Bent my loader.

[dougfollett]

The wife posted an add in the paper for horse manuer. It caught me a little off guard but being a dutifull husband I went out in the rain and attempted to load a gardner who showed up. The pile of horse pucky and sawdust mixed with rain had been sitting all winter and was solid, wet and heavy. the first couple of scoops went fine but on the third one I really went for it and dug deep into the pile. Before I realized what I was doing the front loader buckled under the stress of me trying to lift the whole pile off the ground at once. I think I have the worst of it corrected and will be taking the piece that mounts to the belly and supports the bucket mechanisim in for some welding. I was able to pound out some of the other pieces. What concerns me is the torsion bars that go from the front of the tractor along both sides and run back to near where the pistons mount that provide the main lift. These bars are made of aproximately 1/2 x 2 inch steel bar. they bolt to what I would call the front fender and run back and are welded to the loader frame. they apear to have been bent but the bend is not side to side (1/2 inch cross section) but are bent up and down (4 inch cross section). If they are bent it is very even and there is no signs of buckeling. It almost looks like they were made this way. Is it possible that they were? It is a shop built bucket. I'm thinking they were bent but it is such a clean bend, I'm affraid that it was designed that way. Any insights would be apreciated. This is on a Yanmar 1500 D

 

[beenthere]

A picture or two would really help understand what you are explaining, and also help with a response to your questions.

Did this happen while lifting, or while rushing headfirst into the pile?

 

[dougfollett]

Sorry if I'm a little vague on the descriptioin. I know there are a lot of configurations out there. I figured it out on my own. I took the section off that was in question. It is some sort of torsion bar that is about four feet long by 1/2" by 2". Once off I was able to inspect it closely I noticed that the paint was crinkled where the bend was. The bend was on both torsion bars and very clean and even, leading me to think that it might have been manufactured that way. The crinkled paint gave it away though. I have it all ready to go to the welders tomorrow. Thanks for listening.

 

[jimstractors]

You might want to beef up those support bars. I have loaders on a 1401d and 1510d and can pick the back end of the tractor off the ground and haven't bent any metal.
Jim

 

[vongiese]

What kind of loaders are you talking about??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[dougfollett]

I got it all worked out, thanks. It was a cheap after market loader that was thrown together in some ones welding shop. I cut off the severly bent, forward leading stabilizers (1/2" x 2" x 3 1/2') and had some new ones welded on. I also had the heavy beam /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif that is bolted to the underside welded where it had split. Borrowed the neighbors tractor to lift the bucket into place and bolted her up. Works better than ever now!