sideways slant on tractor bucket

[juniperhills]

While clearing snow on a bush road with my 5205 john deere, I hit a rock with the left front corner of the loader bucket. The bucket now slants about 1.5 inches down on the left side (from the driver's seat). There are no cracks in the paint on loader arms or on bucket attachment points. There is also no obvious sign of bending of any part of loader arms or the bucket itself. I have tried to pressure the left corner up by lifting the tractor up on a log with the left corner. I have also tried to pressure the right corner down by applying lift to the corner against a large rock or tree trunk. I have also tried hitting the right corner against a rock in an attempt to lower the right corner to the same level as the left corner. So far no luck.

Does someone have a suggestion on how to level the bucket front edge to allow level plowing.

Thx. jp

 

[devildog1]

What I would do is cycle the hydraulics of the FEL, lift up to full height and curl and un-curl bucket. If this does not work to level bucket look closely somethings bent. Sorry.
DevilDog

 

[Deadman]

I'd assume the bucket is bent.

 

[aeblank]

Either mounting points/bolts slipped, or something is bent. Start at the tractor on a level pad and measure. Are both sides of the floor the same measurement? move forward measuring until it starts being different.

Mine also seems bent a bit. About the only thing to do is tweak it in the other direction to get it level. It's on my someday list.

 

[oosik]

Another thought. I lift some pretty heavy objects with my grapple, so the front tire pressure is at the manufacturers recommended max. Last year I noticed the grapple slanted a bit - not much - but on a level surface it was noticeable. I drove myself almost nuts, looking for something loose, bent etc, etc. Then I noticed when I lifted the grapple - one front tire was "squished out" much more than the other.

For whatever reason one front tire was at 30 psi, the other was 15 psi. Put your tractor on a hard surface - measure from the ground to the center of the front axle, on each side. If they are not the same - check the tire pressure.

 

[ovrszd]

This is a common issue.

Hook the right corner of the bucket under an immoveable object and lift. The bucket should sit level, or something close to it afterward. Very common for FEL frames to flex enough that one end of the bucket might be high if measured under perfectly level circumstances. Don't worry about it at all. Just try to not use either end of the bucket to do a difficult task.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Another thought. I lift some pretty heavy objects with my grapple, so the front tire pressure is at the manufacturers recommended max. Last year I noticed the grapple slanted a bit - not much - but on a level surface it was noticeable. I drove myself almost nuts, looking for something loose, bent etc, etc. Then I noticed when I lifted the grapple - one front tire was "squished out" much more than the other.

For whatever reason one front tire was at 30 psi, the other was 15 psi. Put your tractor on a hard surface - measure from the ground to the center of the front axle, on each side. If they are not the same - check the tire pressure.

A low rear tire can cause the same thing.

Ron

 

[ovrszd]

A low rear tire can cause the same thing.

Ron

Yeah, more so. Actually front tire pressure variances can't cause bucket tilt unless the bucket is directly fastened to the front axle and oscillates with it.

 

[Bigshooter81]

This is a common issue.

Hook the right corner of the bucket under an immoveable object and lift. The bucket should sit level, or something close to it afterward. Very common for FEL frames to flex enough that one end of the bucket might be high if measured under perfectly level circumstances. Don't worry about it at all. Just try to not use either end of the bucket to do a difficult task.

I've experienced this several times.

 

[TO_Bud]

I would measure the bucket top corner to opposite lower corner in an X pattern and compare measurements. If they are not the same measurement then the bucket is out of square. If they are the same the bucket is good and something else is skewed. If they are different measurements you can use a turnbuckle type chain binder on the longer diagonal to pull the 2 corners together measuring while you go. You'll have to drill a hole in each corner for an Eye-bolt or temporarily weld in tabs on the bucket to attach your chain and binder to.

 

[bspeedy]

Lots of good suggestions here. If you have some sort of SSQA or JD quick attach, detach the bucket on a flat surface and look at it independent of the loader. Then, sit the loader on the ground on the same even surface. As the other guys have said, it's just a matter of isolating the issue and going from there. Good luck.

 

[ovrszd]

I'll add this. Be careful about tweaking things independently of each other. In other words use caution if trying to twist the bucket or the FEL frame with the bucket removed. You may create a situation where your QA bucket is no longer easy to hook/unhook.

 

[bspeedy]

I'll add this. Be careful about tweaking things independently of each other. In other words use caution if trying to twist the bucket or the FEL frame with the bucket removed. You may create a situation where your QA bucket is no longer easy to hook/unhook.

:

:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Real good point, ovrszd.

 

[GManBart]

It's unlikely that the bucket is bent. The round torque tube that goes from left to right arm is intended to bend/break before you do damage to the loader arms. A little twist to that because of an uneven load is a very definite possibility. The fix is still using something secure to tweak things back into place...chain from the high side corner to something on the ground, etc will usually do the trick.

 

[Xfaxman]

juniperhills, does your loader have this style John Deere Quick Attach?