Adding stiffener to FEL

[jsmk]

I recently broke two brackets on the left front side of my KL130 FEL on my CK30HST. A pin fell out and I didn't notice it soon enough.

I ordered new parts from dealer and the guy there mentioned that some people have welded a stiffener to them.

Has anyone done this or heard of anyone doing it?

Here's a picture of mine.

 

[Highbeam]

There is no plague of reports about that bracket cracking. Many of us have used and tested this loader thoroughly over the years and that particular spot seems to be just fine.

It would look bad and negatively effect the resale value. If it were to ever break again, replacement appears to be cheap and easy.

 

[Mousefield]

Glad you are able to get parts, doesn't look like a big expensive fix.
I do, but not always, try to have a quick look at the tractor for any missing or loose bolts, pins etc.
Thanks for posting the pic. :thumbsup:

 

[lakngulf]

I do, but not always, try to have a quick look at the tractor for any missing or loose bolts, pins etc.

That is a good practice. I should be more consistent with that as well. I was bushhogging recently, and suddenly I could not change gears. The gear stick was quite loose. With some persistence I could get it into gear. When I did I left it there and headed for my truck. Unfortunately, it was gear 1 that I was able to get. That is a slow pace for sure.

Looked underneath and found that a pin had broken in the gear linkage. A large nail turned out to be a good replacement part. So good that I keep forgetting to look for a new pin at the store.

 

[IslandTractor]

Sorry about your accident. I agree with Highbeam that these failures are rare. Never heard of one before and I've been following the forum for about five years.

I have no idea if Kioti has replacement parts for something like this. I would presume so but if they don't, it would be easy to take off the parts on the other side and have a local welding/fabrication shop make you up a new set. No reason to stiffen them just make sure the pin stays in place.

 

[VictorW]

I've had my CK30hst with KL130 loader for six years now. I've picked up loads that I'm sure were the max for the fel because it's working hard either curling or lifting and sometimes just won't move. My "L" brackets/arms show no signs of deformation. If the pins stay in and load those brackets evenly, the hydraulic relief valve will kick in before you break or bend them.

 

[jsmk]

Thanks for all the input. I don't look at this as a weakness of the tractor. Those little hinge pins seem to fall out pretty easy in brush and I am pretty sure the pin was in when I started working that day, but when the main pin fall out I didn't noticed until the bucket started responding differently. Too late at that point. I think I may safety wire some of the hinge pins to keep them in place and protect the main pins.

My main question about adding stiffener was generated by the parts guy. I figured if this was a weakness with the FEL I would find out quickly here. I agree that is unlikely this part will break as long as the hardware is in place, so I will just replace the parts and keep an eye the hardware.

 

[Alien]

The CK30 comes out with a different FEL here. Haven't had or heard of any probs with them at all.

 

[PA hayseed]

I don't have your exact tractor, but I have beaten the snot out of my FEL on my 45, mainly hauling large pieces of sandstone. It is bent in several areas, but the brackets are fine. I would look at putting a better retention method on there if your pins are popping out. My original pins on my RFM kept coming off the wheels, I replaced them, and replace them again every summer.

Lots of people modify their rigs, it may benefit you if you are pushing the envelop often. I don't know about voiding the warranty though.

 

[Coyote machine]

I reinforced the exact brackets you broke on my DK-35 and proceeded to bend them too after little use. If you strengthen them something else will give way from the strain. If you just replace them with new ones and keep the pins in place your FEL will stop at the designed load capacity. Your's was a fluke situation; don't over-think it into a problem that didn't previously exist.

 

[jsmk]

Just an update. I had ordered replacement part around the time of my last post. It was suppose to take 3 to 5 business days to get the parts. Checked back when they were suppose to be in. They hadn't come in yet so dealer called Kioti see check. Turns out the outer side was back ordered an eta is now Aug. 10th.
Fortunately I brought the broken ones with me and took them to steel fabricator to get them repaired. The guy had them ready the next morning. While I don't think the repair is all that pretty I don't think I could break them if I tried. I will most likely replace them when the new ones come in and just set these away just incase.

I just want to say even though I broke the boom bracket on my tractor I do not look at this as a defect with tractor just op error. This tractor is a bear. I have been able to get so many jobs done that have been on hold till I could lineup help. Now I get them done by myself.

 

[Coyote machine]

If it were me I'd leave the ugh ones on and swap out if you ever trade up or sell the unit.

 

[dfkrug]

Has anyone done this or heard of anyone doing it?

I bent mine, but not nearly as badly as you did.

It was user error in my case, too. They are plenty strong enough if
used properly.

I was changing out my forks for my 4n1 bkt in the middle of a rain storm.
I needed to clean up a mudslide on my road, and I mounted the 4
brackets wrong. They got distorted the first time I went to use the
FEL. I cut a relief notch and welded them up.

I am curious.....what does Kioti charge for these brackets? New ones
would look nicer, but I don't need them.

 

[jsmk]

I am curious.....what does Kioti charge for these brackets? New ones
would look nicer, but I don't need them.

i agree they are tough enough. The cost they quoted me was $38 and change each, so the left side just under $80.

 

[Bill McGonigle]

Just to add a datapoint: I've got the exact same failure on mine, but on the right side. I didn't notice a missing pin, but I'll have a look tomorrow as I wasn't looking for that.

I doubt I could get them welded for under $80 around here, but if I did, the local welder would beef them up for me. So, the question that remains is whether I want these to fail sacrificially or not. $38 isn't that bad for a tractor part - I'd hate to wreck something much more expensive in the interest of saving a cheap part.

I'm still wondering what I did that caused them to break. I think I was just loading firewood on the day they broke (I didn't notice until later).

 

[dfkrug]

I'd hate to wreck something much more expensive in the interest of saving a cheap part.

And you can not trace the failure to a pin coming out?

I would lean towards beefing these links up as in the photo above. If
one comes out and you do not notice right away, you can really twist
and bend other stuff quickly.

But, more important are the retaining pins, which are not so good. That
is awful close to the dirt. Someone should come up with a better
retaining method and post.

 

[Alien]

oops posted on wrong thread..

 

[Coyote machine]

Sacrifice the 1/2 moon brackets instead of something like a cylinder or loader arm. Racking the loader by pushing too hard on a rock with one corner of the bucket can do damage if you're moving too fast or don't release pressure soon enough.

 

[VictorW]

If you need a weak link anywhere, I too would sacrifice the cheapest part.

 

[rimshot]

I had my dealer go ahead and beef up the bucket along with install a method to mount a couple pallet bucket forks and a trailer mover I could add to the front bucket. My dealer (Michigan Iron) is a genius at this stuff. Basically, this reinforcing attachment serves to make the tractor capable with the forks and trailer mover attachments and the reinforcing is secondary as a proactive move that does not hurt a thing. The pallot forks and trailer mover work great and as a reinforcement method it ranks up as a pretty good move also.

I'm not expecting trouble anytime soon with the FEL bucket on this CK20.