Replacing Bushings On LA724 Loader

Verticaltrx · Nov 8, 2011

I think I agree with those questioning the grease you are using. My B3200 is getting near 500hrs on it including LOTS of hard loader use and there is no play in the pins/bushing whatsoever. Presumably the LA724 would be a better quality loader, so I wouldn't think you should be having any trouble. With that said, since they are replaceable bushings, I would run it until they are absolutely shot. No need to replace them when they are still useable.

Chilly807 · Nov 8, 2011

The dirt doctor said:
Yes with dry ice, but with no luck. It sounds good in theory, but I don't know if it will work. Pressing them is the way to go. This is common practice in heavy equipment, and the dealer repair shops have special presses that hook up to a port a power.

It depends on the level of interference fit. If you can freeze the bushing enough to shrink it .002" but the interference is .003" it still won't slip in place.

Sean

crazyal · Nov 8, 2011

I'm pretty lucky. There's a company that sells bolts, kind of like Fastenall but will sell you just one and they have a huge stockpile up to 3" in diameter. Every time I've needed to press in a bushing I've been able to buy a large bolt long enough to go through the arm that fits pretty snug, plenty of washers, and nut. I have several of them in different sizes. Tighten it up and give the head of the bolt a hit, then tighten it up again.

I've never had much luck freezing things to shrink them. Much better luck heating up the part than needs to expand though. Probably because you can only cool a part maybe 100 degrees but you can heat it up 500 degrees pretty easily.

slowzuki · Nov 8, 2011

I'll add my LA853 is pretty sloppy from the previous owner. All it did was loader work. It is the linkage that is sloppy though and no bushings in them.

The dirt doctor · Nov 8, 2011

This post got me wondering what type of press contraption is actually used, so I went to enerpac.com. They have two that would work. One is a 10 ton hydraulic c clamp, and the other is a bracket that will let you strap a ram to the loader arm with a chain. I like the chain option and it's much safer looking than the way I do it. The bolt idea is also clever

Grateful11 · Nov 9, 2011

Where I used work the 3 weld bead method worked about 99% of the time and
we switched to liquid nitrogen for installation of solid bushing steel and bronze.

We also used a lot of these for replacements:

Spring bushings, spring pins - Connex Inc

kcender · Nov 9, 2011

Verticaltrx said:
I think I agree with those questioning the grease you are using. My B3200 is getting near 500hrs on it including LOTS of hard loader use and there is no play in the pins/bushing whatsoever. Presumably the LA724 would be a better quality loader, so I wouldn't think you should be having any trouble. With that said, since they are replaceable bushings, I would run it until they are absolutely shot. No need to replace them when they are still useable.

David_Kb7uns said:
If anything you may review the grease being used and see if there is one that is better and does not come out as easily you do not have real high hours on the tractor.

David Kb7uns

I don't think the grease I am using is the problem.I have tried about six different types of grease and they all seemed to stay in place.All the greases were EP or extreme pressure.I am presently using Shell EP grease which should be a quality product IMO.I have used the 9 dollar a tube grease from the dealer and it didn't seem any better.As I said earlier I think grease is only going to do so much.The bucket pins are a high wear area that have a lot of different forces acting on them.I think just about all bucket pins will wear with enough use.