mounts are installed correctly as well.....
My Dad's L2900 w/LA480 loader is solid as a rock...honesly I think that whole Quick Park & Quick Detach is a load of BS, I wish I could get a solid mounted loader...I dont care if I need a whole 1500 piece tool set to remove the loader....
If I cant get the 300cx fixed solid, I'm seriously considering my options on aftermarket or other loaders...I hate to go aftermarket, but at the same time I spent money on a NEW Tractor that should be tight, not loose like an ex-construction machine with 15,000 hours.

 

[JB4310]

I don't think my masts move at all, I have some play in the bucket links but doesn't affect performance only notice it when the bucket is on the ground and I step on the edge. There is some bolts on top that can take up slack, I have a 4310 w/300cx which is only 32 hp.
Maybe your heavier/Higher hp machine is beating it up more.

 

[dirtworksequip]

I guess you only have a couple of options. Live with it or trade it of for another color. If you not happy with the loader with only 75 hours your sure not going to like it with a couple of hundred more hours on it.

Sincerely,Dirt

 

[nmu98]

Dave, I had the same issue with the open station 3720 with the 300cx. On that one there were 2 bolt on each side on a "bar" that went from the mast to the front weight bar. Someone installed the washers inbetween the 2 pieces of metal. Maybe it was supposed to be like that for a reason? But after removing them, and putting them next to the nut, it greatly increased its rigidity.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I guess you only have a couple of options. Live with it or trade it of for another color. If you not happy with the loader with only 75 hours your sure not going to like it with a couple of hundred more hours on it.

Sincerely,Dirt

The tractor isnt going anywhere...I love it & the JD Cab wayyyy too much. But I think your right, I wont be happy, I've not been happy with the loader in that respect since hour 1...I've tightened the QuickPark locks which has made it better, but its still not acceptable to me...a setup similiar to the 110 Loader setup on a 3x20 would be the preferred solution...

 

[nmu98]

The bolts I am talking about are right above the front tire in this picture. There is some play in them, so remove the washer from between the metal and get them as tight as you can. I think raising the bucket helped in this case.....

 

[dirtworksequip]

Dave, I personally liked the old style 440 loaders. They were a lot easier to get in and out of,visability was better and they seemed a little more ridgid. When you go from old to new you sometimes have to give up something. The only reason I even bought a new tractor was for the cab. If it wasn't for the cab, I'd still be running my old JD870. I hope your able to tweek your loader so you can at least live with it.

Is the loader not performing as you want or is it just bothering you that it moves around so much?

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The bolts I am talking about are right above the front tire in this picture.

Excellent nmu98, I will look at that tonight, didnt even look there, I just checked the mounting post bolts, and the quick-park bolt...everything was tight.

Is the loader not performing as you want or is it just bothering you that it moves around so much?

Nah, the loader performs great...Honestly, I think its more a case of me noticing it more while I'm doing the "Semi-mindless" task of plowing the driveway....

I'm gonna continue to live with it for now, but if it gets worse and I get nowhere with Deere (assuming this turns out to be a true problem, not just me being picky)....I'll probably fab up a new set of Rigid masts that utilize the factory mounting point, boom, Cylinders, geometry, etc.. just essentially replacing the JD Quick Park masts...

 

[dirtworksequip]

What would happen if you installed a metal sleeve over the springs on the loader? Would this make it more ridgid?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

What would happen if you installed a metal sleeve over the springs on the loader? Would this make it more ridgid?

Hmm...Good Question...
What I was thinking of trying would be a "Cross Bar" to tie the Left & Right Masts together like the Kubota's have...
I think pound for pound that would be the easiest way to make things more ridgid....Of course I'm thinking of all this now behind my work desk...will have to scope it out to see if its even feasible to do and still allow the hood and such to open...

 

[AKfish]

Hmm.. maybe I could swap you --- my FEL for your cab?? This time of year; that sounds like a real good deal to me!!

On my old tractor, I thought about fabbing a setup like the Kubota, too. With the cross-brace between the loader masts.

But, I couldn't get the hood to open, then. I think it might cause a problem with your cab, too.

Is everything square? Bucket level on the ground? Does one side lift before the other arm does? (If the dealer did everything right -- these questions should be easy.)

With only 75 hrs.; maybe you're just expecting more from the loader than the FEL was designed to be...

AKfish

 

[3Bladz]

Mine is loose like that too. I am not happy with it either. I was thinking about the cross bar too. It has a couple holes in the casting at the top of the masts. It would be easy to bolt a piece of angle across it. Anybody think the casting might break?

 

[JB4310]

I don't think the casting would break easily but I don't know what you'd gain bracing it for lateral movement, I thought the problem was movement fore and aft?
I've got a 300cx on my 4310, orig my tractor came with the 430 loader I swapped with a dealer for the newer model. You'd think if anyone was going to have a prob it would be with the one that was set up in my back yard, as opposed to the dealers shop or at the factory but I haven't noticed any movement and I mainly use my tractor as a loader (ie; no field work)

It would bother me to, I'd find some way to stiffen it up. Maybe some kinda shim up front where it engages the weight bracket?

 

[JB4310]

Sorry, just reread the OP and I see the movement referred to as inward and outward. since that's the case then a brace across the top should take care of it nicely, if hood clearance is an issue you could have a simple quick disconnect pin on one side and swing it up out of the way hinging on the other side.

I'm gonna look closer at mine since I do lift capacity loads often.
Good luck.

 

[jrutherford]

Dave, I had the same issue with the open station 3720 with the 300cx. On that one there were 2 bolt on each side on a "bar" that went from the mast to the front weight bar. Someone installed the washers inbetween the 2 pieces of metal. Maybe it was supposed to be like that for a reason? But after removing them, and putting them next to the nut, it greatly increased its rigidity.

that is a help - mine is sloppy and I keep thinking "I wonder if they bolted everything right with the framing" will check out! I locked mine out of quick attach and that helped a little. I was surprised with this too spudland....