drill and tap loader arm?

[mgamber]

I need to mount my diverter valve block to the loader arm. it is a sin to drill and tap two #10 or 1/4-20 holes for securing the block?

 

[tommu56]

You are opening a can of worms!

I wouldn't hesitate unless it was in one of the gussets or in another areas like above cylinder mount that at are high stress.

tom

 

[mgamber]

Has this been discussed before? Is there an example where the drilling of two holes weakened the arm enough to cause a failure?

 

[tommu56]

It is new ides as far as I know but the "Safety Police" will speak up.

Any time some one says they drilled in to ROPS some one freaks out.

Common scene is the guide were you drill is the important point avoid high stress areas.

Can you mount it on the the cross tube some how? That might be the best place?

Can you tap a backing plate and tack weld it on some where?

tom

 

[mgamber]

Mounting position is pretty much fixed. It is the best place to mount it to tap into the hydraulics without having to make a several more hoses.
I don't have a welder but I might be able to convince a friend of mine to weld a small plate on there although the extra thickness may pose a problem.
I am just having a hard time thinking that 2 quarter inch holes could cause a failure.

 

[Bedlam]

Id agree they are small holes. and someone will post here how the welding weakens or stressed the metal. Ive welded on mine with no troubles.because i was to lazy to drill and tap.
Common sense with just where you do it.

 

[Danno1]

.

I doubt it will do any harm either. However, that tubing is kinda thin to tap (10-32 would be better than 1/4-20), so don't overtighten the mounting bolts you're installing. Use Locktite.

.

 

[Baby Grand]

Any chance there's a drilled/tapped hole in a similar position on the opposite side? If so, then I'd consider the "mirror" location on the side you want to mount to as a prime, low stress area.

A flash stud welder would be just the thing for this job - low heat affected zone.

Could you bend up a "U" shaped bracket that is a close fit to the top and sides of the arm and epoxy or RTV bond it to the arm and mount your block directly to the bracket? Just my $.0002.

-Jim

 

[BX2230Dude]

I drilled and tapped two 1/4-28 holes in my loader arm for my bucket level indicator without any problems.

 

[radman1]

I wouldn't hesitate to drill a couple of holes in the arms. I have a large frame Bobcat S300 skidsteer and mounted auxillary outlets/hoses on the front. The kit came from Bobcat and it required drilling 4-5 holes about 3/8" in size in the loader arms at various locations to place the self tapping screws.