I bent something

[tundraman01]

I need help identifying what might be bent and how to troubleshoot and repair. Mahindra 2655, I was discing with an implement on the 3 pt with forks on the front. I was backing into a narrow field, dropping the discs and going forward. On one pass, looking over my shoulder, my knee hit the bucket stick, raised the forks up about four feet and tilted them forward on about a 45 degree angle, then dropped them into the dirt. I went forward a couple feet before I realized it. Now one side of the quick attach is not reaching the hole where the pin goes in at the bottom. When I got off the tractor to see what I did, the pin was popped out on one side. How do I tell if I bent the fork bracket or the loader arms? I know I can take the forks off and see if the bucket goes on straight but I wanted to wait to see if you guys think I should do or check something before I take the forks off. I did pick up a load of logs and the fork bracket got closer to the quick attach on the loader arms but still not close enough for the pin to go in. You can see the gap in the pictures.

 

[RjCorazza]

The weak point is almost always the crossover tube that clocks the ssqa. There are a lot of you tube videos that explain the diagnosis and relatively easy repair.

 

[thclimer]

My guess is that you have racked the plates on the loader arms. The square box tubing between the 2 arms can twist more than you would expect.

Here is a link to someone who twisted their loader arms:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/what-did-i-break.669484/#post-7427171

Its just a matter of leveraging it back to being square.

 

[BlueKnife]

Twisted the cross tube that goes between the loader brackets.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Twisted the cross tube that goes between the loader brackets.

my first guess as well.
The torque tube twisted doing its job / what it is designed to do protecting loader arms, mounts, etc...

 

[BlueKnife]

Its just a matter of leveraging it back to being square.

It may be possible to do that, but it'd be considerably easier and faster to replace it.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Check out my boneheaded "problem" ... sounds about like what you are facing, but a different way you got there ... Like said above you bent/twisted the crossover beam ... https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/what-did-i-break.669484/

The video in that link shows how it was fixed, I did the same thing!

 

[BlueKnife]

The torque tube twisted doing its job / what it is designed to do protecting loader arms, mounts, etc...

I've read this concept a few times on this forum, but I've not seen any documentation saying that that's why they use the flimsy material that they do. I always assumed it was because they could get away with using cheaper, lighter material there. Heavier duty machines that are built for lifting from the front, such as skid steers and wheel loaders, use sturdy material that's not going to twist like that. You can use that tube for lifting purposes, in many cases. Have you seen some sort of documentation from a manufacturer stating that the cross tube is supposed to be able to twist? I've rebuilt several front loaders where that had happened using stronger material.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I'm also guessing that's it's a designed weak link ... On my Massey Ferguson in the thread I linked above ... The cross member looks easily replaceable, it has one carriage bolt on each side that holds it into a slot cut into the loader arms ...

The cross member is maybe 1/8" steel

 

[BlueKnife]

The cross member looks easily replaceable, it has one carriage bolt on each side that holds it into a slot cut into the loader arms ...

That's not unusual on light duty machines, but I believe it's for shipping purposes. I certainly could be wrong, I've just never seen anything official that said they're supposed to be a weak point. Just seen folks guessing on forums. I'm guessing too though so......