17LA loader pin wear problem

[jinman]

Well, your pins certainly look loose. There is some obvious wear in the hole on the loader arm pin. I don't know what you have wiped before taking the picture, but the pivots also do look pretty dry. The most important pivot is the one at the end of the loader arm. That's the one I concentrate on most. Mine are not perfectly tight, but they don't seem to be nearly as loose as yours. I'll check the amount of play at my QA bracket and let you know how mine compares.

 

[crashz]

I'd say you should be greasing more frequently as well. Keep in mind that even with grease in the joints, the dirt will work its way in and act like a lapping compound. Fresh grease displaces the dirt. Seems like a waste of good grease if you buy quality products, but its the only way to force the dirt back out. Newer heavy equipment have seals on the joints to keep the dirt out.

The fix is to bore the bushings, install replacement bushings. Pressed in bronze bushing work well, and can be replaced as they wear out.

 

[jinman]

I removed my bucket yesterday and checked my bushings. Well. . .mine are as loose as yours. I've always noticed some slack in my bucket, but I never quantified it. I also grease my bucket every 8 hours and every 4 hours with heavy use. This obviously does not stop some wear as both you and I have experienced. I have never noticed any problem with the slack like you mentioned in your original post, but if it's any comfort, mine is just like yours.

 

[have_blue]

I removed my bucket yesterday and checked my bushings. Well. . .mine are as loose as yours. I've always noticed some slack in my bucket, but I never quantified it. I also grease my bucket every 8 hours and every 4 hours with heavy use. This obviously does not stop some wear as both you and I have experienced. I have never noticed any problem with the slack like you mentioned in your original post, but if it's any comfort, mine is just like yours.

Ditto, ditto, ditto.

The multi link at the bucket end causes any slack to be multiplied. If NH is going to use that design, they need to use hardened pins and easily changed bushings in the future.

Don't know if my bores are wallowed or the pins worn. Probably the bores, as it's hard to find good metal on equipment these days.

Even if it is the bores, it's probably easier and cheaper to make oversize pins than to bore and press in bushings. I may borrow a lathe and turn me a set using the hardest steel I can cut.

I was looking at a JD loader the other day, and it looked like the pins were eccentric with splines. That way, you can index the pin and it will tighten up like new (only while lifting, I suppose).

 

[Slippy]

Well heck. Like I said, the tractor has been this way since I bought it, and it is not that big of a deal I guess. I am planning to rip out some sod and would be nice if I could set the cutting edge of the bucket where I want it and it would stay there so I could get a nice clean cut.

There are two arms on this set up, one on each side of the cly. One arm has the pins welded into it, and the other side the arm slips over the pins. NH wants $68 for one side and $98 for the other, so to put new pins in, it would be about $200.

This tractor get the least use of any that I have, especially the loader. No question it could use some more grease, but no more use than I have put on it this should not be an issue. But again, the problem was pre me.

All four pins are lose in the bores, its not just one or the other. At the end of the bucket, it gets pretty lose. You can actually see the pins moving inside the holes. The is play in the cly bores as well.

Also, mine does not have bushings. I have an older serial number loader that did not come with the bushings, so there is nothing to replace. Not a good design from my perspective. The later serial number loaders do have bushings in them.

Jimman, sorry to bring the bad news to your attention.

Guess I just grease it up and keep going.
Time to grease it up and keep going.

 

[DieselMonk]

Made me curious. So I checked my 18LA quick attach. I've got very little play in mine. Sure the cutting edge will move a little, but not as much than you discribe.

 

[Slippy]

I cleaned up the entire tractor today and got to use my new air grease gun. Greased all the points real good and the bucket actually seems to respond a little better. Makes greasing a whole lot easier and quicker.

 

[Soundguy]

Dang.. they must like you here. Last time i saw a thread about loaders with no bushings and pins.. I suggested machining for cheap and easilly replacable bronze bushing inserts and got beat up and down each side of the forum.. a month later.. and now it's not such a bad idea.. makes ya wonder!

soundguy

I'd say you should be greasing more frequently as well. Keep in mind that even with grease in the joints, the dirt will work its way in and act like a lapping compound. Fresh grease displaces the dirt. Seems like a waste of good grease if you buy quality products, but its the only way to force the dirt back out. Newer heavy equipment have seals on the joints to keep the dirt out.

The fix is to bore the bushings, install replacement bushings. Pressed in bronze bushing work well, and can be replaced as they wear out.

 

[jinman]

Dang.. they must like you here. Last time i saw a thread about loaders with no bushings and pins.. I suggested machining for cheap and easilly replacable bronze bushing inserts and got beat up and down each side of the forum.. a month later.. and now it's not such a bad idea.. makes ya wonder!

soundguy

Yeah, but that's because you are so much fun to beat on.

Just kiddin'.

 

[Soundguy]

Must be the long hair or something

soundguy