Loader My FEL bucket is not level

[dreamer]

As the title says, my FEL bucket is not level. It is on my less than one year old B3030. I think it is a LA403 loader. The right side is at least 1 inch lower that the left side. It makes it kinda unhandy to work with. Tire pressures are correct and equal side to side. It was like this upon delivery, I thought I could live with it but I guess I would like to correct it if possible. Any ideas? Thanks.

dreamer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

It sounds like a dealer/warranty problem. Have you told them about it? If not, at this late date they are probably going to say you damaged/twisted it.
larry

 

[LD1]

Might try raising the loader ALL the way, and holding it there for about 3-5 seconds while still trying to raise it with the valve. The PRV sould open so no harm will be done in that 3-5 seconds.

Sometimes one cylinder will get a little ahead of the other. Since they are plumbed in parallel, it wont self correct, you have to physically extend or retract the cylinders ALL they way to get them even again.

And If that doesnt do it, somethind sounds either bent or tweaked somewhere and I'd contact the dealer.

 

[BXpanded]

Park the tractor on a hard flat surface and measure from the ground to a point on the rear axle on each side. Make sure each rear tire is the same height. The height of tires can vary even with equal pressures. If not the same, adjust the pressure untill all is even. A few psi will make a significant difference in the height of a tire of that size. Check the bucket and see if the out of level condition still exisits.
If still not level, consider just adjusting with the rear tire pressures. If this is not agreeable, or the difference is too great, loosen the bolts mounting the loader to the tractor frame. With the bucket on the ground and the bolts loose, the loader might level itself. If not, try "helping" a bit with a prybar to take the play out of the mounting bolts. Retighten the bolts.

 

[Don87]

If all else fails, and dealer won't cover it..............latch onto the front of a 3/4 ton ford pickup with the 'high side of the bucket and pick it up till it straightens.

If that doesn't work.......switch to a 1 ton or larger til the problem is corrected.

Or take the easy...........more expensive route and take the entire loader assemby to a frame shop and have it straightened.:thumbsup:

 

[CWB]

I think if you go back a couple of years you'll find a number of posts on this issue - at that time there seemed to be a manufacturing issue that affected a lot of the 3030 FELs. Perhaps you got tractor equipped with older inventory, of afflicted with the same issue (I think it was attributed to a jig problem). In that case it's going to be hard to correct. I live with the same issue, having bought a 3030 back then, but it doesn't bother me.

 

[Ductape]

I think if you go back a couple of years you'll find a number of posts on this issue - at that time there seemed to be a manufacturing issue that affected a lot of the 3030 FELs. Perhaps you got tractor equipped with older inventory, of afflicted with the same issue (I think it was attributed to a jig problem). In that case it's going to be hard to correct. I live with the same issue, having bought a 3030 back then, but it doesn't bother me.

Right on. I haven't seen any discussion here on it in years, because it was just the very early 3030s (2004 or so?) that had the problem. Seems hard to imagine there would be a loader that is 5 or 6 year old stock........ but worth looking into. I agree.... the problem back then was the jig for the mounting brakets. The holes to mount the loader to the tractor frame were off slightly on one side.

I do think my first course of action would be to loosen things up on a level concrete surface and see if things settle back to level. After that, I'd be talking to my dealer.

 

[dreamer]

Thanks for the ideas. I will try the suggestions this week when I get some time and report back.

dreamer.

 

[WaxMan]

Mine was off too, and I figured I would live with it, but my blade soon wore uneven about 1 inch back further on the right then the left.
I did allot of spreading and back blading loam it was a pain in the butt one side would always dig in and make a line in the dirt. So instead of having nice level grading there was a line every five feet. I learned to feather it out and probably became better at working the loader because of it. (600 hrs later you should see the way I separate rocks out and work the loader with the finesse like a pro)

I have read other posts about it and at about 300 hrs I slotted the mounting holes about 3/4 of a inch on one side to even it out. It was better but never perfect after the blade wore.
I would get it straighten now unless you always want your blade uneven.

 

[allen in texas]

I had the same problem with my L3240 and 724 loader. I went through all the same steps as you, tire pressure, level surface, all that...


I took it to the dealer and they changed the rear tires. :confused2:
I already knew it wasn't the tires.

I left it with them and went shopping with wifey and when I came back, they had put a new bucket on it. Now it was perfect. :thumbsup:The first bucket was built slightly off and it caused it to sit on the loader unlevel.

 

[blueriver]

Here is my thread on my loader problem ... different tractor and loader but it worked for me.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/186059-anyone-ever-straighten-twisted-front.html

 

[have_blue]

As the title says, my FEL bucket is not level. Any ideas? Thanks.

dreamer.

Same here, but low on left side. Very aggravating when you're doing precise work.



I negated the problem by loosening the bolts, putting down pressure on the left side, and re-tightening. It helped about 1/2". Over-inflating my left front tire helped a little more, but it's not perfect.

The way the front loader is designed, if the mounting holes and pins are off even 1/32", you can easily end up with a 1" difference in height on a 6' bucket. The way large metal weldments warp and deform, it's understandable to have the problem, so I didn't hold it against Kubota.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I negated the problem by loosening the bolts, putting down pressure on the left side, and re-tightening. It helped about 1/2". Over-inflating my left front tire helped a little more, but it's not perfect.

Front axles on a pivot. Front tire pressure wont affect tractor lean enuf to detect on a tape measure.
larry

 

[displacedPA]

I belive im having a similar problem with my LA 304FEL. I first noticed it the first time I removed the loader.The tractor is under a year old only 26hours. The pin on the left side was very hard to remove. I had to use a pair of channel locks to remove it. I put the loader on last night for some cleanup work. I had the same problem of gettting the one pin on the left side to go in. had to use a block of wood to hit it in. I noticed when working the right side piston is bottoming out first when the loader is fully extendend. Indicating to me that something out wack. I can notice the left side is lower than the right when doing precise work.

I have read many post about hooks and chains jacks ect. I inspected the sub frame last night and noticed some of bolts lock washers are not fully compresed. I suppose the sub frame could be out some. I dont belive I have tweak the loader arms. I havent done any real heavy work. My loader is not out bad but its enough to bother me.

What would you guys check next? My thoughts are loosen the sub frame bolts and lower the loader at the level position and hope maybe there is some slop in the holes and maybe everything will go back into place?

If this doesnt resolve anything should i take it to the dealer? is this something covered under KTAC coverage?