KL6010 - uneven loader arms

[ovrszd]

Don't tie what I'm about to say to the OP's problem. He definitely had a poorly constructed FEL.

I can make my FEL bucket sag 1/4" either way at will. Simply hook one end of the bucket under an immoveable object and lift.

 

[DieselBound]

[Took some pics and measurements today, it appears mine is 1/4" lower on the right side. I'll probably start a new thread in reference to ck2510 owners but wanted to post here first. Do y'all think that is enough difference to contact my dealer and try and get resolved? I'm like others , OCD lol

If you work your loader a bunch of times and then bring it down to a level surface the bucket edge SHOULD touch down evenly. If it doesn't then, yes, there's an issue. If you don't find this acceptable then bring it to your dealer's attention. Interesting that this is also showing up on the right side of the loader as with mine and bgruss75's loaders.

 

[ovrszd]

Generally you will work the right side harder than the left due to controls location.

 

[southernAL]

overszd,so is that a common occurance to have the right side a little lower than the left? i'm somewhat still very new to tractors.

 

[ovrszd]

overszd,so is that a common occurance to have the right side a little lower than the left? i'm somewhat still very new to tractors.

It can be.

I get a lot of flack for saying this, but that's okay..... My FEL on my M9540 is a beast and has withstood extreme use. I can adjust my bucket "level" simply by applying a load to either end of the bucket. Now, understand, I'm not talking about a couple inches. I'm talking about 1/4" or so. Think about it. Your FEL frame has nothing to prevent this twist. Well,,, okay,,,,, it has that puny torsion bar, tube, square tube, plate, whatever your particular brand chose to use. Otherwise it's subject to twist. That twist can be applied to either end of the bucket. Don't worry about it much. If you are determined to worry about it, then don't apply extreme forces to the end of the bucket, either end. Apply those forces to the middle of the bucket. Then comes the next problem, if your bucket does not have an additional toothbar or some other add-on bracing to the lip, you will end up with the "happy face" bucket. The center will be bent down which creates the smiling curve to the lip of the bucket. FELs are not indestructible. The sooner you learn what it's limits are the longer it will do your work without failure.

 

[DieselBound]

I've put on over 1,000 on my B7800 (now has over 1750 hours) and the loader is as straight as day one. I doubt that anyone has done with a loader what I've done with this one. I'm talking about catching one corner of it and digging out stumps and having the tractor on one wheel. Oh yeah you say? AND, literally bouncing the tractor (snapping from forward to reverse) on one front wheel with that one corner of the loader bucket. I also managed to pop off the tooth bar (pushing a huge tree trunk with only one tooth), bent it pretty good, but nothing done to the loader (or bucket). One loader arm hydraulic cylinder has been replaced (before I engaged in these kinds of things). I cannot stress how much I've stressed this thing and the loader is dead level. I don't do these kinds of things anymore (not because I broke anything, but because it's hard on MY body!). If I haven't tweaked my B7800's loader then I have to wonder how others have managed to tweak their loaders.

 

[ovrszd]

I've put on over 1,000 on my B7800 (now has over 1750 hours) and the loader is as straight as day one. I doubt that anyone has done with a loader what I've done with this one. I'm talking about catching one corner of it and digging out stumps and having the tractor on one wheel. Oh yeah you say? AND, literally bouncing the tractor (snapping from forward to reverse) on one front wheel with that one corner of the loader bucket. I also managed to pop off the tooth bar (pushing a huge tree trunk with only one tooth), bent it pretty good, but nothing done to the loader (or bucket). One loader arm hydraulic cylinder has been replaced (before I engaged in these kinds of things). I cannot stress how much I've stressed this thing and the loader is dead level. I don't do these kinds of things anymore (not because I broke anything, but because it's hard on MY body!). If I haven't tweaked my B7800's loader then I have to wonder how others have managed to tweak their loaders.

Using my Grapple I can get your tractor on no tires.

 

[Amvcane]

For a couple of years the view from the station of my CK35 hst looks just like Southern Al's pic a few posts back. ( it was perfectly straight when I received it from the dealer).
While making a garden, I used the backhoe to scratch a 50' x 75' area 18" deep. Then with the loader I scooped and screened the rocks out of the soil I had loosened. In the process of scooping, the right corner of the loader bucket caught the top of a buried rock the size of a chest freezer. Low range with backhoe attached about 6500lbs, the loader arm flexed, then popped off the rock and the whole tractor shuddered. Bent loader arm. Self inflicted. No reduction in performance or function, but a view from the operators station to remind me of the event. I have exceeded the limitations of the loader.
Glad to hear that Kioti remedied the manufacturing flaw in the OP's loader.

 

[DieselBound]

Using my Grapple I can get your tractor on no tires.

:laughing: Yeah, I can almost do that with my Kioti: if my B7800's tires weren't ballasted. But the question would then be: would my KL6010's arms still be level?

 

[DieselBound]

For a couple of years the view from the station of my CK35 hst looks just like Southern Al's pic a few posts back. ( it was perfectly straight when I received it from the dealer).
While making a garden, I used the backhoe to scratch a 50' x 75' area 18" deep. Then with the loader I scooped and screened the rocks out of the soil I had loosened. In the process of scooping, the right corner of the loader bucket caught the top of a buried rock the size of a chest freezer. Low range with backhoe attached about 6500lbs, the loader arm flexed, then popped off the rock and the whole tractor shuddered. Bent loader arm. Self inflicted. No reduction in performance or function, but a view from the operators station to remind me of the event. I have exceeded the limitations of the loader.
Glad to hear that Kioti remedied the manufacturing flaw in the OP's loader.

WHOA! So there we have it, a case where a loader's capabilities was exceeded.

 

[ovrszd]

WHOA! So there we have it, a case where a loader's capabilities was exceeded.

Yeah, that was my point to you. Your tractor doesn't jave the capability to exceed your FEL's ability.

 

[DieselBound]

Yeah, that was my point to you. Your tractor doesn't jave the capability to exceed your FEL's ability.

I was thinking that Kubota is somehow engineering things to such a level that it really isn't very possible. But... a quick search seems to show that, despite how good Kubota is (and that is what I believe!), that's not the case:

http://www.plowsite.com/threads/bent-loader-arms-what-to-do-next.117435/

I think that pushing might be THE biggest contributor. Hear it said lots of times to not use our tractors as bulldozers (though my B7800 seems to stand up to even that).

 

[ovrszd]

I was thinking that Kubota is somehow engineering things to such a level that it really isn't very possible. But... a quick search seems to show that, despite how good Kubota is (and that is what I believe!), that's not the case:

http://www.plowsite.com/threads/bent-loader-arms-what-to-do-next.117435/

I think that pushing might be THE biggest contributor. Hear it said lots of times to not use our tractors as bulldozers (though my B7800 seems to stand up to even that).

I think in the smaller tractors Kubota's FEL capability generally exceeds the tractor's ability. I used to have a B2910, luxury version of the B7800. Great little tractor. But still a little tractor.

I am very cautious when using the FEL on my M9540. It has the ability to exert tremendous pressures on the FEL. I never "ram" or "bounce" loads. Idling engine when using FEL. Gentle smooth movements whenever possible. I can twist the frame at will. I've broke two of the pins the bucket curls on. I keep a spare onhand.

With all that rambling said, in the OP's case, was definitely an improperly assembled FEL frame.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I think in the smaller tractors Kubota's FEL capability generally exceeds the tractor's ability. I used to have a B2910, luxury version of the B7800. Great little tractor. But still a little tractor.

I am very cautious when using the FEL on my M9540. It has the ability to exert tremendous pressures on the FEL. I never "ram" or "bounce" loads. Idling engine when using FEL. Gentle smooth movements whenever possible. I can twist the frame at will. I've broke two of the pins the bucket curls on. I keep a spare onhand.

With all that rambling said, in the OP's case, was definitely an improperly assembled FEL frame.

I've got the same situation with my new Workmaster 50. I gingerly use it to pick up stuff because it can lift over 3500# at the pins to 10'. My old 1720 with FC 350 Stoll FEL could only manage around 1000# to around 90" or so. I could tear up that 621 TL FEL in less than 5 minutes if I wanted to. I don't want to.

 

[ovrszd]

I've got the same situation with my new Workmaster 50. I gingerly use it to pick up stuff because it can lift over 3500# at the pins to 10'. My old 1720 with FC 350 Stoll FEL could only manage around 1000# to around 90" or so. I could tear up that 621 TL FEL in less than 5 minutes if I wanted to. I don't want to.

Yep. As my Dad would say, "What this requires is a high level of maturity".

 

[BCrouse]

Yep. As my Dad would say, "What this requires is a high level of maturity".

Also kinda fits with something my pap use to tell me "ya gotta be smarter than the tools yer workin with"

(Applicable on many levels)

 

[ovrszd]

Also kinda fits with something my pap use to tell me "ya gotta be smarter than the tools yer workin with"

(Applicable on many levels)

Sometimes that's a struggle......

 

[bgruss75]

Twisting or tweaking the FEL due to operator error or exceeding the capacity happens. Generally an incident like this is human error and not equipment failure. I've learned over the years that when a piece of equipment fails it's usually 90% operator and 10% equipment. Now to the point of this thread, which is the KL6010 FEL being uneven off the delivery truck; I have the same issue as the OP. My dealer has contacted the NC headquarters and their engineers have asked for a matrix of measurements to be taken. I'll be relinquishing my tractor on Monday for the to do this in their shop.

For those scratching their heads, I am absolutely not new to tractors. I did not use the FEL to doze anything. I did not catch the edge on an immovable object. My FEL came of the trailer with this issue to the point I cannot backdrag any material evenly on a level surface. Once I hear what the dealer says, I'll happily convey the information on this thread.
This pic shows the unevenness of my FEL as it rests on the ground.

 

[Turbys_1700]

That is pretty definitive. Something is definitively off.

I had a Stoll FC 350 FEL added to my New Holland 1720 about 5 or so years ago. When my salesman delivered the tractor he told me don't use it like a bulldozer. I gave him a whimsical look. I told him it was a front end loader and not a front end dozer. Our FEL's on the farm was used for lifting round bales and hauling dirt. He told me most damage to new tractors was due to operator error and pushing down things. I'm probably too easy on my equipment but I guess Pop taught me that.

I'm confident your dealer will get you taken care of.