FEL subframe bowing

[harley53red]

Has anyone had trouble with the subframe for the FEL bowing at the sides. Mine (ML108H on 2810HST) has bowed enough that the hydrolic cylinders rub on it as the bucket is raised or lowered. I HAVE been using it to push down some 4-5inch cedar trees....but I would have thought it should have held up to this. I've removed the FEL, disassembled it and am planning on trying to straighten it. If this isn't possible, it appears these units are made in Kansas...so I'll call and see if they'll sell JUST the subframe. In either case, I plan to heavily reinforce the arms and add a brushguard!!

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Have you checked your FEL subframe bolts??I've seen some that back out. I saw a 2810 that had lost 3 out of the 4 bolts. It acted somewhat like you speak of. Check this first! Let us know. BobG in VA

 

[fish_wisperer]

the book my fel came with said it was critical to check every bolt in the subframe after the first 10 hours of service, its a good thing i did because several were loose and two were about to fall out.

 

[harley53red]

The "subframe" that I'm talking about is the U-shaped frame that the main "bucket frame" and hydraulics mount to. It slips into a channel at the front of the tractor and bolts to the underframe with just 2 bolts. And it is definitely bent. I removed it and it is pretty twisted. I checked with the manufacturer in Kansas, but they can ONLY sell through Mahindra.....so it may be fairly expensive. I'll let you know what I find out on a price. It may be time to re-engineer this thing by cutting it apart and rebuilding it stronger than it was originally!

 

[fish_wisperer]

wow,,,that aint right at all. that frame should be able to withstand all the power your tractor can put out, if it cant they need to sell them with a heavier loader.

tom

 

[harley53red]

Fish,
I certainly agree! I will be " beefing up" this subframe one way or another....weather I replace it with a new one...or just end up cutting off the bowed arms and replacing them with something more substantial...in which case, I'll let everyone know what "design improvements" I come up with!

 

[shvl73]

Can you post some pictures? I have the same unit and I'd be very interested to see the problem, as well as how you strengthen the assembly.

 

[harley53red]

shvl73,
I have the FEL taken apart and have decided that it would be fairly difficult... if not impossible... to straighten the bent arms. I'm trying to decide just how I'm going to go about rebuilding it right now. I'll try to take some pictures this weekend and post them.

 

[harley53red]

Here are some pictures of the bowed/bent subframe arms on my 2810. As you can see, the FEL has been removed. It was only designed for lifting...NOT pushing.....but I plan to remove the current arms and replace them with 2 pieces of pipe (drillstem) on each side forming an "A" shape tith the top of the "A" at the front of the frame and the 2 lower portions welded to the upright that attaches to the tractor. I'll post those pics when I gewt it done in a few weeks.

 

[harley53red]

another picture of the subframe