Loader bucket wear fix or not?

[kyles974]

Hey guys...my John Deere 2320 front end loader bucket seems to be getting alto more paper"play" in it. Of course its not new any more....but put 300 plus hard hours on the bucket digging etc..

I've noticed where the bucket attaches seems to be getting more ofwobble" now.

Should i be concerned about this?

 

[Don87]

Is it a pin on or QA?

 

[kyles974]

Is it a pin on or QA?

It is quick attached i think?

Its a 200cx loader john deere

 

[crashz]

They all will get a little sloppy, as the loader pins and bushing begin to wear and excessive digging or grading makes them worse (they are loaders, not excavators nor bulldozers).

The loader and bucket on my 770 is very loose, as the previous owner was a loader operator in a quarry and used the little tractor to dig, and plow snow while at home. It think he felt that it was a mini Cat 980. He worn out the bottom of the bucket in less than 1000 hrs!

That being said, any wear due to contaminated grease will make it much worse. Make sure to grease the loader on a regular basis, and ideally, each time its used.

 

[Don87]

Pictures of yours would be a big help. But if yours is getting sloppy, either at the pins, or especially at the QA it needs looked at ASAP. The QA plates could be bending, and if the lock comes loose while you are lifting something, major damage could result.

There have been threads on here about QA's coming loose on one side and bending things badly.

 

[kyles974]

They all will get a little sloppy, as the loader pins and bushing begin to wear and excessive digging or grading makes them worse (they are loaders, not excavators nor bulldozers).

The loader and bucket on my 770 is very loose, as the previous owner was a loader operator in a quarry and used the little tractor to dig, and plow snow while at home. It think he felt that it was a mini Cat 980. He worn out the bottom of the bucket in less than 1000 hrs!

That being said, any wear due to contaminated grease will make it much worse. Make sure to grease the loader on a regular basis, and ideally, each time its used.

Iv'e recently change to Schaeffer grease, this stuff is awsome. Glad I read about it here!

Pictures of yours would be a big help. But if yours is getting sloppy, either at the pins, or especially at the QA it needs looked at ASAP. The QA plates could be bending, and if the lock comes loose while you are lifting something, major damage could result.

There have been threads on here about QA's coming loose on one side and bending things badly.

I bet. ...with a load and one side breaks, I could see lots of $$$$$$

I will take a pic today and post it later this evening.

 

[kyles974]

Had trouble loading some pics. One pic I wanted to show was the only visable wear I could see, which was where the cotter pin, or the pins that have the "flip" over circle thing. (sorry, my terminology/vocabulary stinks) (you can see the pin at the bottom of what I call "bracket" in the fist two pics)
Theres maybe 3mm of wear on the bracket, but not enough to cause this "play" I speak of.


The first pic below is showing the bottom part of the bracket that get's pinned into the bucket. Notice the small gap?




This second pic is showing AFTER I step onto the bucket. (bucket is resting on ground) Notice the gap is pretty much gone?


The third ond fouth pics are the top part. Where the bucket goes over the bracket "rods" or "shafts."
Now these "shafts" do look somewhat worn, BUT from what I see, they do NOT come out to replace????






I'm confused
The "brackets" dont look bent or out of line an any way. ....and this "wobble" or "play" has gradually got worse over time.

I just don't want to get it to worn where it cost more than if I would get it fix if needed to sooner.

 

[kyles974]

Here's the pic of the pin and lillte wear I was speaking of. (very little)

 

[k0ua]

Well right or wrong, here is what I do. I would weld a couple of beads around the base of the lower pins. This will prevent the adapter from moving forward quite as much, and the lynch pin will have less slop between itself and the back of the adapter bracket. I would also make sure the pins have not worn thin. Get some new ones to be sure. Weld some beads on the inside of the top upside down J brackets on the bucket on the bucket side. This will make the top adapter clearance between the bracket and the top tube that goes into this bracket less, and take up any slop.. Of course if you put too much bead, that is what they make grinders for. So for 10 minutes of welding, your slop problem is gone.. if it comes back as the welds wear down then break out the welder and grinder, and have at it again. Problem solved for couple bucks rod and electricity.

James K0UA

 

[Don87]

Had trouble loading some pics. One pic I wanted to show was the only visable wear I could see, which was where the cotter pin, or the pins that have the "flip" over circle thing. (sorry, my terminology/vocabulary stinks) (you can see the pin at the bottom of what I call "bracket" in the fist two pics)
Theres maybe 3mm of wear on the bracket, but not enough to cause this "play" I speak of.


The first pic below is showing the bottom part of the bracket that get's pinned into the bucket. Notice the small gap?




This second pic is showing AFTER I step onto the bucket. (bucket is resting on ground) Notice the gap is pretty much gone?


The third ond fouth pics are the top part. Where the bucket goes over the bracket "rods" or "shafts."
Now these "shafts" do look somewhat worn, BUT from what I see, they do NOT come out to replace????






I'm confused
The "brackets" dont look bent or out of line an any way. ....and this "wobble" or "play" has gradually got worse over time.

I just don't want to get it to worn where it cost more than if I would get it fix if needed to sooner.

You have the QA bucket. on the first 2 pics, if you remove the silver pin, then tilt your bucket a smidge, and lower your loader arms, the bucket will come right off.

On pic 3, I'm not sure how much play should be there, but the gap seems awfully big.........that holds the top or your bucket to the QA.

 

[Don87]

Well right or wrong, here is what I do. I would weld a couple of beads around the base of the lower pins. This will prevent the adapter from moving forward quite as much, and the lynch pin will have less slop between itself and the back of the adapter bracket. I would also make sure the pins have not worn thin. Get some new ones to be sure. Weld some beads on the inside of the top upside down J brackets on the bucket on the bucket side. This will make the top adapter clearance between the bracket and the top tube that goes into this bracket less, and take up any slop.. Of course if you put too much bead, that is what they make grinders for. So for 10 minutes of welding, your slop problem is gone.. if it comes back as the welds wear down then break out the welder and grinder, and have at it again. Problem solved for couple bucks rod and electricity.

James K0UA

Thanks, I'm not all that familiar with JD, but it does look like he has too much slop for comfort.

 

[k0ua]

On pic 3, I'm not sure how much play should be there, but the gap seems awfully big.........that holds the top or your bucket to the QA.

It does seem like a lot of clearance doesn't? I would think it would fit tighter, some grease on the adapter once in a while would help a bit on wear.

 

[kyles974]

Well right or wrong, here is what I do. I would weld a couple of beads around the base of the lower pins. This will prevent the adapter from moving forward quite as much, and the lynch pin will have less slop between itself and the back of the adapter bracket. I would also make sure the pins have not worn thin. Get some new ones to be sure. Weld some beads on the inside of the top upside down J brackets on the bucket on the bucket side. This will make the top adapter clearance between the bracket and the top tube that goes into this bracket less, and take up any slop.. Of course if you put too much bead, that is what they make grinders for. So for 10 minutes of welding, your slop problem is gone.. if it comes back as the welds wear down then break out the welder and grinder, and have at it again. Problem solved for couple bucks rod and electricity.

James K0UA

Before I do this, I have to investigate a bit more.

You have the QA bucket. on the first 2 pics, if you remove the silver pin, then tilt your bucket a smidge, and lower your loader arms, the bucket will come right off.

On pic 3, I'm not sure how much play should be there, but the gap seems awfully big.........that holds the top or your bucket to the QA.

Just went outside and measured. .225 of an inch (and gotta say, just about yacked, as I was bending over, I inhailed a small bug down wind pipe.....still coughing and waterery eyes,lol)

Thanks, I'm not all that familiar with JD, but it does look like he has too much slop for comfort.

....this is why I ask, cause it's getting a little to much for my comfort


It does seem like a lot of clearance doesn't? I would think it would fit tighter, some grease on the adapter once in a while would help a bit on wear.[/QUOTE]

it used to fit alot tighter.

......oh ya, lynch pins that's what they are called....lol....I knew that

 

[pat32rf]

I am surprised at how much slop there is under the bucket hooks.Makes me wonder if they got bent somehow, just don't know how you could bend them s long as the bottom lynch pin is in place on the bucket. I have over 4000 hrs on my tractor (JD4300) split between the bucket and a couple of different sets of forks/lifting brackets. Lot of digging and rock work, but only half the slop that you have. I have the steel, rather than the newer cast brackets and mine have bent a bit as well.
I can't see how you could have your bucket come unhooked the way the other style (SkidSteer) does but if you like, you could try to bend those hooks back down with a big hammer. If you fill the space with weld, you might also harden them and make them brittle....

 

[Don87]

I am surprised at how much slop there is under the bucket hooks.Makes me wonder if they got bent somehow, just don't know how you could bend them s long as the bottom lynch pin is in place on the bucket. I have over 4000 hrs on my tractor (JD4300) split between the bucket and a couple of different sets of forks/lifting brackets. Lot of digging and rock work, but only half the slop that you have. I have the steel, rather than the newer cast brackets and mine have bent a bit as well.
I can't see how you could have your bucket come unhooked the way the other style (SkidSteer) does but if you like, you could try to bend those hooks back down with a big hammer. If you fill the space with weld, you might also harden them and make them brittle....

Thanks for stopping by. I'm not that familiar with JD stuff, but, I knew the amount of slop appeared excessive.

I remembered seeing a couple threads on here about QA's coming apart, but couldn't remember the brand, nor could I find the threads.

 

[kyles974]

I am surprised at how much slop there is under the bucket hooks.Makes me wonder if they got bent somehow, just don't know how you could bend them s long as the bottom lynch pin is in place on the bucket. I have over 4000 hrs on my tractor (JD4300) split between the bucket and a couple of different sets of forks/lifting brackets. Lot of digging and rock work, but only half the slop that you have. I have the steel, rather than the newer cast brackets and mine have bent a bit as well.
I can't see how you could have your bucket come unhooked the way the other style (SkidSteer) does but if you like, you could try to bend those hooks back down with a big hammer. If you fill the space with weld, you might also harden them and make them brittle....

Yes.....brittle...that's what i would think would happen too.

I think what i need to do is go to a JD dealer and get some measurement of the hook and the bar the hook goes over and see from there i guess?

I thank everyone greatly so far in helping me with this issue

Im going to look and or study the whole attachment really good tomorrow since i worked today.

 

[Don87]

Yes.....brittle...that's what i would think would happen too.

I think what i need to do is go to a JD dealer and get some measurement of the hook and the bar the hook goes over and see from there i guess?

I thank everyone greatly so far in helping me with this issue

Im going to look and or study the whole attachment really good tomorrow since i worked today.

Your welcome. And yes, that would be a great idea to go to the dealer with a rule and check some measurements.

Good Luck, and keep us informed.

 

[kyles974]

Your welcome. And yes, that would be a great idea to go to the dealer with a rule and check some measurements.

Good Luck, and keep us informed.

It maybe a few days, or into nest week, but I will update when I check at dealer.

...in the mean time, I'll check back here to see if anyone else has jumped in with any suggestions.

 

[Don87]

Thanks for keeping us informed.

 

[kyles974]

I will be going to JD Dealer tomorrow morning (Tuesday)....got to buy some dash bulbs....so while I'm there, going to ask and measure new bucket, etc.,

but, will post what I come up with