Anyone ever straighten a twisted FEL?

[rus_geek]

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 (snip) ... however ... both sides appear to be equal to the tractor frame.

Am I reading this right that the left side loader mount is almost an inch higher than the right mount, and that the mounts line up with the frame? Without seeing where you're measuring, this sounds like the frame of the tractor itself is an inch higher on the left side. If that's the case, I would be checking everything between the rear axle and the loader mount points. Something has to be loose/moved/cracked/something for the frame to actually be off that far.

-rus-

 

[J_J]

Chain the high side, and put a hyd jack under the low side and adjust till it is straight.
You may have to go past level to account for the spring back.

Or, like someone said, just drive it into a frame shop, and they will straighten it, Of course it cost bucks, where as the hyd jack process is is free.

 

[Giles]

I had a similar problem with an older I.H. 3400 Backhoe. I did a lot of experimentation and I found an astounding result.
Mine had a large center oval shaped crossbrace and I cut this brace on one side. I was trying to raise the low side and lower the high side.
For some reason that I could not understand--I placed a timber under the HIGH SIDE, by mistake, and put down force on the loader and IT STRAIGHTENED UP
I welded the brace back and it was fixed.
I will never understand how that fixed the problem and I have thought of it many times.
This may be something you might want to try:thumbsup:

 

[sandman2234]

If you decide to do it yourself, the first thing you need to measure is the concrete itself. Having poured a lot of concrete, that is probably your first variable.
David from jax

 

[SPYDERLK]

Chain the high side, and put a hyd jack under the low side and adjust till it is straight.
You may have to go past level to account for the spring back.

:thumbsup:Do this. ...If the loader is strong you may have to use rear ballast to keep the tractor from tipping.
larry

 

[Gordon Gould]

Am I reading this right that the left side loader mount is almost an inch higher than the right mount, and that the mounts line up with the frame? Without seeing where you're measuring, this sounds like the frame of the tractor itself is an inch higher on the left side. If that's the case, I would be checking everything between the rear axle and the loader mount points. Something has to be loose/moved/cracked/something for the frame to actually be off that far.

-rus-

SOMEBODY SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THIS MAN !!!!!!!

 

[TGF]

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

Not only that are all the tires aired up the same and have the same level of tread ware? Several things can do this I imagine.

 

[blueriver]

I am not a Rocket Scientist ... heck sometimes I can't even spell ... Concrete levels, air pressure ... bottom line is no matter what surface or air pressure ... its out of wack. You can sit and look at the front of the unit ... its just not level with the Grill guard, the hood, the cab .. no matter the position.... its off. I am studying the frame, the axles ... tomorrow I am going to set up a transit level and take more measurements. Its somewhere I JUST AINT FOUND IT .. yet.

So far Ilke the crossbeam idea as well as the chain and jack.

Will keep you all up to date.

 

[crazyal]

As much as a do it yourselfer that I am I would just take the FEL off and see if it still looks twisted, if so bring it to a body shop with a frame machine. It'll take them less than an hour to straighten it and they should be able to tell you what bent. Then I would beef it up. Trying to straighten it your self could put a lot of force on parts of your tractor that aren't designed for that kind of force.

 

[ray66v]

It is important to establish some sort of datum line that you can measure off of. Our system holds the vehicle above a level surface, that all measurements are taken from.

If you level the tractor, at least side to side, and use a leveled laser on a tripod, or a transit, from in front, when you compare vertical measurements, you know the difference is real.

You can also use a string to compare horizontal distances, from a datum point in front of the tractor. Find the center line, extend it to a point out in front of the tractor, where you can stretch out a string and not hit anything coming back toward the loader frame, and compare from there side to side.

Keep in mind, sometimes things are made with dimensions that are not the same on both sides. This is done for no other reason but to frustrate the poor guy trying to repair them. :thumbsup:

Welcome to my world.