Adding stiffener to FEL

[Bill McGonigle]

I did find missing pins - on both sides (see pics). Does this mean the bucket torqued off at the bottom at some point on the side that broke?

Any recommendations for keeping the pins on? I can certainly check every once in a while, but it seems like better attachment would be best.

 

[VictorW]

I haven't lost a lynch pin yet on the pivot pins. I noticed you have yours going through from the lower side of the pin holes. I drop mine in from the top so if the keeper ring gets caught on something, they have a lesser chance of falling out. Hopefully that helps them little from falling out. I suppose you could always use bolts with self locking nuts like those used on my Kioti bh bucket pins. I've never had a bolt loosen.

 

[dfkrug]

I haven't lost a lynch pin yet on the pivot pins. I noticed you have yours going through from the lower side of the pin holes. I drop mine in from the top so if the keeper ring gets caught on something, they have a lesser chance of falling out. Hopefully that helps them little from falling out. I suppose you could always use bolts with self locking nuts like those used on my Kioti bh bucket pins. I've never had a bolt loosen.

I have never lost a lynch pin there either, but it certainly could happen.
Your point about the pin orientation is a good one.

My hoe also uses bolts and nuts, but I rarely take those pins out. I have
lost a few nuts and bent the bolts, however. On my FEL, I change from
forks to 4-in-1 bkt 2x per year, so bolts are out for me. (Maybe I change
my tune if I do lose a pin!)

I just made some replacement pins for a Bobcat 4-in-1 bkt and I like how
the pins are retained: a small pin, which goes thru the pivot pin, is bolted
to the side of the clevis. Nice setup.

 

[pickeringchris]

I have the same loader. What missing pin are we talking about so I can make sure to check mine. Thanks.

 

[Elcid76]

I have a Kubota L3240 with an LA724 loader. I have broken the same links (both sides) over the past year. The problem was that the pins "were" secured with a metric bolt and locknut. The bolt was too long, and when curling and dumping the bolt would get bent. Eventually it fell out and the bracket swung loose. Since only one side of the connection came loose, I didn't notice anything wrong with the bucket. My "fix" was to replace the brackets with new kubota links (about $25 each) and replaced the bolts with 1/4" cotter pins. Now nothing can get bent and it has held fine.
I also replaced all of the metric pin bolts and locknuts with grade 5 hardware and locknuts on all other connections. I removed all of the pins when I did that and found that two of the lower link pins on the QA bucket were actually broken. MORE stuff to fix, and a GOOD reason to do routine lube and inspection. I found the broken pins BEFORE they "found me." No complaints here, I use the heck out of my loader. "Fair-Wear-and-Tear" has a new meaning when dealing with loaders.... Heck, IF you are not "overloading it," how can you justify even having one.....

 

[VictorW]

I have the same loader. What missing pin are we talking about so I can make sure to check mine. Thanks.

They're talking about losing the lynch pins. These are the pins with the wire ring attached to them. The same kind that are used on the 3pt attachments where they go through the 3pt arms. These lynch pins may fall out and then the one inch diameter pins, that are the pivots for the QA adapter or a pin on bucket to the fels arms, start to move out of position.

 

[pickeringchris]

They're talking about losing the lynch pins. These are the pins with the wire ring attached to them. The same kind that are used on the 3pt attachments where they go through the 3pt arms. These lynch pins may fall out and then the one inch diameter pins, that are the pivots for the QA adapter or a pin on bucket to the fels arms, start to move out of position.

Thanks victor. I understand new. They look like there is no way they could fall out but who knows?

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks victor. I understand new. They look like there is no way they could fall out but who knows?

If the pin loops snag on brush they can easily be pulled out. I've never had that problem with mine on the loader (not honestly sure I've ever seen them on the front) but I have had this happen with the 3PT attachments. In fact I think it has happened at least twice maybe three times. Some of these pins should just be replaced with locknuts and bolts. Who ever needs to remove the 3PT arms or the QA receiver anyways?

 

[rimshot]

If the pin loops snag on brush they can easily be pulled out. I've never had that problem with mine on the loader (not honestly sure I've ever seen them on the front) but I have had this happen with the 3PT attachments. In fact I think it has happened at least twice maybe three times. Some of these pins should just be replaced with locknuts and bolts. Who ever needs to remove the 3PT arms or the QA receiver anyways?

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I take my 3 pt arms off every time I put the backhoe on Island. Otherwise the darn things can get in the way of the backhoe sub frame.

rim

 

[IslandTractor]

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I take my 3 pt arms off every time I put the backhoe on Island. Otherwise the darn things can get in the way of the backhoe sub frame.

rim

Now that you mention it, I do too on my DK. However, I don't use the flip over loop pins but rather the pins with a hole in the end to insert a ring. I used lock nuts and bolts on my CK20 after the original pins fell out during use. Has only happened once on the DK 3PT and I still use the pins with capture holes.