7308 FEL Front Lock

thcri · May 10, 2003

When I first got my TC29D and 7308 Loader I had some problems with the front locks coming loose whenever I would put down pressure on my loader such as raising front wheels to take mower deck off. I had my dealer just weld the locking arms on the removable loader and since then I have not had any trouble. One thing I question and maybe someone else here can check theirs over for me. When the loader is on there is about an inch space between the actual hook and the front bracket. But I notice that I can take the bracket off and flip it around and the post of the bracket looks like it would move forward some.

In the picture attached you can see that the post is back of the bracket and if I would flip the bracket around it would be in the front of the bracket. Any one else out with a 7308 and a TC29D could you check that for me?

Murph

thcri · May 10, 2003

second pic

bnixon · May 10, 2003

thcri,

Your bracket is mounted correct.

I don't know if it is just the picture but in the top shop it looks like your mount is bent back. It should be perpindicular to the bracket.

Like is said this might be just the angle of the camera. I would check that first.

hope this helps,

DUMBDOG · May 10, 2003

I believe that New Holland has a recall on the 7308 because of the loader coming loose when working with a lot of dirt. Do not know if this is applicable in this case or not.

thcri · May 10, 2003

bnixon,

It is just the picture. The post is perpendicular to the bracket. I have clearance on both sides. Since I had the dealer weld it I have had no trouble but I was just looking at the bracket today and was wondering if that shouldn't have been turned around. If I did turn it around I think it would be too far up. I will just leave it.

Thanks for your help
murph

BigDave · May 11, 2003

Murph,

My bracket is mounted the same as yours, but I have less than 1/2 an inch between the front of the bracket & the hook on the FEL. There seems to be plenty of overlap on the underside of the hook - more than half an inch. Tomorrow, I lift up the front end of thractor with the FEL and take look at the bracket & hook to see if it shifts at all.

BigDave · May 11, 2003

I lifted up my front wheels with the loader today. The bracket on the FEL didn't shift at all, it looks pretty secure.

bphillips · May 12, 2003

I'd be interested if anyone has any info on a recall of the 7308 before contacting my dealer. I have a similar issue with the setup of mine.

TIA

Brad in NH

spencer200 · May 12, 2003

not so much a recall as a kit to bolt it solid to the mounting post instead of the quick release.

thcri · May 12, 2003

I just had my dealer weld and hooks, I can take the loader off and put back on just like normal. The problem I was having was the hook itself for the front was being pushed back and then unhooking from the front bar. Welded them in place and no troubles any more. I can take a picture and post them tommorrow if any one wants.

murph

bmac · May 14, 2003

Please post the pics. Thanks.

Bruce

thcri · May 14, 2003

I'll put my loader on tonight and take some pictures if we don't get too much rain.

murph.

too wet to get to the loader

Anonymous Poster · May 14, 2003

Murph,
My TC29D does the same thing. I talked to my dealer last week about this and this is what he told me. The "posts' on the front bracket should be offset to the back of the tractor, and the back mounting "posts" should be offset to the front of the tractor. After I explained to him what was happening, he said that the movable bracket can be "tipped" before it is tightened. Don't just push the bracket back in the slots until it hits the bolts. It's kind of hard to explain, pictures would be better, but I haven't found the time to fix mine, and besides that I don't have the loader on right now.

thcri · May 14, 2003

Bmac,

Here is the picture as promised. I really wanted to put the loader on to take the picture but with all the rain we have had I think I would tear up my lawn a bit getting to the loader. But you can see what I did.

The two bolts no matter how tight you tighten them they would not hold the plate in place. I had a 5 ft bar on them when tightening and then it was really a pain to get them lose again after the hook moved.

Stumpman, we played with positioning them plates and curling up but for some reason they still would move. So I just asked my dealer why would I ever have to take the plate off and they said never. I told them to weld them. They welded the top and the front side which you can't see right now as it is on the ground. And the weld job, it is not mine, even though I probably wouldn't have done any better.

Anyway this has worked for me and I have not had any trouble since. Maybe before welding they should have curled the hook up some.

murph

bmac · May 15, 2003

<font color="blue"> Maybe before welding they should have curled the hook up some.
</font>

Murph, If you look at the attached photo, are you talking about rotating the hook clockwise? How much rotation do you think is necessary? Should I just go ahead and have this welded now, before I have problems (so far, I have only moved a few buckets of mulch so I haven't stressed it yet)?

JerryG · May 15, 2003

I don't have a loader like this BUT. Has anyone tried to just cut a spacer either from flat or round stock and placing them into the elongated slots to keep the hook from changing positions?

bmac · May 15, 2003

Jerry,
I've had my tractor for less than a week. Maybe I didn't do my homework, but until this thread started, I was not aware that this FEL had this problem. Also, I haven't used it enough to experience a problem myself. Combined with the fact that this is my 1st tractor, I'm relying on the good folks here (like you) to come up with solutions to issues like this. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to return the kindness by offering help and tips to others. Right now, however, I'm at the bottom of the learning curve.

Thanks for the suggestion. Seems like a reasonable solution.

thcri · May 15, 2003

Bmac,

If you are not having any problems I would just leave it alone. The only reason I did anything with mine is because everytime I put downlift on the loader the front locks would let go. This was discussed some time ago on a thread that someone else started and I told him that I had mine welded. He liked the idea and I think it resolved his problem. But everyone that has the 7308 loader does not have the problem. The only reason I brought it up again was because I got to wondering if the front bracket was on wrong, by turning it around I would have gotten the tubes up farther to lock in closer.

Again unless you have trouble, leave it alone.

murph

Anonymous Poster · May 15, 2003

I just got a 1720 with this loader on it. The front hooks are tight, and the hooks would have all of their adjustment left to make them tighter. So I've never really looked at this issue, but I have some thoughts:

Don't weld it if you aren't having problems.

If the hooks still come loose even if adjusted all the way up, is there some other problem? Have you folks looked at the rear attachment point? Is that bent, or does it have adjustments? To me it looks like those front hooks are just there only for down pressure. Not sure I would want to put a lot of pushing force on them. I think the rear brackets are better located for absorbing that pressure. Is it possible they got too much & bent at some point, making your upper front points not line up right?

Just idle thoughts, I really haven't looked at mine.

--->Paul