LA211 Loader from tractor that burned down. Safe to use? (Pics inside)

[aczlan]

You might want to pull all the pins at the various pivot points and clean the pins as well as replace the grease zerks

Good point. I would pull all of the pins to get things cleaned up and repainted.

Aaron Z

 

[drewkeen]

I was definitely planning on sanding it down and painting it. Good idea on greasing all of the pivot points and pins.

Just wanted to make sure it was first safe before I put money into it and then that it worked before I pained something that needed more parts/repair.

 

[Teachu2]

Usually the biggest problem is rust/pitting. If it's not severely rusted, wash it and oil it down right away until you can get it cleaned and painted.

 

[Fallon]

I was definitely planning on sanding it down and painting it. Good idea on greasing all of the pivot points and pins.

Just wanted to make sure it was first safe before I put money into it and then that it worked before I pained something that needed more parts/repair.

The loader on my L4060 wasnt really safe enough to walk under the day I bought it. But its plenty safe to use. Man rated lifting gear has extra valves to protect you against his or other hydraulic failure. Rocks & dirt dont complain much less sue when dropped.

I'd have no problems tackling that loader if i wanted a project to tinker on or had more time than money available in my budget.

 

[Rubicon1000]

If you take the old hoses to Napa they will make new ones while you wait. I think I paid 35 bucks a hose to replace the loader hoses on a M4900.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You need to do the math. I would have no issue with the strength. But the cost to buy a bunch of stuff new might equal the cost of an unburned loader elsewhere. It adds up quickly. You would almost have to get the loader for nothing.

 

[Dave M7040]

Any heat affects to the steel will not cause sudden failure like cracking a piece of chalk but rather slow bending under load. If the economics make sense, do it and don't worry.

Dave M7040

 

[mikester]

Not heated enough to melt the hoses then not hot enough to hurt the steel. I would feel safe using it. If it is cheap enough I would get it.....JB.

Try soldering copper water pipe with water in it.

Those hoses are not a good indicator of the heat treatment on the loader boom. The missing paint and metal discolouration are an indicator of high temperatures.

That's why I said the boom and mount should be cut up. Someones bound to say its good enough as is, repaint it and sell it to some unsuspecting sucker.

Would you buy a wrecked vehicle that was submerged for an extended time after a hurricane? I wouldn't. The problems aren't obvious to see.

Most likely the steel used in FELs is plain carbon steel. Heating might warp it but if it didn't get hot enough to burn the hoses, then the steel isn't damaged. Heating low carbon steel to cherry red does not weaken it nor damage it for structural strength. It is done all the time to straighten bowed structural members and pressure piping.
You would need to get a real bargain in order to allow for repairing all the cylinders and replacing the hoses and fittings (hoses and fittings are not cheap). I would not be concerned with the strength of the steel and as long as it is not bowed or warped it should be ok.

I think this proves my point...you're not going to find much plain carbon steel in lightweight Kubota loader booms.

Ultimately it all depends on your comfort level. Some people are perfectly happy driving two wrecked cars welded into one. I wouldn't be.