twisted FEL

dqdave1 · Feb 23, 2007

Anyone had to straighten their FEL. During all the snow in the NE last week I helped a friend move snow from some parking lots. I was moving along a curb and caught a storm drain with edge of bucket; needless to say , went from 8 mph to 0 in 0 seconds; I now have a bucket that is about 3 inches out of level. No visable bends. It must just be twisted. Any advise would be appreciated.

New Holland TC 29 with a 7308 quick attach loader with 68" bucket.

slowrev · Feb 23, 2007

If you know of someone with a frame straightening jig (good body shop) I would check with them.

I have done various unsafe things to straighten dump doors on hay rollers , arms on loaders, etc. But cannot really advise without seeing the loader.

Timber · Feb 23, 2007

Remove your entire loader and set it back in again

dqdave1 · Feb 23, 2007

Thanks for the replies. I thought about the frame straightening, probably way to go and the safest. I did remove the loader and it is sitting detatched and it "wobbles" I can stand on right side of bucket and rock the frame assembly. When it is mounted; I released the right side quick attach lever and FEL frame on that side popped up about 11/2" and bucket was then flat (almost)

slowrev · Feb 23, 2007

Sounds like most of the problem might be in the frame for the loader instead of the loader arms and bucket ?
Could it's mounts have shifted or bent ?

Try parking the tractor on a smooth concrete surface,
measure the axle heights and adjust tire pressure till both rears match and both fronts match. Now start measuring from the floor up to various parts of the loader frame , arms,etc to figure what is bent where. You might have a couple of places bowed.
Best of luck to ya.
Ben

Timber · Feb 24, 2007

That has got to be very frustrating I am sure. I know I would be very unhappy with myself doing this kind of damage. I am not familiar with that loader and would love to see some pictures. The 1st thing you need to look for is cracked and chipped paint to see if you actually bent something. I know are 1st instinct is to think we really did some damage but lets look for the simple things 1st. Tractors are pretty indestructible so I would rather look for alignment issues 1st. I have to ask what happened to the bucket. I would think your damage would be there rather than the frame or the loader. I find it hard to believe the loader cradle is bent. I would think the piston tube would fail 1st before anything bent. Blistered paint is the 1st thing to find. My thoughts without seeing anything is disassemble and reassemble the loader for realignment. Look at the piston on the impact side too you might have a failure there not allowing the full range of motion
__________________
Kubota B7800, Fel Forks, Landpride PHD, 6 Acre Horse Farm

john_bud · Feb 24, 2007

dqdave1 said:
Thanks for the replies. I thought about the frame straightening, probably way to go and the safest. I did remove the loader and it is sitting detatched and it "wobbles" I can stand on right side of bucket and rock the frame assembly. When it is mounted; I released the right side quick attach lever and FEL frame on that side popped up about 11/2" and bucket was then flat (almost)

You should be able to straighten it by removing the lift cylinder from the high side (plug the hoses so no fluid can move). Then lift the low side cylinder while the high side of the frame is constrained. Under a big truck, low tree limb, etc. Go slow and measure often. If you can do it while on dead flat concrete, you can measure progress with a long level. You have to go past good so when it snaps back, it snaps to about level. NOTE: once racked always racked if often true. The question is just how much of the racking can you get out?

I hate to point it out, but you have demonstrated why plows are mounted with trip springs. FEL buckets are not. If you are going to continue plowing with your tractor, do it a favor and make up a QD plow mount with a plow blade that is spring mounted.

jb

dqdave1 · Feb 24, 2007

I have removed loader; I have found the midmount bracket on the "hit" side bent. I just bought a new bracket to replace the bent one. Bucket did not show any new damage. I have taken measurements on all loader mounting brackets and all are within 1/4' of each side. This is how I found bent mid mount. Replacement bracket matches to other side now. When at dealer to pick up bracket; he suggessted I remove bucket, then remove loader from tractor, and begin taking measurements at many different locations including diagonal measurements. He said he has seen many "sprung" loader frames on the new quick detach systems. He said it can be brought back into position easily at a good auto frame repair shop where they can do it correctly with heat etc.
I should point out that when it struck the drain in curb, it did "pop" the quick release on the side of impact at the bracket that I found bent, which allowed the right frame of the loader to be pushed up while the left side was held in place. This may be how the frame sprung; it may also be why I caused no visable bends or major cylinder damage.

As for plowing snow; I was helping "move" large piles that the plow trucks had created in parking areas. I thought I would be nice and clean along curb that had some buildup of ice.

I do appreciate all the replies, as this site has many experienced tractor operators that are willing to share their expertise and past knowledge.

montejw · Feb 24, 2007

dqdave1 said:
Thanks for the replies. I thought about the frame straightening, probably way to go and the safest. I did remove the loader and it is sitting detatched and it "wobbles" I can stand on right side of bucket and rock the frame assembly. When it is mounted; I released the right side quick attach lever and FEL frame on that side popped up about 11/2" and bucket was then flat (almost)

Start measuring stuff. The first measurement I'd look at would be from the main bucket pin at the bottom of the loader arm, to the main loader arm pivot pin at the top of the loader arm. Compare left side to right side, from the description of what happened, I'd almost put money on those measurements being different.

If they aren't, then you might have bent the sub frame. For that put the tractor (without loader) on a flat hard surface and measure up from the ground to the top of the sub frame near the loader control valve. Same for the other side. Is that height the same? Have to make sure the tires are pressurized the same front side to side and rear side to side.

Looking at a picture of that loader, the front lower arm(s) looks like it could be bent doing what you did with the loader down on the ground like that. Bummer.

Monte