Misaligned Koyker 160 Loader

[Smalljobs]

I've noticed my loader is skewed to the left as I'm sitting on the tractor. Near the radiator, the space between the loader frames is around 1-1/2" greater on one side than the other so that makes it off by 3/4". I've put the machine to some hard use with big boulders, the compulsory trophy stump, etc. Lately I've plowed three snowstorms with my new plow setup but I'm really careful about plowing slowly. The spring trip works well and I've also got a crossover relief valve protecting it. I'm pretty sure the misalignment is not due to plowing. All bolts are tight. I'm also not sure if the machine was like this when I bought it new. Now I've got 150 hours on it but around 60 hrs was with a 6" PTO chipper.

To be sure this situation doesn't worsen, I'll plow staying to the left. Maybe it will return to center.

Has anyone had this sort of misalignment and the successfully repaired it? I'll just live with it before I get into any sort of body frame shop or welding work. I've considered using a come-along, some jacks, a couple of trees, etc to pull the arms back across to the other side to get this out but I don't want to damage anything else while I do it.

So....I thought I'd poll others first.

 

[rus_geek]

Could you post some pictures of the attachment points for the loader? I've see a lot of removable loaders that had a couple inches of play in the attachments points, side-to-side, so that could account for it. Most of the newer loaders have a much better centering design, so it really can only attach in *one* position.

-rus-

 

[Smalljobs]

I've not mastered posting of pictures yet. Loader columns are secured to engine/transmission housing with rock solid flanges as well as secured to frame/rear axle. It's possible one of these 8-bolt flanges could have shifted within the clearance limits inside the holes. When spring comes, I'll probably loosen them to improve it. It won't take much to change the lateral bucket centrality seven feet out from frame mounting points.