300 CX loader pivot slack

BrendanAtBucksteep · Dec 14, 2009

I've bought a used 3320 John Deere with a 300 CX loader. As I drive around the property with a load in bucket I notice the pivot "base knuckle" of the loader (where the loader attaches to the frame-mounted pivot) has almost 1/2 inch of slack.

It's noticable and worrysome as I drive over washboard or bumps. How much slack is safe?

I don't have an owner's manual for the 300 CX loader and I can't find one on the web. Does anybody here know a site that may have a PDF available? Thanks for your help.

kennyd · Dec 14, 2009

Welcome to TBN

You can look here for the manual, there is a procedure for tightening it up some.

JD 300CX Manual

Other JD Manuals

JB4310 · Dec 14, 2009

BrendanAtBucksteep said:
I've bought a used 3320 John Deere with a 300 CX loader. As I drive around the property with a load in bucket I notice the pivot "base knuckle" of the loader (where the loader attaches to the frame-mounted pivot) has almost 1/2 inch of slack.

What do you mean by slack? That frame mount is not really a pivot point. Is it moving up and down or side to side? Is it not sitting down all the way on the mount?
The round frame mount has a square key on top to help guide and keep the loader mast in one place and not move. It's possible it was not seated properly the last time the loader was mounted. Maybe try disengaging the loader from the mounts and reinstalling. Sometimes it does kinda drop in with a hard clunk once it finds the right spot, that tells me it could possibly get hung up in the wrong position.

jb

BrendanAtBucksteep · Dec 15, 2009

Thanks a heap. I'll look at the mounts. It's good to know there's some folks with experience out there. Now that I've got some clear instructions and photos of how to take it apart, I'll have a better idea of what's normal behavior and what's real trouble.

BrendanAtBucksteep · Dec 15, 2009

Wow, thanks! I looked on the JD site, but I must have overlooked it. This has EVERYTHING I need. That's a big help, thanks again!

BrendanAtBucksteep · Dec 15, 2009

...oh, everything except float. Does anybody know how to engage Float function for skimming the bucket over the surface?

JD755 · Dec 15, 2009

Just push the joystick all the way forward. It will require a little extra effort but you will feel a click when you have pushed it far enough to engage. Leave it there until you are done with float then pull it back and it will click again and return to neutral position.