B2601 design flaws

[Lilguy]

Have 6 hours on my B2601, the one thing since new is the frt loader bucket is not parallel to the ground. It about a inch or two higher on the left then the right when off the ground. Lies flat when on the ground, hits the asphalt with a thunk/thunk when lowered. My old L2250 was still parallel after 32 years.
Alot of connecting/pivot points that could add up to this difference. Seems hole drilling and welding jigs are out of square possibly.The Issue this causes is using the bucket as a grader blade, one side is higher and the grade is tilted. Input please, and what additional problems should I be aware of, Thanks.

 

[wagne223]

Not a design flaw more like a misaligned bracket or pivot mount.

That is why they come with a warranty.....

Unless you were treating this B like it was your L and overloaded one side of the loader and tweaked something.

With 6 hours.......start by contacting your dealer.

 

[oldballs]

There have been several threads on this same subject. Mine was like that when new......about a 3/4 inch difference. Apparently it worked itself out after awhile. It's been so long ago that i forgot the scenario.

 

[s219]

First, make sure your tire pressure is set right on all four corners. I am amazed how many times this is the culprit (or contributor) when we hear this complaint. Then I might check to make sure the loader is mounted square, since this is a detachable loader and there could be some slop. If none of that helps, park on a flat surface and start making measurements until you determine what is off. Then talk with the dealer. Since the loader is a separate part this ought to be easy to resolve without blaming the tractor itself.

 

[Grandad4]

Have 6 hours on my B2601, the one thing since new is the frt loader bucket is not parallel to the ground. It about a inch or two higher on the left then the right when off the ground. Lies flat when on the ground, hits the asphalt with a thunk/thunk when lowered. My old L2250 was still parallel after 32 years.
Alot of connecting/pivot points that could add up to this difference. Seems hole drilling and welding jigs are out of square possibly.The Issue this causes is using the bucket as a grader blade, one side is higher and the grade is tilted. Input please, and what additional problems should I be aware of, Thanks.

Something is wrong but a "design flaw" isn't the first, second or third thing that comes to mind here. Tire inflation, how the loader brackets were mounted on the tractor at the dealer, something that got tweaked out of alignment, and probably a few other things are worth checking out. It's probably a simple fix, but at 6 hours, you should get your dealer on the case pronto.

 

[BX23S-1]

Not a design flaw more like a misaligned bracket or pivot mount.

That is why they come with a warranty.....

Unless you were treating this B like it was your L and overloaded one side of the loader and tweaked something.

With 6 hours.......start by contacting your dealer.

I agree with this... could be just a simple fix by just loosening up the loader mounts, re-tighten after alignment.

 

[burk1953]

I have pryed out stumps. Grubbed saplings and several other things with bucket on mine and it is straight. I wasn't paying attention and only got one side mounted. It was a pain to get back off, but I didn't tweak anything. If my B2601 can live through me, it can handle most anything.

 

[Indian MC]

My new 2601 sitting on a perfectly level concrete floor with all tires at the correct air pressure shows the FEL 1/4 " off side to side to the floor.
Which means, it would take 1/8" to correct it.
Should I be concerned with this?

 

[Grandad4]

I would ask the dealer to loosen and re-tighten the loader bracket mounts on the tractor. There is a bit of play in the mounting holes - necessary for installation - and they must be precisely aligned when the dealer does the loader installation. An easy place to get things slightly out of kilter, but also easy to fix.

 

[wagne223]

My new 2601 sitting on a perfectly level concrete floor with all tires at the correct air pressure shows the FEL 1/4 " off side to side to the floor.
Which means, it would take 1/8" to correct it.
Should I be concerned with this?

I never realized people used utility tractors for such precision work.........
I use mine more like a hammer then a scalpel......
:thumbsup:

 

[BX23S-1]

I never realized people used utility tractors for such precision work.........
I use mine more like a hammer then a scalpel......
:thumbsup:

I certainly have to agree... i think people tend to be a little bit more over the edge these days.
You could line up 10 of the exact same tractors in a row, one will have a little of this wrong, the next, a little of that wrong.

None are perfect, none are precision... it is what it is... a tractor

 

[s219]

My new 2601 sitting on a perfectly level concrete floor with all tires at the correct air pressure shows the FEL 1/4 " off side to side to the floor.
Which means, it would take 1/8" to correct it.
Should I be concerned with this?

I wouldn't worry about 1/4" myself.

 

[JWR]

My new 2601 sitting on a perfectly level concrete floor with all tires at the correct air pressure shows the FEL 1/4 " off side to side to the floor.
Which means, it would take 1/8" to correct it.
Should I be concerned with this?

Negligible.

 

[JWR]

Not a design flaw more like a misaligned bracket or pivot mount.

That is why they come with a warranty.....

Unless you were treating this B like it was your L and overloaded one side of the loader and tweaked something.

With 6 hours.......start by contacting your dealer.

Certainly agree -- don't screw with it, go straight to the dealer. Couple of comments: 1) loaders are sometimes not warranteed to the same limit as the tractor. My MF was only 1yr on the loader for example. 2) I'm very guilty of loader stress. OK, abuse. I pried a locust stump out of the ground using a MF2660 and the corner of a DL250 loader. Result was 3" or more out of level, left to right, at the bucket. After much hand wringing a knowledgeable helper at a dealer privately suggested going back to the stump and putting the other corner under it and bend it back (!!!) Risky I'm sure, but I did it and things are fine 3 years later. I mention this because I found that NONE of the prime tractor mfrs do testing or seem to have any data on loader torsion. The Univ of Nebraska lab that tests just about every tractor going also had no data and had seen no testing done on torsion. Uncharted territory.

Like others I'm guessing that loosening the mounts and retightening after leveling will probably cover your case. I doubt there is any design issue here with your's being one of thousands made over the same design. On top of that, I've eyeballed a lot of loaders and Kubota is the sturdiest looking of them all. If the loosen and retighten sequence does not do the trick, AND if you really care that much, an automotive frame straightening rig can be applied (and has been by some) to bend things to suit you. Not cheap. Also be sure to inspect carefully and make sure the welds are not broken and that all the joints look OK.

 

[Indian MC]

I wouldn't worry about 1/4" myself.

I was on another forum that had a thread concerning this.
A heavy equipment operator chimed in and said.
" The corner of the FEL that is the highest is the one you want to use to pick your nose with.
Eventually " She'll settle in..
After she does, Tighten and torque all bolts..

 

[Lilguy]

With the right front corner of the bucket touching, the left front corner is almost 2 inches off the ground, that give the double "thunk" when lowering on a hard surface. With the bucket off, the arms are within
Millimeters of each other. So the discrepancy would seem to be in the Quick Attach to bucket hookup.

 

[s219]

With the right front corner of the bucket touching, the left front corner is almost 2 inches off the ground, that give the double "thunk" when lowering on a hard surface. With the bucket off, the arms are within
Millimeters of each other. So the discrepancy would seem to be in the Quick Attach to bucket hookup.

Maybe you just need a new bucket or new QA plate. One of the two pieces sounds like it's been welded crooked somehow. Also may want to check and make sure the timing rod between the two sides of the QA plate didn't get twisted. That is a common issue but would be easy to fix. Not sure it would cause this specific problem, but worth checking anyhow.

 

[Indian MC]

WTD in this situation?
Maybe purchase a Deere?
Just kidding,, I needed to let it out

 

[Paystar]

Luckily there isn't anything level in my yard, so I'd never notice the difference, LOL.

 

[PAKraig]

Other than the bucket not being perfectly aligned, how are you with your decision to by the 2601 over the 2650?? Would you make the same decision again?