How to Hold QA FEL Levers in Locked Position ????

[JRobyn]

I've had mine come loose. I suppose mostly because of overly aggressive backdragging with the heel of the bucket. That puts a LOT of strain on those pins! I also noticed when my tractor was new (after the bucket popped loose a few times), that the slot at the bottom of the bucket on the right side was cut such that only about 1/2" - 3/4" of the tip of the pins was engaged. In fact, the tip of the right pin was broken off! And I imaging that those pins are hardened. A few minutes with a grinding wheel moved the bucket slot about 1/8" more open, and the pin seats good now. Just to be sure, I also added several washers on top of the "tension spring" so that its coils are nearly totally compressed. When the lever "cams over", the spring IS compressed just slightly, which makes it harder for the lever to inadvertently "un-cam".

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks JR. That's a good idea with the washers. At first I mistakenly thought I would tighten the spring with that nut, At first glance it looked like a tension adjust. But I quickly found out other wise when I went to do it.

gg

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Gordon,
My "solution" is two bungee cords when I'm really at the brush and want extra security. :2cents:

A hole drilled at the end of each quick-release lever would be handy for hooking a bungee (then wrapping under that torsion tube and back to the other lever thus only using one bungee). :confused3:

 

[dstig1]

I ended up welding expanded metal onto the back of my grapple. I had too many close calls with sticks poking through and trying to stab expensive tractor parts. It also allows me to grab more with one bite as nothing slips through anymore.


I had an early problem with the grapple popping off the QA brackets. It had to do with the way the grapple was built and the way the Kubota QA brackets are made. Kubota makes the hook angle on the top by bending the bracket. The grapple upper bracket was short and did not go down far enough to get past that bend in the kubota bracket, so a little force and it would pop right off. My solution was adding steel in the right places. in addition to tightening up the fit at the lower bracket, I added some steel up top (you can see that in the photo above).

 

[Fallon]

Make a power SSQA... http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321704

I'm likely to do a hydraulic version this go around on the new L4060. That's more because I have a 3rd function up there already now than any flaws with the linear actuator.

Make sure your SSQA is tight. The pins need to engage the holes on the frame somewhere in the middle of the angle on the end of the pin. The springs on the pins should be compressed partially. That way they have room to expand if the SSQA frame flexes.

 

[Leejohn]

Look at Xfaxman 1st post this thread. The 3rd picture down just above the nut to adjust the spring. There is a metal stop to keep the pin from coming all the way out as long as the pin is over center. If it isn't there the pin can come loose from the bucket. My L3130 didn't have that, but my 4240 has it. The 3130 would open up the arms sometimes.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for all the info on things to check out and ideas for improvement !!
The fit of the grapple is very good and I do not believe it will pop off as long as the levers are down. The stops Leejohn mentioned that keep the tapered pins from being pushed up are there and function as they should. But if a lever opens the stops are no longer effective. Opening the lever is way to easy to do. Especially with a heavy tractor working with tree tops. I think branches coming up from the bottom are the ones that push the levers up.

Right now I am using bungies to told the levers down but there are some other things rattling around in my head too. Bungies just don't seem to match the ruggedness required dealing with heavy brush, intact tree tops actually . The chain idea mentioned would be better I think.

gg

 

[Gordon Gould]

Well I just felt like puttering this afternoon and decided to see if I could come up with something other than the bungees holding the FEL QA levers down and locked. I noticed a couple holes in the FEL frame that would allow a 1/2" bolt to pass thru and go just behind the QA lever below the pivot point. So I made a couple hooks out of a 1/2" X 8" bolts and short pieces of 3/16" angle to hook around the QA lever.



It is a hard place to get a good picture. I rolled the grapple forward. Here is the hook on the lever below the pivot point.



When the lock nut is tightened it pulls the hook tight and holds the lever securely in the locked position.



I have had the bungees on there for about a month and have had no more problems but I like this solution much better considering the kind of work I do with that grapple..

gg

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Well it's definitely not quick release anymore (intensional or unintentional). Seems like an elegant solution you came up with, as usual.

 

[Peter 315]

This is how jcb does it