Is my loader is piece of crap?

[Tractor Beam]

Would the JD be second hand or has been rebuilt?

It's new.

 

[Tractor Beam]

Come on folks... the guy asked an honest question!

No need to turn on 'em like you're behind on your rabies vaccinations!

FWIW - the bucket pins on my old JD 80 FEL were gettin' pretty sloppy. I was planning to take it to a local machinist and have oversized bushings installed.

Cheaper than a new loader... likely about the same total cost as a good used bucket - IMO.

'Course the new 300CX has replaceable bushings - he could always go that route - and get more lift capacity in the bargain! :thumbsup:

AKfish

Hey! Thanks buddy. I appreciate it. For what it's worth, I wasn't excited, just curious was all. The manual calls for greaing everything in the loader every 10 hours, I stepped it up to every 5 hours. I have 2 John Deeres and am happy with both of them, and if I did sell the 990, I'd likely stick with John Deere, but I'm keeping it so no worries here! Thanks a bunch guys!

 

[Tractor Beam]

What about the lube? How often are you lubing the joints and are you using an EP, extreme pressure lube like molly grease? My FEL calls for twice a day, how ever I found that after two days hard use the pins are well coated with grease and no signs of wear.

The manual calls for every 10 hours, but I go every 5 hours, on the belief that lube is cheap, loaders are not!

 

[Tractor Beam]

AKfish
I re-read my post, and don't see where I turned on him, behind on my rabies shots or not. Where do you read that into my post?

It was hard to decipher if the OP had a question "Is my loader a piece of crap?" or a statement "my loader is piece of crap". Either way, my comment was that mine was not a piece of crap.

beenthere

It's all good! I was just stunned when I saw that there wern't any bushings in there is all. I know the 990 with the 430 loader is bottom of the JD line, but couldn't afford to pay another $15,000 for the upgrade and I didn't want payments is all. Here in a few months, I might upgrade though, to something with an easier shift!

 

[KennK]

Can someone post pictures of FELs with and without replacable bushings? ... if I'm saying that right. I'm trying to understand here.

Ken

 

[Tractor Beam]

Can someone post pictures of FELs with and without replacable bushings? ... if I'm saying that right. I'm trying to understand here.

Ken

I cannot get pictures up. Computer is fouled up. We get a new puter Tues. I'll put up some pictures of a Bushless pivot point at least then.

 

[dfkrug]

I noticed that all the pivot points are not insert bushed. I am aware that the pins are likely softer in material than the initial bushings themselves, but was surprised to see that the bushings were not replaceable. Is this typical?

None of my loaders had replaceable inner bushings. I am more concerned
about JD's thin 1/4" metal used on their QA brackets. On my 420, they
have gotten so sloppy, a repair is necessary.

Have you considered using new 1" pins, instead of the smaller JD ones? I
assume you are having trouble with the main boom pivot? If one of the
cylinder pivots, an unmodified 1" pin will probably be too tight in the
cross tube.

 

[Tractor Beam]

None of my loaders had replaceable inner bushings. I am more concerned
about JD's thin 1/4" metal used on their QA brackets. On my 420, they
have gotten so sloppy, a repair is necessary.

Have you considered using new 1" pins, instead of the smaller JD ones? I
assume you are having trouble with the main boom pivot? If one of the
cylinder pivots, an unmodified 1" pin will probably be too tight in the
cross tube.

No, the tractor has just over 200 hours on it, but I couldn't get grease into one of the pivots and took it apart. I was fairly stunned, and was just wondering if it were normal. My mast's do move around a great deal and make noises, and I was trying to figure a way of making them more rigid, like selling the unit and getting something stouter!

 

[dfkrug]

No, the tractor has just over 200 hours on it, but I couldn't get grease into one of the pivots and took it apart. I was fairly stunned, and was just wondering if it were normal. My mast's do move around a great deal and make noises, and I was trying to figure a way of making them more rigid, like selling the unit and getting something stouter!

200 hours! Now I'm stunned.

You mean your main boom is loose, correct?

I suspect that the pivot in question never properly took grease, so it has
200 hours of dry operation. :-(

 

[RoyJackson]

No, the tractor has just over 200 hours on it, but I couldn't get grease into one of the pivots and took it apart. I was fairly stunned, and was just wondering if it were normal. My mast's do move around a great deal and make noises, and I was trying to figure a way of making them more rigid, like selling the unit and getting something stouter!

Unless the loader mounts are loose, you're probably seeing normal movement in the loader. Next time you drop your loader off, retorque the mounts and see if that helps.
However, this is a quick attach loader so it's not going to be as stout as a permanently attached loader. You've got to expect some movement.