Ever bent a SSQA lever? I can't figure out how I did it!

[SmallChange]

I took mine off and put it in the press.

Heck yeah. This really made me wish I had a press.

 

[Surshot]

Own a tree farm, trees and tractors, mean you must bend stuff back to where it belongs. I bought a 24”” crescent wrench. To remove barrels from flat actions. So one day I was pushing a dead tree over, top snapped off, droppd down the front of the tractor, I stopped and backed up, it had jammed itself between the mount for the plate and the lever. Me backing with the snag stuck in the ground bent that lever pretty good. I just got the crescent wrench put the handle straight up, tightened the jaws flat on both sides and bent the handle back straight. Those handles are mild steel.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Heck yeah. This really made me wish I had a press.

All that equipment you have, and you don't have a press??

 

[SmallChange]

All that equipment you have, and you don't have a press??

Yet.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Yet.

It's one of those types of tools that will stand for months without use, or maybe even years, but will be worth it's weight in gold when you need it, because nothing else will do.

 

[hornett22]

I've bent mine a couple times in the opposite direction. In my case it was using the grapple and it got hung up on brush.

I just bent it back with a dead blow mallet. It's soft metal.

 

[hornett22]

It's one of those types of tools that will stand for months without use, or maybe even years, but will be worth it's weight in gold when you need it, because nothing else will do.

I need to go get one now that I don't work in a shop now.

 

[Raul-02]

When you hooked up one of your attachments, you accidentally got the locking lever stuck under the cross bar of the attachment, bending the handle back.
Happens to me once in a while.

What he said. I've done it too. I just bend it back

 

[rScotty]

OK. Me too. I've bent mine now a couple of times. Usually the result of being sure I had it stabbed and too lazy to get off and look. Embarrasing.....
To fixit, I get some clearance with whatever prybar is handy, and then just slip a pipe over it and bend it back; it's mild steel.

Over all, that SSQA design is kinda under-whelming. Just looking at it I have the feeling that most any designer could have done better. I haven't really looked at the JD or European QA - but the SSQA looks like some kid's first effort in metal shop.
Too many parts, too much monkey motion, springs and hardened pins plus bushings with tight clearances, questionable security, too easy to bend or break, and too hard to stab.....and I've got two of them.

But I do have to say that having a mediocre SSQA sure beats having no bucket swapping ability at alll - which is where the compact tractor FEL industry was stuck for decades. So there's some good afterall.

 

[big bubba]

bending back mild steel, no problem. but if the levers get bent in use, then occasionally one will become disengaged in use as well. & with the other engaged, well that's when the real problem begins under load
not as easy a fix with a dead blow hammer or cheater bar

 

[Bob Rooks]

I can't help but think that being fully cognizant would eliminate this issue, and negate the use of slack-jawed technology for repairs. I also can't imagine that everyone that uses a SSQA has problems with it, especially repeat problems.

 

[MHarryE]

Only thing I haven't bent a SSQA lever on is my CTL with hydraulic lock so no levers go snag something.