Anyone ever straighten a twisted FEL?

[Gale Hawkins]

When you get it square with the world again maybe some bracing could be added. I think the pump is now too weak on our backhoe FEL to bend much of anything.

 

[flusher]

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

Cut it and reweld. I wouldn't waste time trying to ram it back into shape.

 

[PILOON]

My bucket was not level with my wheels either.

Careful checking, spirit level and measuring tape as tools I discovered that the cause was an elongated bolt hole (loose bolt) where the loader sub frame attached to to the actual tractor frame.

The minor oval-ed bolt hole (maybe 1/8" or less) multiplied by the distances (heights) made for a considerable misalignment at the cutting edge of the bucket.

While drilling an over sized hole and o/s bolt was the real solution, I simply welded as I can always grind away the weld if need be.

Might that be your problem as well?
I say that as from the pic shown I don't really see warping of the bucket.

A moral to this is check all attachment bolts from time to time!

From your posted pic, you have the same bucket design as mine and that is one tough bucket, for shure not a manure bucket!
I know as mine gets used more like a bobcat than a farm tractor.
Also I have a tooth bar installed and dig in tough dirt as well as move or roll many big rocks.

 

[blueriver]

My bucket was not level with my wheels either.

Careful checking, spirit level and measuring tape as tools I discovered that the cause was an elongated bolt hole (loose bolt) where the loader sub frame attached to to the actual tractor frame.

The minor oval-ed bolt hole (maybe 1/8" or less) multiplied by the distances (heights) made for a considerable misalignment at the cutting edge of the bucket.

Now that I have not looked at real close ... will let you know. yes 1/8" over
6' adds up quickly ...

 

[RoyJackson]

Now that I have not looked at real close ... will let you know. yes 1/8" over
6' adds up quickly ...

yep...1 degree error over 6 feet comes to a 1.224" deviation.

 

[blueriver]

yep...1 degree error over 6 feet comes to a 1.224" deviation.

I have not removed the FEL ... I have 75 round bales to bring in. I did however take some time this morning on the concrete to do more measuring. At the mid point, where the loader mounts there is a 15/16 inch difference from the left side to the right side with the left side being lower.

I spent time measuring and looking everything over ... I see no deviation from side to side. I am thinking at this time to loosen the loader frame mounts to see if the right side drops or if a hydraulic jack will raise the left side ... however ... both sides appear to be equal to the tractor frame.

 

[Ford tractor]

Hook on a chain to the high side and lift an un-liftable object while measuring the warp that puts into the loader frame (level on bucket will work). When you get to dead level, go an extra 1/4". Remove the load and check level. Keep doing that with an extra 1/4" until you get it to stay level with no load.

Then weld brace on the arms where they bend over.

Very common condition on light duty loaders used for heavy lifting.

 

[Car Doc]

I agree with ford tractor thats just what I was going to mention load the high side I have slightly tweaked my loader a couple times and fixed it like that.

A trick I use on my loader (my hooks are outboard) is cross the chain to the middle and use the hook on the other end of the chain to hold the lift area of the chain in the middle over the lower edge of the bucket and adjust it accordingly so as to even out the load by lifting in the center of the bucket if you follow me. (if I had a camera now Id demonstrate for clarity)

 

[rd_macgregor]

I agree with ford tractor thats just what I was going to mention load the high side I have slightly tweaked my loader a couple times and fixed it like that.

A trick I use on my loader (my hooks are outboard) is cross the chain to the middle and use the hook on the other end of the chain to hold the lift area of the chain in the middle over the lower edge of the bucket and adjust it accordingly so as to even out the load by lifting in the center of the bucket if you follow me. (if I had a camera now Id demonstrate for clarity)

I have a fairly long chain and nearly always use it in a "Y" configuration so the load isn't totally on just one of the bucket edge hooks.

I have managed to slightly twist the grapple on my new grapple rake, though. It works just fine, but is a bit like looking at a crooked picture.
Oh, well, at least it wasn't the lift arms.

BOB

 

[leonz]

About your loader,



Ick!!!!!! If you expect to keeep using it;

The loade arms are the big issue and the problrem becomesd many fold withe geometry and the inherent weakness in the design.

A tractor(s) front end loader is not designed and built for severe digging, it is only designed for loose materials or in the case of a heavy materials bucket heavy weight LOOSE materials only.


1.The loader will have to come off and go to a welding shop and have the steel heated with a rosebud if the welds are not cracked (of which I can tell you with certainty that they most likely are.

2. the loader has no cross bracing on the lower arms which is a no no, and it has to be corrected with even a small amount of stiffening that will clear the nose of the tractor.


leonz