Screwed up loader arms with grapple

[s219]

I'm in the minority here. I think the tube is only there to align the QA when hooking/unhooking.

Reinforcing it will transfer the stress to the loader frame if something goes wrong, rather than simply twisting the "fuse".

No you are right and I am in agreement. Deere uses a solid rod with shear pins on many of their loaders. If that doesn't explain it right there, not sure what else to say. There are many other designs that have a plate and don't need a timing rod, but when you see separate left/right attachment ears with a rather wispy looking tube or rod, it's just there to keep the two sides in sync when there is no attachment. The attachment itself is intended to provide the structure to handle loads, not the timing rod.

In cases where there is a pin-on bucket, there won't be a timing rod at all since they assume the bucket is always there. In fact if you look at the way Kubota does it, everything is identical up to the "pin-on" part of the loader, and either a bucket pins on, or the QA ears / timing rod arrangement pin on. The loader arms themselves do not have any reliance on the lack of or presence of a timing rod for structure, therefore it's not something that would need to be beefed up when there is one.

 

[jcummins]

I don't know why you'd have to if it'll twist back where you want. The bucket/grapple/fork/spear on the front will shore everything up, and if it seems to want to go back to its memory, you can always address it then. Just a spot of bad luck having one of your QA's open on you caused it, and so long as that wasn't duplicated...

Good point

 

[Grateful11]

I always hammer down my pins on the QA,using a long rod and two pound hammer.

We've never needed to do that but have had the wedges get so tight in the attachment we had to put a load on the bucket edge to get the wedges out of their slots. Usually after doing a lot heavy digging of decades old dirt piles in the woods where they piled debris when clearing pastures who knows when. The stumps and debris have long since rotted away leaving nice clean topsoil.

 

[sdef]

I don't know why you'd have to if it'll twist back where you want. The bucket/grapple/fork/spear on the front will shore everything up, and if it seems to want to go back to its memory, you can always address it then. Just a spot of bad luck having one of your QA's open on you caused it, and so long as that wasn't duplicated...

My thought also. Originally I was going to post that maybe the OP could use some tacked on angle to strengthen it. But the more posts I read, I came to the conclusion that in my mind, that tube is probably primarily used just for alignment of the arms and may be the intentional weak link in the design. I would far rather deal with the current problem than deal with subsequent damaged loader arms.

 

[ovrszd]

In cases where there is a pin-on bucket, there won't be a timing rod at all since they assume the bucket is always there. In fact if you look at the way Kubota does it, everything is identical up to the "pin-on" part of the loader, and either a bucket pins on, or the QA ears / timing rod arrangement pin on. The loader arms themselves do not have any reliance on the lack of or presence of a timing rod for structure, therefore it's not something that would need to be beefed up when there is one.

Yep. I converted my Brother's tractor from pin on bucket to QA. The QA attachment for the FEL pinned directly to the system where it previously pinned to the bucket. Then I built the QA plate on the bucket to accept the QA on the FEL.

 

[ovrszd]

I would far rather deal with the current problem than deal with subsequent damaged loader arms.

Yep. That's why I referred to it as a "fuse".

 

[jcummins]

Well guys....I've been using this twisted torque tube or timing rod....for awhile. It's getting progressively more difficult to get the fel plates into the attachments. Had a dickins of a time when putting the bucket on last time. Always have to torque the attachment by pressure against a tree on the lower right corner so I can get the pin to lock in.

SO...in the morning, I cut the tube and get it right. I've repeatedly tried to twist it back some more, and today broken a pipe wrench smack bad in two....so going to cut it in the morning.

 

[sdef]

Yep. I would also. Can't stand to have issues with my equipment that slow me down and/or cause aggravation. I need things to work when I need to work.

 

[Sawdustsmb]

Stick a block of wood between one quick attach plate and the loader arms and use the loader hydraulics to twist it back

 

[ovrszd]

I doubt that would work. The hydraulics aren't wjat twisted it in the first place.