New Holland LOADER safety notice!

[Bob_Skurka]

Inspector, it might be possible that you already have the low profile fittings. When I was talking to the service manager at my dealer, he said that he didn't have the new fittings yet but he was under the impression that the fitting was simply a lower profile unit.

He also said there were only 2 12LA loaders that they sold that needed the retrofit. Mine and one other. So I suspect they had a couple fittings suppliers and some got the right ones and some got the wrong ones!

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Inspector - mine is about the same age, will have had it 2 years in September. But who knows when it was manufactured? I was under the impression when I ordered it that the 12LA loaders were going as fast as they could get them. Probably depended on the supplier of components at a given time during manufacturing. Glad you don't need the upgrade - one less headache is never a bad thing!

Brad

 

[pekabu]

I finally checked out my 12La loader today. Hasn't been hitting. It's not because I haven't worked it hard. It appears the two fittings at the end of my piston are rounded, and screwed in 1/8th inch more than the rears.

 

[Inspector507]

Maybe I'll try to snap a pic of the fittings on mine this weekend. Are the ones on the other end of the cylinder the same fitting?

 

[OkeeDon]

Called my dealer, he knew all about the campaign, but didn't have the parts from NH yet. He'll call me when he gets the fittings, and will pick up and deliver the tractor for me. However, I haven't checked yet to see if there really is a problem. I'll check tomorrow, but regardless, I'd like to see some more pictures to compare. Mine will be 2 years old in April, and I have over 450 hours on it, which is probably more than on most 12LAs, with no problems, except that a couple of the quick disconnects have a habit of popping loose at the wrong time.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

All the fittings on the loader are the same on mine. I think Bob summed it - sounds like only a few have the fittings that are hitting the arms. If yours look different than what I posted above, they are not hitting, and you haven't received a notice, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Double check with the dealer.

Brad

 

[OkeeDon]

Oh, I got the notice all right, complete with the big, bold faced warning in Caps, "DO NOT OPERATE THE LOADER", which I though was pretty funny after something like 450 hours of mostly loader use. I can't remember ever getting on the tractor without using the loader for something!

I'm headed over to the shop in a few mintutes and will check it out against your photo.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Don,

I've continued to use mine as well for light work, mostly snow. How much snow can you get in your bucket /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif It seems that the only time it would hit the fitting is all the way down such as for digging or raising the front of the tractor, so I try to avoid that position. Inspector had mentioned he didn't receive his recall, so that's what I was getting at when I said I would worry to much about it.

Just a reminder for anyone reading this, especially new to equipment, the other issue is how you could get hurt with a failing loader. The warning on the recall reminded me of this. I learned on day 1 at the construction site - you do not work, walk, or otherwise get in the way of a raised loader, dump truck bed, excavator bucket, etc - loaded or not. The veterans here at TBN will tell you the same thing. That's putting a lot of faith in a pressurized oil system with rubber hoses. I know they're reinforced, but they flex all day, every day and you rarely see them replaced until they blow. I don't operate heavy equipment any more, but do oversee construction and constantly remind, sometimes not very politely, the workers and inspectors to stay clear of raised equipment. About the only thing a hard hat is good for when 3 tons comes crashing down on you is it serves as a neat little package to carry you off the site. That's the gruesome reality of it all, even with our smaller CUTs. Not trying to scare anyone, but if it saves someone from injury, then it was worth the couple minutes of typing.

Brad

 

[OkeeDon]

I checked, and wanted to take some pictures but my camaera batteries have been giving up the ghost a lot easier, lately. Need at least one new battery, or finally give in and get a newer digital...anyway, the fittings have rounded corners, and look like steel fittings, rather than the aquare-edged brass-looking photos above. There appears to be a good half inch of clearance between the fitting and the loader boom, and there are no marks or scars anywhere.

I use the heck out of my loader, digging below grade as much as it will allow, using it to lift the tractor, and using it with the home-made root rake I built, which has to put more of a strain on it than just about any other 12LA in use! Just yesterday, I wanted to get the front end up onto a wooden deck that was about 14" above ground, so I could put some heavy stuff in the loader, so I used the loader to help the front tires "crawl" up onto the deck. Then, my son-on-law loaded 4 boxes of cast concrete "stone" into the loader, and I let myself back down. No hits. no problems.

The attached picture is not the same fitting, but the elbow-portion of the fitting has the same profile.

 

[pekabu]

Mine look very similar.