stupid question - bucket removal

[chsdiyer]

Hello, I have an XG3025H and for the life of me, getting the bucket off is a huge pain. I've only been able to position it one time where I could pull up the levers by hand. Otherwise I have to hit them with something heave to get them to unlatch. I'm assuming that's not the best way to do this, but what am I missing here? I've tried ever angling of the bucket both on the ground and in the air. I have no trouble getting the pallet forks detached. I didn't see any guide in the user manual so I'm guessing this is something only I could make difficult.

 

[alexsbuddy]

Make sure the moving parts of the latch joints are greased as well as the latch pin that engages the bucket. Also, I have found it is best to line up the quick connect to get under the top points first, lift the bucket slightly off the ground, and then curl the top of the bucket back towards you. This causes the bottom of the bucket to fully seat in the right spot, and the you can operate the latches with ease. Removal is just the reverse. Hope that helps.

 

[chsdiyer]

Thanks! I'll give that a try tomorrow. I have no issues getting it on. I think lately most of my tries have been with the bucket on the ground thinking that would take pressure off the pins, but now I realize that make no sense. :duh: I need to re-grease tomorrow as well. The dealer just told me about 50 hour maintenance. Someone else informed me I should be greasing the pins every use (manual says every 10 hours). The quick attach lever's grease mostly flew off the first time i tried getting it off. My approach then was to lift the handle quickly and let the spring action drive the force to work the pin out. :ashamed:Thanks again.

 

[alexsbuddy]

It's definitely a learning curve, but gets easier with practice. In the beginning I struggled as well, but now can do it lickity-split. As for greasing....you can never grease too much, but not necessary after each use. Just keep all moving and rubbing pieces well lubricated. Have fun with your bucket....I use mine all of the time for many, many different uses. It really is indispensable on my farm.

 

[Industrial Toys]

One thing I can tell you for sure. It's never as easy as in the brochure!

 

[JerryK]

Some QA attachments have ' more precise ' or slightly off tolerance slots in the bottom that your tractors lock pins slide into to lock the attachment in place. If you notice, there is usually a little side to side slop in the area that you position the QA tractor face into. Some attachments are more tolerant of you being a little off centered into this area because the pin slots are maybe a little wider in that attachment. So if you are not centered enough in that particular attachment, when you try to move the lever to lock it in place, the slot is not lined up well enough to make it a normal easy experience.... I have a set of HD forks that are real particular how well I am lined up, whilst my bucket is less caring on how well I am as a driver/operator that particular day....

 

[robertsa]

Set the bucket about waist level and curl it up just enough so that the face of the bucket that contacts the loader is tilted back towards the tractor like " / " That'll take any weight off the pins at the bottom.

Beyond that, hit the gym?

 

[chsdiyer]

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry for the slow response! I tried having lifted a little off the ground and tilted back toward the tractor. It took some pulling effort but I got it off without hitting it with something so I thought i was getting there. However last weekend I was out and working the bucket pretty hard and tried the same approach to get it off and no luck. Had to hit the handles with the back end of the ax. I guess I'll never have to worry about the bucket coming off while using it :/ I'll try to take some pictures next time to show how I have it set when I'm trying to remove it.

 

[kthompson]

See if you can find a youtube video. Help me.

 

[Doofy]

Can you chamfer the latch pin hole?

 

[stuckmotor]

When I see videos of implements being hooked up with no trouble at all, I wonder how many takes were needed to get that smooth attachment.

 

[Looking4new]

You might try putting a hunk of pipe over the handles to give yourself more leverage, rather than pounding on them.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Do you have any other items to attach to your FEL SSQA. Grapple? Stump bucket? That could give you an indication of where your problem lies.

If not, next time you attach your bucket, take a bit of time to assure that it’s centered from side to side, before locking your arms down.

Raise your bucket up high enough so you can see where the lock pins insert thru slots in bucket. Is there sufficient clearance, around the lock pins?

You should not need to beat on arms or use cheater pipes. You do need to determine what the problem is.

Is this a new tractor?

 

[4570Man]

My forks came unlatched on one side and bent the SSQA plate on the tractor. Now I have to lift up on something to get it to latch back.

 

[rgr33]

The quick attach on my g3033 got noticeably easier the more I used it.
Just make sure the pins are lined up with the bottom slot, and a little lube helps too.

 

[flyerdan]

Take the bucket off and put it where you can look closely at the mounting side. Check for a stick or rock stuck somewhere that might change the geometry just enough. If everything is clean, measure the distance between the SSQA pins and then measure the holes in the bucket they go into. If the measurement is correct, check for plumb; that is, it's square in relation to the SSQA geometry. It could be off just enough that one of the holes binds, and just needs hogged out a bit with a die grinder.

 

[davisgary2]

Set the bucket about waist level and curl it up just enough so that the face of the bucket that contacts the loader is tilted back towards the tractor like " / " That'll take any weight off the pins at the bottom.

Beyond that, hit the gym?

Don't ever take the bucket on or off at waist level. I was putting mine on at waist level and it came off the mounts. OUCH !!!! five broken toes and a lot of tissue damage.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Sorry to learn of your injury davisgary2. What were you trying to support bucket with?

I store my bucket, Grapple, tree / post puller, stump bucket, etc. on stacked pallets to make it easier to line up FEL SSQA with the equipment. The locking arms close easily, with one hand, on every item. I line up, lift up, curl back, and lock. To unhook just reverse the steps.

 

[Doofy]

Ouch! Great safety reminder! Certainly hope you healed well. That looked soooo painful!

 

[chsdiyer]

Doofy - not sure I want to go making any changes just yet, even if it is a slight shave or so.

Looking4new - yeah, a pipe would probably be smarter than banging. thanks

rlgustafson - tractor is new. About 20 hours on it and I've pretty much had this problem all along. Nothing else in on the bucket and the pallet forks I have I can get on and off with no trouble. Because of storage i usually have to store the tractor with the bucket on the forks so every time I'm done with it, i have to take the bucket off and put the forks back on.

Davis- thanks for the safety reminder and real sorry you had to go through that!

I'm pretty sure everything is lined up properly but I'll take a closer look next time and also look for ware. It goes on with no trouble. I found a picture on my phone from the last time I tried taking it off. That is the height and the angle I was trying.