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.

 

[Tractor Beam]

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. :-(

No, it's not loose at all. I just couldn't get grease in one of the zirks during one of the scheduled greasings. I replaced the zirk with a new one, still didn't take grease, so I thought that the bushing had rolled in the pivot, and took the pivot apart to learn that there are no insert bearings. I really leaned into the grease gun and finally got it to take the grease.

 

[Tractor Beam]

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.

I know. I had thought about just having the loader welded on permanantly, because I never remove it, but the truth is, I've put this loader through some real abuse, and if it were anything other than a John Deere, I believe it would have broke by now! It's just a bit unnerving hearing the loader squeaking away whenever I drive around without a load! The loader also moves a bit whenever you go to plunge into the ground.

 

[kennyd]

No, it's not loose at all. I just couldn't get grease in one of the zirks during one of the scheduled greasings. I replaced the zirk with a new one, still didn't take grease, so I thought that the bushing had rolled in the pivot, and took the pivot apart to learn that there are no insert bearings. I really leaned into the grease gun and finally got it to take the grease.

Sometimes the joint is under "pressure" and will not take grease, you have to reposition the loader (or whatever) to relieve that pressure. My front axle pivot is that way-if I don't lift the wheels of the ground I cannot grease it.

 

[RoyJackson]

I know. I had thought about just having the loader welded on permanantly, because I never remove it, but the truth is, I've put this loader through some real abuse...

Sounds like you should have bought a dedicated loader rather then a CUT with a QA loader...

I'd drop that loader and retorque those mounts. I wouldn't weld them.

 

[ddivinia]

I have a john deere 990 with a 430 loader. 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?

I will have to look at mine. I have over 800 hour on my 5525 with a lot of loader work and I don't see any problems. Not sure I care if the bushings are replaceable, but that is a valid questions I guess.

D.

 

[Tractor Beam]

Sounds like you should have bought a dedicated loader rather then a CUT with a QA loader...

I'd drop that loader and retorque those mounts. I wouldn't weld them.

No, I'm not going to weld them. I'd just get something a bit more stout first. I totally understand that the 990 is a real cheap, low end entry level unit, and it does really well considering that. I just need to save up some money and get something a bit bigger, as I won't do payments. The next purchase, I'm going to be looking at the pivot points a bit harder though!

 

[Tractor Beam]

Sometimes the joint is under "pressure" and will not take grease, you have to reposition the loader (or whatever) to relieve that pressure. My front axle pivot is that way-if I don't lift the wheels of the ground I cannot grease it.

Thank you for the heads up Kenny! I'll try that next time, as it makes perfect sense. For the record, the 990 is a great machine, I'm not running it down at all. I really have done some incredible things with that 430 loader, that I believe would have broke other brand loaders. So I have no business complaining. I was just curious if the lack of bushings was common in you alls loaders or not. Sure seems like it wouldn't cost that much to put them in.

 

[vsumoski]

1000 rpm - made me laugh out loud. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

Thank you for the heads up Kenny! I'll try that next time, as it makes perfect sense. For the record, the 990 is a great machine, I'm not running it down at all. I really have done some incredible things with that 430 loader, that I believe would have broke other brand loaders. So I have no business complaining. I was just curious if the lack of bushings was common in you alls loaders or not. Sure seems like it wouldn't cost that much to put them in.

Then maybe you should consider what you write for a thread title... Sounds like you were expecting a 100K loader when you bought a super quality CUT.

I totally understand that the 990 is a real cheap, low end entry level unit, and it does really well considering that.

Huh? One post, it's a "real cheap, low end", next post it's "990 is a great machine".

Sounds like you're blaming the tractor for a bad choice during purchase.

 

[Barely Smokin']

I know. I had thought about just having the loader welded on permanantly, because I never remove it, but the truth is, I've put this loader through some real abuse, and if it were anything other than a John Deere, I believe it would have broke by now! It's just a bit unnerving hearing the loader squeaking away whenever I drive around without a load! The loader also moves a bit whenever you go to plunge into the ground.

Tractor, I'd love to help you out here, but I'm having a hard time following you on this. If the mounts are loose and squeaking, then replaceable bushings won't help you. If the loader has replaceable bushings and you don't grease them, then replaceable bushing won't matter either. And if you're maxing the loader out, which it sounds like you are, then a little tweakage is to be expected. In short, I'm curious why you feel somehow shortchanged on the whole deal.

I'd bet my next paycheck that I work my FEL harder than 90% here (mine is in commercial use) and I've got zero complaints. No slop at all in my bushings or the frame. That said, I'm realistic about the size of the tractor, too, and how much I paid for it.

Replaceable bushes or no, there's no substitute for religious greasing.