Kubota L3800 Loader problems... twisted??

[DK35vince]

You might not want to reinforce that -- I think the torque tube on QA models is meant to be the weak link that gives before you destroy something else. Kind of like a fuse. Someone else can probably confirm.

I don't think it would hurt to reinforce.
My QA is heavy plate the whole way across (there is no torque tube).
I can take my bucket off and lift with a chain at full loader capacity in the center of my QA without damage.
Hard to tell here in this picture with my bucket on, but the only picture I could find

 

[DK35vince]

I found a better photo with the bucket off.
No bending this QA.
Plated the whole way across front and rear

 

[skyhook]

You bring up a good point, DK,,
I wonder if the original QA's can be "beefed" up across, with a plate similar to yours,,
has anyone ever done this reinforcing procedure, sure sounds logical.

 

[kennyd]

KennyD
i have HORST forks

Good, those are quality ones. I have read many cases where a cheap brand doesn't fit well and pops off the QA shoes.
So, after you get things straightened out, you must see why they came off in the first place to ensure it doesn't happen again. Strengthening the torque tube is ok, but if your forks pop of again you'll be in the same boat your in now.

 

[jeff9366]

I had $250 optional pin-on bucket on my prior tractor, a Kubota B3300SU. I had nearly the same problem, which started when one of the lynch pins securing the bucket flipped off in thick brush, allowing one of the pivot pins to fall out. If you have a pin-on bucket and work in brush, replace the lynch pines with screws and nuts.

 

[kubotagary]

*** Update ***

Got the call from the machine shop today and picked up my part
they did a great job bending it back into square
slid the pins back in and fired up the tractor, hooked up the FEL bucket and it was as new
the guy at the shop decided not to beef up the torque tube, deciding that it was a weak link for a reason,, and if it needed to be a solid pipe, kubota would have made it that way at the factory
anyways, i am back to tractoring, and you dont realize how much you rely on a tractor for small jobs until you are without yours
thanks again to everyone who was able to steer me in the right direction!

 

[skyhook]

I'm not too convinced on this 'weak link" theory,,
Then again, I suppose thats why they made those "weak link" front axles.
Personally, I would definitely beef up the front QA and better secure the latches.

 

[kennyd]

I am of the opinion that the torque tube is just to keep the QA shoes timed together, the implement (bucket, grapple, forks, whatever) should provide the structural rigidity to keep everything from twisting while is use. Some loaders and SSL's don't even have a torque tube or timing bar.

This problem happened because one side of his forks popped off, that issue needs to be addressed to prevent further damage, beefing up the tube is treating the symptom, not the disease IMHO.

 

[skyhook]

Ya, I hear what your saying, Kenny,
If you look further up the loader arms, you see a much larger reinforcement tube,
it just seems to me that a larger one should have also been installed at the bottom.
Your right, the attached implement will give it it's strength, once attached,
but a little more added wouldn't hurt, IMO,,
if this were to happen to me, I'd be a little gun shy next time,
this time it was only the tube that needed straightening,
imagine if the end forks on the loader arms had taken a twist.

 

[skyhook]

Check out this older thread, same problems and a few fix's....
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/117700-quick-attach-fix.html