Anyone ever straighten a twisted FEL?

[Zork]

Is the left side of your loader your favored slicing edge?

 

[sandman2234]

Before I would do anything, I would start measuring everything closely, including air pressure and especially axle height front and rear. Remove all varibles before you start or it will still be wrong when you get it "straight".
David from jax

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This is setting on conrete ... no visable damage. She is obviously out of wack.

You might look all the way back to the mid point of the tractor to make sure it is not all in the bucket.

The bucket does not looked abused.

 

[blueriver]

You might look all the way back to the mid point of the tractor to make sure it is not all in the bucket.

The bucket does not looked abused.

The bucket is on for reference ... its visable even with out the bucket. When your in the cab and raise the FEL you can look over the hood and see one side is lower (or maybe one side is higher)

 

[blueriver]

Before I would do anything, I would start measuring everything closely, including air pressure and especially axle height front and rear. Remove all varibles before you start or it will still be wrong when you get it "straight".
David from jax

Thanks for the advise. Seems as though I have gone over and over this thing with the same concerns you share. I have concluded its in the arms. They have got to have a twist in them.

 

[KnuckleDragger]

Several years ago, we (brothers and I) twisted a FEL trying to pick up some iron scrap up out of the dirt that had buried itself over time. It was twisted pretty bad, if I recall. Bad enough that we could tell it was out of whack out the moment we caused it. We straigtened it out against a tree by carefully driving the leading edge against a tree. Back then, the tree, FEL, and we survived. I'm not sure I would try the same fix today, but I know it is possible.

 

[kebo]

Everyone expects the tractor is at fault. Are you sure that concrete's level?

And do the tires on each axle have the correct and equal pressure? No excessive tire wear on one side or the other?

If that's all good, then like was suggested start making precise measurements to find out where the difference is. If your loader can be removed, I would start there by parking the FEL on a level concrete pad, if you can. Measure the main support brackets bolted to the sides of the engine/chassis. See if they are equal heights. If the loader by itself still sits unlevel on a level pad, then you know the problem is at least in the loader arms and/or bucket, but you could still have some differences with the main support brackets. Good luck, hope you figure it out and get it straightened out!

 

[ray66v]

I have done a few of these in my body shop.

It's pretty easy, if you have the right set up.

I would talk to your local shop, and see if they are interested in the job.

This is usually the slow season; they might make you a fair offer.

 

[blueriver]

And do the tires on each axle have the correct and equal pressure? No excessive tire wear on one side or the other?

If that's all good, then like was suggested start making precise measurements to find out where the difference is. If your loader can be removed, I would start there by parking the FEL on a level concrete pad, if you can. Measure the main support brackets bolted to the sides of the engine/chassis. See if they are equal heights. If the loader by itself still sits unlevel on a level pad, then you know the problem is at least in the loader arms and/or bucket, but you could still have some differences with the main support brackets. Good luck, hope you figure it out and get it straightened out!

Tires have equal pressure and equal wear. Removing the FEL ...thats my next step .. it is a QA so I am going to take it off and do more measuring with it setting on the concrete slab.

 

[blueriver]

Several years ago, we (brothers and I) twisted a FEL trying to pick up some iron scrap up out of the dirt that had buried itself over time. It was twisted pretty bad, if I recall. Bad enough that we could tell it was out of whack out the moment we caused it. We straigtened it out against a tree by carefully driving the leading edge against a tree. Back then, the tree, FEL, and we survived. I'm not sure I would try the same fix today, but I know it is possible.

I here ya ... thoughts are going in and out of my mind. Chains, hydraulics, bending, pushing, pulling ... Ramming a tree in C4 (seat belted in) ... no just kidding ... did think about it though!!

They seem to straighten car frames ... there has got to be a solution to get this thing tweeked back into shape.