B3200 vs 8?10 tree branch - insight on issue, please

[Stoweski]

A year ago I was out working in my woods. Went in for lunch. Left the tractor outside. While I was inside, a storm kicked up and a branch fell off of a tree and onto the loader of my tractor. A 10 inch diameter branch. Normally this would probably result in a bent bucket but I unfortunately left the bucket elevated about a foot. The tree branch landed somewhere near the right corner of the bucket judging from the bark that was left on it. The problem is, the force from the branch forced the bucket down to the ground and tipped the rear left tire off the ground. I happen to look outside as I heard the crack and could barely see the back tire up in the air then drop back to the ground.

I checked everything out and the only major damage I could find was that the loader was now twisted, the bottom right of the bucket touches the ground while the left was about 2 inches off the ground.

The tractor was about 3years old. I sent it to the dealer to get fixed (i have insurance). It took three weeks but they replaced the loader arms and sent it back. All seemed fine but I noticed the loader seemed a bit angled. To me it still didn稚 seem right. I went to attach my snowblower (front mount). The subframe wouldn稚 fit on the rear mounting plate. I had to loosen the bolts on the plate and adjust it so the subframe could be pinned. It barely fit but I managed to get it secured. I called the dealer and explained the problem. However, I didn稚 want to lose the tractor during the winter because I need it for my 1000 driveway. They recorded the issue and said call us in the spring.

The biggest problem is that while in float, both the loader bucket and snowblower dig in to the ground on the right end but lift or ride up on dirt or snow on the left end. Unfortunately this was a major problem while snowblowing the driveway as the right would dig into the gravel unless I paid close attention and drove slowly. My guess is that with either the loader or snowblower attached, while in float, if a scale was placed under the right side it would read at a much higher weight or downward pressure than the left side.

After trying to get the tractor in to the dealer for most of the summer, it finally went in and was looked at a week or two ago. To date they cannot seem to figure out exactly what the issue is.

So, sorry for the long winded story but as I am at a loss, and VERY frustrated as I致e been without a tractor for two months so far, and wanted to explain things as thoroughly as possible. I知 just curious if anyone has any ideas or suggestions I might be able to run by them.
Thanks for the help!

 

[diesel85]

I'm wondering if your frame isn't tweaked (bent).

I know you are probably kicking yourself... but that loader should've been down on the ground when not in use for safety reasons.

First thing I learned when operating a machine with a loader or forks. You never know, a kid might've been playing around under it and gotten pinned.

There was an incident where a farmer left his loader all the way up in his driveway and went to the store, and some kids from down the street thought it would be funny to play with it, long story short, one of them got their foot pinned under it.

 

[WVBill]

Is it possible that the force of the branch hitting the loader "hyper-extended" one of the lift or curl hydraulic cylinders so that now it is "out of phase" with the other side?

If you stop the loader a foot off the ground and measure the hydraulic cylinder rod extending on each side - are they equal?

 

[newbury]

Can you put a lot of weight on one side and balance it out?

 

[LouNY]

I would expect that one of your mounting boxes is just slightly tweaked, even just a 1/16" would make quite a difference at the end of the loader.

 

[Stoweski]

All good tips. Thanks. I will run these by the dealer and see what they say.
They did apparently confirm that the frame is not bent. And yes, I am kicking myself that I left the bucket raised.
I did push down on the left side (stood on it) and it did bend it back. Of course as soon as I got off it sprang back up.

Thanks again! I’ll let you know how we make out. Today they seemed to gain some ground on it and actually see the problem. With the bucket raised ther right side sits quite a bit lower than the left. This apparently wasn’t checked before.

I’m hoping it may just be the loader frame. That was not replaced last year. It uses the same mounting holes as the plate for the subframe on the snowblower. That very well may be the issue. Keeping my fingers crossed that it’s that simple.

 

[JWR]

Stoweski -- I ski Stowe too... when I get a chance. Age 75 the chances are getting fewer...

You said in the first post that "they replaced the loader arms." Now you say in post #6 that "the loader frame was not replaced" before. How do you replace the loader arms but not the frame? That sounds contradictory or at best confusing. Terminology?

I am also puzzled by the comment that you can stand on one side of the loader bucket and it pushes it down into (the correct?) place but it springs back up when you get off !!??
Whoa ! If the loader is that springy/flexible something is wrong right there. Use all haste and get this taken care of while you still have warrantee coverage and visibility that it happened while under warrantee.

I hesitate to get into this but truth is truth. Using a MF2660 and DL250 loader I was foolishly trying to pry a locust tree stump out of the ground with one corner of the bucket. Full power, 4WD, low gear, lunge forward, ... yep you CAN bend the loader !! Interesting that NONE of the manufacturers have or will divulge any data about torsion capacity in loaders. Neither does the Univ of Nebraska tractor lab (biggest in the country in tractor testing). Very little is known/documented regarding what loaders will/won't stand in torsion. Mine was twisted every bit as bad as what you describe (but certainly would not spring into position with my 220lbs! My weight was no where near enough to noticeably affect the twist.) A dealer said they COULD take it to an automotive frame straightening shop and the capability exists to straighten the thing. Mine had ZERO welds broken and none having cracked any paint. There was nothing about the loader or mounts that you could see other than it listed to one side exactly as you described. Several inches lower on one side of the bucket. Off the record, and with "plausible deniability" if i busted it, one very senior dealer employee told me I COULD go put the other corner under the same tree stump and do the same thing all over again and bend it back into place... you guessed it-- I did. And I was able to get it back into very acceptable level shape, though not perfect. I do not know if you have oomph in your tractor to do that OR if you want to risk it. Certainly DO NOT until/unless you have exhausted the dealer/warrantee route !

 

[Stoweski]

Thanks JWR. Don’t think I’ll be trying to bend the bucket back in to position. But yes, after raising the bucket, shutting off the tractor, then lowering the bucket until the first part of it (always the right corner now) touches the ground, I can stand on the left side and it will bend or flex down and touch the concrete floor. I get back off and it goes back up.

As far as replacing the loader arms and not the frame, the frame is permanently attached to the tractor. The loader arms have a quick connect to the frame. When the loader is removed the frame stays on the tractor and the arms come off with the bucket. The frame is U shaped and attaches under the tractor.

At this point the dealer still has the tractor and hasn’t gotten back to me about a fix. I’m not sure if they are trying to get a new loader frame or are still at a loss as to what the problem is. It is under full insurance coverage for another year so I should have enough time to use it and make sure it works properly once it’s fixed. Of course we are now going on week 7 without a tractor. A total of 10weeks including last year. I wonder if Kubota would mind if I didn’t pay my loan for two months... or maybe three if they keep it another two weeks!

 

[JWR]

Yes, it was terminology. Arms versus frame. Understand now & thanks for the clarification.

I'm still amazed that the loader is flexing enough for a person's weight to straighten it up and then it springs back to the "bent" position when you get off. The force necessary for that much torsion/twist varies of course with the size of tractor and loader. I don't own a B3200 so I can't say how much it should give. In your shoes I'd want to go to another B3200 with same model loader and see if it appears to have a similar amount of flex. Two inches side to side difference seems like a bunch for say 220lb of off center force. Or maybe I'm alarmist visualizing this. I have a B2150 similar sized older Kubota with a Case loader mated to it (which is totally apples to oranges & not comparable) but it sure would not flex that much.

Good that the whole thing is in the dealer's hands. Let us know how you make out.

 

[100 td]

Park tractor on known flat/level concrete.
Measure from ground to top of rear rim on both sides, note/post measurements, adjust rear tire pressure until measurements are exactly the same.(End of axle heights are better, but harder to get) Don't even look at the fronts. After ensuring rear rim heights are the same, lift loader off the ground 4"~6" and measure bucket pivot pins to ground. Measure height to boom pivot pin both sides. Measure boom pivot pin to rear frame corner or rear axle both sides or rear rim etc., something fixed to rear frame that is straight, frame or axle would be best, rim if you can't get other. Report findings. If dealer still has it, and hasn't sorted it, get the measurements from them, I'll bet they haven't done them!