Loader Unlevel bucket

[ptsg]

Now that you mention it, I think that's what I read too!!! And we are looking at numbers much, much smaller than more popular brands. So it's still feasible for them to do it that way. No local dealer base to do that work.

That's what I was trying to say before. :thumbsup:

If the left loader mount is slightly tilting forward and the other one tilting backwards, the loader will the get crooked and not sit level.

Like you mentioned, the best way is to get the bolts just snug, then just apply pressure with the loader on a flat ground and tighten the bolts. It's actually an easy fix for others that have this issue.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm not going to loosen mine to test this.

With that said, I doubt there is enough slack in my bolt holes to make my bucket off 1.5".

Since I'm not willing to be the guinea pig, we'll never know.

 

[ptsg]

Clearance bolt holes are usually done 0.50 mm (0.020") over the nominal size. If the loader mount moves forward, it will take the play of the front bolts and rear bolts, so those 0.5 mm are now 1 mm (0.040") of movement. Now if the other mount is moved to the opposite direction (like one tilted forward and the other tilted backwards) we are now looking at 2 mm (0.080") of play.

Those 2 mm might not look much but at the end of the bucket, will be a lot.

 

[Qapla]

They are all assembled at one of two places ... Waverly, Ohio and Williston, Fl ... both small, rural towns.

It could be that the loaders were not correctly tightened or that the torque specs were not followed or not listed.

It would be interesting to know just how tight those bolts are supposed to be.

 

[jmc]

Clearance bolt holes are usually done 0.50 mm (0.020") over the nominal size. If the loader mount moves forward, it will take the play of the front bolts and rear bolts, so those 0.5 mm are now 1 mm (0.040") of movement. Now if the other mount is moved to the opposite direction (like one tilted forward and the other tilted backwards) we are now looking at 2 mm (0.080") of play.

Those 2 mm might not look much but at the end of the bucket, will be a lot.

And furthermore, if that clearance also serves to accommodate all the tolerance stack-ups of both the tractor frame and the loader, the designed clearance is likely even larger.

 

[ptsg]

And furthermore, if that clearance also serves to accommodate all the tolerance stack-ups of both the tractor frame and the loader, the designed clearance is likely even larger.

Good point. Lots of things adding up here. Tire pressure, a full fuel tank and so on.

 

[CADplans]

I do not agree that's it is just an assembly problem. If so we would hear of this problem in all brands. This is the first brand I've heard having this specific problem.

If there is enough slack to cause 1.5-2" change in the bucket being level, the problem will reappear. And will require once again loosening and realigning the FEL mounting framework.

I've never had to do that on my loader tractor, have you?

This EXACT same bolt hole issue occurs on many early model Cub Cadets,, but you almost never hear about it,,

The transaxle can be bolted to the frame, with the frame twisted,,
the frame will STAY twisted, until the bolts are loosened, and the frame is twisted into alignment.

I believe the exact same thing can happen to some model JD GT,,,

So, IMHO,, a twisted alignment during assembly could easily cause the misalignment,,

 

[Btown]

They are all assembled at one of two places ... Waverly, Ohio and Williston, Fl ... both small, rural towns.

It could be that the loaders were not correctly tightened or that the torque specs were not followed or not listed.

It would be interesting to know just how tight those bolts are supposed to be.

Most loaders requires those bolts to be re-torqued by the 50 hour service. They loosen. I’m not sure why thread locker is not applied to stop them from loosening.

 

[ovrszd]

Most loaders requires those bolts to be re-torqued by the 50 hour service. They loosen. I’m not sure why thread locker is not applied to stop them from loosening.

I've owned two FEL tractors. The current one with 1600hrs. Both bought new. I've never re-torqued the FEL mounting bolts.

 

[4tillingdirt]

It can be an assembly problem. Let's say any other brand uses a jig to mount the two loader mounts at the same time or if the person assembling the loader mounts have the thought of pushing or pulling both mounts either back or forward when tightening the bolts to make sure that both mounts are aligned right. I used the second option when I built and assembled my loader.

It's a matter of having attention to details like this, which not everyone have. This is kinda proves that whoever mounted the loader in the US doesn't have much experience dealing with tractors and this kind of stuff or just don't care at all.

It doesn't take much play in the holes to make a whole lot of difference a upfront.

That's probably typical of the entire RK process. Bunch of flunkies handling the assembly of the tractors and probably can't trust them to flip burgers correctly.

 

[4get gto]

That's probably typical of the entire RK process. Bunch of flunkies handling the assembly of the tractors and probably can't trust them to flip burgers correctly.

Regardless how meaningless a job seems to some it's still a job and should be right. Even flipping a burger requires a little finesse. :thumbsup:

A job is a job is a job. Do it the best you can....

 

[Robfnk]

I have the RK 55 and have the same issue with my bucket but mine started after a day of heavy use. My thought was I over worked it. My first observation was that one cylinder ( right one)extends before the other and remains 3/4" longer lifting it all the way up. I thought it may have been a cylinder issue so to check it I pulled both the left and right cylinders and swapped them. It did not change anything , still the same cylinder extending first ( right one) So far I could not find any reason why. My next thought was maybe there was a loose bolt. No such luck. My next thought was maybe I twisted something. I have no idea how to check for that as nothing stands out. I would love to rent a trailer and take it to the dealer to let them check it out but haven't been able to find anyplace that will rent an equipment trailer on a daily basis. Dealer subs out their hauling and the cost is over $1000 to pick it up and return it. One other observation I've made is that when I put it in the float position to back blade something it levels out and works great but other wise is almost 3" higher on the one side. My tires are fine, my hydraulic level is good. Not sure what my next step should\will be.

 

[gunny0628]

Mine has become unlevel again.

 

[Rebeldad1]

cant believe you cant locate a equipment trailer to rent. call around to the tractor dealer and rental shops.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I HAVEN'T READ ALL THIS THREAD SO IF THIS WAS SUGGESTED BEFORE, OOPS. BUT I WONDER IF YOUR GETTING AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE LEFT CYL. AND THAT HAS TO COMPRESS BEFORE IT MOVES.

 

[Jchawk]

I'm new here but most tractor loaders have a cylinder that extends and another that brings it back. So each cylinder only travels one way. I looked at mine and it has a fluid in and a fluid out, so it should be the same.

 

[4570Man]

The cylinders on a tractor loader are plumbed together and there’s no fluid divider. Each cylinder is free to move on its own. The cross member tube is what’s supposed to keep the arms level.

 

[Robfnk]

cant believe you cant locate a equipment trailer to rent. call around to the tractor dealer and rental shops.

Everyone I found will only rent to a contractor. I tried setting up an account with one of them but they were not interested in someone who only wants to rent a day at a time. RK uses a towing company and told me one way would be at least $500. I don't really need a trailer other then taking in to them. I only have 2 tractors and normally do all my service myself but this issue has me stumped. When I first had the issue I checked all the mounting bolts. Nothing was tight. I even tried raising the left side of the bucket up before tightening all the bolts but it did not make a difference.

 

[Robfnk]

Exercising the cylinders is supposed to get air out of the lines. The very first thing I tried was switching the left and right cylinders thinking it might be a cylinder problem since the right one extends first. Again it works great back blade while in the float position but sucks trying to pick anything up.

 

[DonRybak]

Robfnk, you've given no info as to where you are located so others can help you look. It took some time but I located a trailer dealer/renter here in Lakeland, FL that rents the equipment trailers for a little under $100 per day. There might be something in your area too if you find the right combination to Google but we need a location......Don