FEL on B3030 seems a bit off kilter???

Stef · Sep 7, 2005

Here's a suggestion if your dealer is not too far from you. Go to your dealer and put a loader on your tractor from another B3030 or B2630 that seems straight. If the bucket is not leveled on the ground then you know that your cradles are not ok. When I say exchange loaders, I mean just the removable part. IMHO, this is not acceptable at all. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Rick_Morrell · Sep 15, 2005

jlbota:

You might try measuring each cylinder pin location from your level surface and then compare the left hand to the right hand. This should help you determine where and how bad the problem is, because each pair of measurements should be equal. Given that your frame brackets are independent of one-another, I would guess if you do like Messick suggests and loosen the bolts and re-tighten your problem will go away.

Rick

jlbota · Sep 16, 2005

Well I spent two days last weekend on my FEL. I loosened every bolt and leveled it out perfect and retightened to specs.
I checked both FEL mounts and they are both the same (measured and checked with a level)...I even used a mic and measured all the pins...all the same. I measured and measured and measured again just to be sure....
The cradle plate underneath I really don't see how it would cause the problem of kicking up one side farther that the other....just for giggles I removed it and tightened up the bolts...it didn't change a thing....Measurements were still the same and the loader was still off kilter. I do see why its used though...it ties the sides together well and makes one solid loader.
Next I took the loader off and measured everything pin to pin all the cylinders mounting points etc etc....Checked the squareness of the loader....everything seemed good and right on.
Next I put the loader back on and checked the bucket for square and it also seemed on. Next I put on my pallet forks and they also seemed off like the bucket does.

Now the one thing I noticed the more I looked into this is that while moving the loader from the ground very slowly it seemed the left side always started up first and the right side followed just after. It also seems the left side seems to move around more in its mount...more forward and up ..not by much but it was more noticeable...Which threw me because I measured the mounts and pins and they were they same.
I also noticed that if I engaged the float position it would level out on the floor perfect and as soon as you added power it would throw it off again..with the left side coming up first.
It seems to be in the hydraulics somehow. I guess I could see the left cylinder moving first if it was mounted different or a different length than the right cylinder but that doesn't seem to be the case.
So this one has me stumped completely and maybe I am missing something but I tried to go over this thing completely.

I had a call into my service guy at the dealer and he had a call into Kubota but has never heard anything back from Kubota as of yet and didn't think he would honestly. But he is trying at least. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
He is going to come out and look for himself sometime next week.
Let me know if anyone else finds anything I haven't

have_blue · Sep 16, 2005

jlbota,

Sounds like 1 of your cylinders is defective or binding. Apparently, it takes just a little more or less pressure to get it moving than the other side. Don't automatically assume the lagging cylinder is the bad one. It could be the other one, although not as likely.

Barnboy · Sep 17, 2005

My dealer swaped the loader cyclinders and it didnt make any difference. We too have noticed the left picks up before the right. I wonder if there could be some restriction in the line on the right side. If there was a restriction you would think once the pressure equalized it would level out. My loader is still out by 1/2" or so. I need to get back on my dealer and have him call Kubota. If we get enought dealers calling maybe they will eventually resolve the problem.

jlbota · Sep 17, 2005

Well hopefully we can get this resolved.

The loader can be used but when you pay this kinda money for a Kubota product it tends to make a person more picky.

I guess I don't know how they don't catch these things before production when they seem this obvious. I am still waiting for a result on the buzzing steering wheel. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Its not just me waiting either I think my service guy gets just as frustrated waiting on Kubota to call him back.

KubotaOne · Sep 18, 2005

I did the exact same thing as you jlbota. Loosened every bolt and nut, removed the cradle plate, retightened, measured over and over, and still the left side lifts first. My loader is out by about an 1.25".

I'm stumped.

The one thing my girlfriend noticed was if you sit in the drivers seat and look forward the loader arms are off centre in relation to the engine hood. They are off by over an inch to the left when measured out from the front grill guard.

( Well I spent two days last weekend on my FEL. )

have_blue · Sep 18, 2005

The grill guard may not be the best reference point. Find the center of a convenient frame member and mark the center and make sure the grill guard is perfectly centered.

KubotaOne · Sep 19, 2005

Good point Bob, but I checked and the grill guard appears to be centered with the frame.

The loader arms are clearly off center, you can visibly see it from the drivers seat.

( The grill guard may not be the best reference point. Find the center of a convenient frame member and mark the center and make sure the grill guard is perfectly centered. )