How to level front end loader arms

[big bubba]

The arms on my John Deere (model 3032) front end loader (model D) are not level; the left side is slightly higher than the right side. This makes it hard to use the front end load to level, as well as using the fork lift attachment effectively.

Is there a youtube video out there that shows how to adjust the left/right level of the arms?


And yes, the tires are properly inflated...

more than likely the torsion tube connecting the 2 arms has been twisted slightly so that the arms are not exactly aligned. in my own case, this condition was caused by one of the arm lock down levers not being fully engaged to the bucket, putting undue load on the opposite side, thereby twisting the torsion tube.

i corrected this a few times by putting pressure (down) on the side that is higher than the other...i won't go into detail how i did it, but it's a matter of applying pressure to the misaligned side thereby twisting the tube back to the correct alignment.
i now bungee both bucket lock down levers to prevent the condition. good luck

 

[rScotty]

Then why would they only print on the tire sidewall the size of 11.2 x 24 and not the actual tire size? What is the size I run on my L2550DT when the Kubota manual says tire size is 11.2x 24? Seems strange that they can make whatever size they feel like and call it 11.2 x 24 because it fits the rim.
So a better sizing by Kubota would be an 11.2 x 24 with a tire circumference of XXX inches so you match front to rear axle ratio of a 4WD.

I didn't make the specs, although it makes sense to me that the most important thing about tire sizing is to fit the tire to the wheel. Everything else is dependent on the application, and the tire manufacturer has no control over that. You're asking for the impossible.

You are the one who originally asked the question because you didn't understand how and why tires are sized - and so were mistaking inside measurements for outside measurements. I'm the one trying to help you understand how to read tire specs.

BTW, you match front to rear axle ratio by rolling circumference (it's in the specs) NOT by static circumference.

rScotty

 

[gstrom99]

how i did it, but it's a matter of applying pressure to the misaligned side thereby twisting the tube back to the correct alignment.

until something goes "SNAP!"

 

[WranglerX]

The funny part (according to this thread) is the difference between how tractor tires are sized and car tires..... My Jeep has 11 X 31 X 15 which is 11 inch tread width and a 31 inch diameter on a 15 inch wheel....

 

[npalen]

The funny part (according to this thread) is the difference between how tractor tires are sized and car tires..... My Jeep has 11 X 31 X 15 which is 11 inch tread width and a 31 inch diameter on a 15 inch wheel....

I'm surprised to see the size in inches thinking most tires are listed with at least the width in metric.

 

[big bubba]

until something goes "SNAP!"yes

yes indeed, not a good option i agree. the dealership wanted around 1k to cut & replace the tube, plus transport. some also saw the tube in 2 then realign & weld, definitely a $ saver over replacement
an unattached lever on one side is usually the culprit. once it happens & corrected, it is weakened & more susceptible to that condition again if not careful.... good luck to the OP

 

[npalen]

yes indeed, not a good option i agree. the dealership wanted around 1k to cut & replace the tube, plus transport. some also saw the tube in 2 then realign & weld, definitely a $ saver over replacement
an unattached lever on one side is usually the culprit. once it happens & corrected, it is weakened & more susceptible to that condition again if not careful.... good luck to the OP

Looks like a person could saw the tube somewhere out in the middle, set the bucket down on a flat surface to realign and then weld some angle irons or anything across the cut to tie the two sides back together.

 

[big bubba]

bingo

 

[ovrszd]

The funny part (according to this thread) is the difference between how tractor tires are sized and car tires..... My Jeep has 11 X 31 X 15 which is 11 inch tread width and a 31 inch diameter on a 15 inch wheel....

Are you sure? Have you measured them? Very, very, very few tires are the size they claim.

So, with Jeep sitting on the floor, stand a tape measure beside one of the tires and tell us how tall it is.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm surprised to see the size in inches thinking most tires are listed with at least the width in metric.

Most oversized tires are measured in inches rather than metric. The tires on my buggy are 43x14.50x20.

 

[ovrszd]

Looks like a person could saw the tube somewhere out in the middle, set the bucket down on a flat surface to realign and then weld some angle irons or anything across the cut to tie the two sides back together.

No need for the reinforcement. Just butt weld it back together. The weld will be as strong as the tube.

 

[npalen]

No need for the reinforcement. Just butt weld it back together. The weld will be as strong as the tube.

Not if I welded it!
Edit: Probably would have to bevel each side to get tube strength back.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah me too. The tube is very thin walled.

Not if I welded it!
Edit: Probably would have to bevel each side to get tube strength back

 

[LD1]

If you're talking about the tube that connects the latch boxes....it don't need to be very strong. It only indexes the latch boxes when nothing is attached. Once attached to a bucket or grapple, the strength is In the attachment.

And usually the only way it twists is because one side becomes unlatched. Then I don't see it making an unlevel loader because I don't see getting a bucket reattached if it's twisted.

Now if you are talking about the gross tubes between the actual loader arms....that's usually a pretty significant tube and I see other things being bent before that twists.

But the op hasn't been back to answer any questions. So at this point I am loosing hope at ever getting an update or resolution.

 

[ovrszd]

If you're talking about the tube that connects the latch boxes....it don't need to be very strong. It only indexes the latch boxes when nothing is attached. Once attached to a bucket or grapple, the strength is In the attachment.

And usually the only way it twists is because one side becomes unlatched. Then I don't see it making an unlevel loader because I don't see getting a bucket reattached if it's twisted.

Now if you are talking about the gross tubes between the actual loader arms....that's usually a pretty significant tube and I see other things being bent before that twists.

But the op hasn't been back to answer any questions. So at this point I am loosing hope at ever getting an update or resolution.

Good stuff.

I should have made that clarity concerning the tubes.

Yes, the tube that connects the latch boxes has nothing to do with the FEL being unlevel.

When my SSQA failed on one side it twisted the latch box tube. Almost impossible to latch or unlatch the SSQA without putting load on it in some manner. I cut the tube in two. Tipped the latch boxes forward until the face was horizontal. Set them down on blocks with a little pressure so they were both at the same angle. Then rewelded the tube.

My FEL is still slightly low on the left side when sitting on the seat. That is twist in the FEL frame and I just live with it.

 

[big bubba]

yes, the torsion tube is thin walled, possibly intentionally the weak link in the system that otherwise could be more damaging to the arms themselves. good luck to the OP. my lock down levers a few times have become disengaged working in brush so i keep a close eye every work session.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Two of my Kubota tractors were delivered new with un level buckets. All the dealer did was what was suggested earlier in the thread. They loosened all the FEL mounting bolts, put a block of wood under the low side, lifted the front of the tractor off the ground and retightened the bolts. It worked in both cases where the buckets were almost an inch out of alignment.

You'd think the makers of these CUT's would have some sort of adjustment mechanism for leveling a bucket.

 

[ovrszd]

Two of my Kubota tractors were delivered new with un level buckets. All the dealer did was what was suggested earlier in the thread. They loosened all the FEL mounting bolts, put a block of wood under the low side, lifted the front of the tractor off the ground and retightened the bolts. It worked in both cases where the buckets were almost an inch out of alignment.

You'd think the makers of these CUT's would have some sort of adjustment mechanism for leveling a bucket.

Doubt we'll ever know because the OP is AWOL. But I didn't think that was what he was referring to.

The problem you describe has been discussed several times here. I've bought two new Kubota tractors with FELs and neither have had that problem.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Doubt we'll ever know because the OP is AWOL. But I didn't think that was what he was referring to.

The problem you describe has been discussed several times here. I've bought two new Kubota tractors with FELs and neither have had that problem.

You may be right but in my experience, uneven loader arms can lead to an unlevel bucket.

Just two of the seven new Kubotas I've bought from the same dealer over the last 45 years had the FEL bucket out of alignment. I think it was just a matter of how they were assembled, rather than a quality defect.

Depending on how they are used, or misused, many FEL buckets and loader arms get torqued out of alignment. I would prefer to have an adjustment of some kind rather than have to reverse torque the FEL to straighten it.

 

[ovrszd]

You may be right but in my experience, uneven loader arms can lead to an unlevel bucket.

Just two of the seven new Kubotas I've bought from the same dealer over the last 45 years had the FEL bucket out of alignment. I think it was just a matter of how they were assembled, rather than a quality defect.

Depending on how they are used, or misused, many FEL buckets and loader arms get torqued out of alignment. I would prefer to have an adjustment of some kind rather than have to reverse torque the FEL to straighten it.

To your first paragraph. Yes uneven arms lead to unlevel bucket. Two causes come to mind. FEL mounted on tractor unlevel. Bent arms.

To second paragraph. Yes.

To third paragraph. If the FEL is mounted unlevel, it's easily fixed by loosening bolts, shifting FEL and retightening bolts. If the FEL is unlevel because the arms are bent the repair is to reverse that force until they are equal again.