FEL out of alignment

[JOHNTHOMAS]

This is the exact same problem I had with my new L3240HST with Skid Steer QA last year. There was no adjustment other than the sledge hammer whack according to the Kubota mechanic. He knew exactly what I was talking about. In my case the torsion bar (the round bar between arms) was bad/it bent and had to be replaced under warranty. Some other owners have welded a piece of channel iron to this bar to make it more ridgid. I had my forks on when mine messed up. One side came loose and I could never reinstall forks or the bucket because one side would not attach. Here's pictures and if yours looks like this then you have the same problem and it's not a bleed valve fix it's a whack one side with a sledge or cut and reweld torsion bar.

 

[Beaux Duke]

Unfortunately you've described my problem exactly.

I don't have access to cutting/welding equipment so I'll have to try the sledge approach I guess.

I just have a hard time believing that the 4 to 6 pieces of 4 - 5 inch limbs that were in the grapple at the time were heavy enough to twist the tube that much but I guess they were when coupled with the weight of the grapple itself.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[HarleyScooter]

The pictures make a big difference, I did not know that your QA had a torque tube between them. I totally agree with JOHNTHOMAS and with your picture it shows it is bent quite a bit. I would try bending it back with the hydraulics. you should look for a place to block one side and try to twist it back into shape with the other curl cylinder. You may have to remove one end of the cylinder mounting on the blocked side, I would try it at low rpm's first to keep the pressure lower and if you had some help you could also hit the side you are trying to move with a sledge while applying hyd. force to it. Either way I also agree with others that once you get it straight again it shoud be reinforced from twisting again. At least now it makes sense why it did not sync the cylinders on full strokes.
Scott

 

[Beaux Duke]

I figured pictures would help everyone since I'm relatively new to the world of tractors. I need a parts manual so I can properly identify pieces.

I tried using the hydraulics to bend/twist it back into place but had no luck. I was probably over cautious but decided that I'd probably cause more problems so I called a welder to come over tomorrow to take a look.

It will definitely be reinforced. Looking at it now, it's pretty obvious that it could use more steel in a few key areas.

I'll try to remember to post a few pictures after its been repaired.

 

[kevinj]

It will definitely be reinforced. Looking at it now, it's pretty obvious that it could use more steel in a few key areas.

I'll try to remember to post a few pictures after its been repaired.

Remember.....the QA device is supported by the attachment. Find out why it came unhooked and fix that problem!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Remember.....the QA device is supported by the attachment. Find out why it came unhooked and fix that problem!

It probably came unhooked because it twisted the torque tube. This is why mine came onhooked. Carried it on forks.
Oops! The Grands, today is their first day of preschool.

 

[kevinj]

It probably came unhooked because it twisted the torque tube. This is why mine came onhooked. Carried it on forks.
Oops! The Grands, today is their first day of preschool.

This has been discussed a bit. I know my Markham grub bucket had to be modified as it did not fit right. (way too loose, over 1/2" under the lower plate) The top of the Kubota QA is not just like skid steer standard and some attachments are very loose due to the top rail of the attacment being to narrow.

If the attachment fit is wrong then the the tube can twist, if the attachment fits right then the tube sees little to no stress.

Also some of the Kubotas do not have the stops installed properly over the pins to prevent them from lifting or the user does not get them latched properly.

It seems to be poor fit of after market tools where everyone has the issues. I do not recall many problems when the factory bucket is used.

My Bradco forks fit as good as the Kubota bucket.

 

[Beaux Duke]

Here's a few shots of the repair. The welder originally tried to reuse the torque tube. He cut it down the middle and it popped apart by about 1 1/4 inches. I didn't like the idea of forcing the two pieces back together because of the fact that a lot of pressure would be placed on the pivot points so the original torque tube was cut out and replaced. A second tube was added and both were welded to a piece of angle iron to add additional support.

The top plate outside edge of the right side of the Kubota QA (2nd pic - behind handle) was apparently misaligned during the assembly process. (Sorry, no pictures of that because I was too lazy to detach the grapple. It's on the trailer.) The welder added a couple beads for about half it's length then ground it down to bring it in line with the left hand plate. That made a nice tight fit on the Markham Grapple and the stock Kubota bucket. So the problem was apparently caused by Kubota.

Sorry about the 1st pic being blurry. It's overcast here because of a tropical depression off the Fla panhandle.

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys.

 

[Willl]

Skid Steer QA right ?

Let me guess, popped out on the bottom didn't it ?

 

[kevinj]

Here's a few shots of the repair. The welder originally tried to reuse the torque tube. He cut it down the middle and it popped apart by about 1 1/4 inches. I didn't like the idea of forcing the two pieces back together because of the fact that a lot of pressure would be placed on the pivot points so the original torque tube was cut out and replaced. A second tube was added and both were welded to a piece of angle iron to add additional support.

The top plate outside edge of the right side of the Kubota QA (2nd pic - behind handle) was apparently misaligned during the assembly process. (Sorry, no pictures of that because I was too lazy to detach the grapple. It's on the trailer.) The welder added a couple beads for about half it's length then ground it down to bring it in line with the left hand plate. That made a nice tight fit on the Markham Grapple and the stock Kubota bucket. So the problem was apparently caused by Kubota.

Sorry about the 1st pic being blurry. It's overcast here because of a tropical depression off the Fla panhandle.

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys.

The problem is in your grapple. Look at the top of the QA where it meets the grapple. The Kubota adaptor is rebated on top and needs a solid plate in front of it like the bucket does. Your grapple is setting on the rebate which lets it be too low to lock up properly.

I had to modify a Markham bucket for the same reasons.