Loader Unlevel bucket

[Ford850]

A common denominator in this whole thing is the assembly location. I'd bet there is an issue with how the loader frames are aligned and tightened when installing them on the tractors. These were all assembled in either the Ohio or Florida service/assembly points after importing. It doesn't take much movement (misalignment) at a mounting point to reflect an inch or two difference at the bucket. It could be as simple as the order the bolts are tightened, if they are all tightened gradually, or how the frame is supported while assembling, to get a loader frame mounted square.

In the end, it turned out to be this simple reason that was posted months ago for the uneven loaders. This whole saga is similar to a lot of issues brought up on forums. Too often we jump to the most extreme reasons for the cause. As the old medical proverb goes... "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras". :thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

In the end, it turned out to be this simple reason that was posted months ago for the uneven loaders. This whole saga is similar to a lot of issues brought up on forums. Too often we jump to the most extreme reasons for the cause. As the old medical proverb goes... "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras". :thumbsup:

I agree with the personality of forums.

I do not agree that's it is just an assembly problem. If so we would hear of this problem in all brands. This is the first brand I've heard having this specific problem. So, it's a manfacuring problem. Too much tolerance in the location and/or size of the mounting holes.

If there is enough slack to cause 1.5-2" change in the bucket being level, the problem will reappear. And will require once again loosening and realigning the FEL mounting framework.

I've never had to do that on my loader tractor, have you?

 

[ptsg]

I agree with the personality of forums.

I do not agree that's it is just an assembly problem. If so we would hear of this problem in all brands. This is the first brand I've heard having this specific problem. So, it's a manfacuring problem. Too much tolerance in the location and/or size of the mounting holes.

If there is enough slack to cause 1.5-2" change in the bucket being level, the problem will reappear. And will require once again loosening and realigning the FEL mounting framework.

I've never had to do that on my loader tractor, have you?

It can be an assembly problem. Let's say any other brand uses a jig to mount the two loader mounts at the same time or if the person assembling the loader mounts have the thought of pushing or pulling both mounts either back or forward when tightening the bolts to make sure that both mounts are aligned right. I used the second option when I built and assembled my loader.

It's a matter of having attention to details like this, which not everyone have. This is kinda proves that whoever mounted the loader in the US doesn't have much experience dealing with tractors and this kind of stuff or just don't care at all.

It doesn't take much play in the holes to make a whole lot of difference a upfront.

 

[ovrszd]

It can be an assembly problem. Let's say any other brand uses a jig to mount the two loader mounts at the same time or if the person assembling the loader mounts have the thought of pushing or pulling both mounts either back or forward when tightening the bolts to make sure that both mounts are aligned right. I used the second option when I built and assembled my loader.

It's a matter of having attention to details like this, which not everyone have. This is kinda proves that whoever mounted the loader in the US doesn't have much experience dealing with tractors and this kind of stuff or just don't care at all.

It doesn't take much play in the holes to make a whole lot of difference a upfront.

Maybe a dealer or dealer mechanic can confirm this, but I think almost all FELs are attached to the tractors at the dealership? So across the World we literally have tens of thousands of mechanics installing FELs. This is the first time I've heard of this issue.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about crooked FELs. I'm talking about them being crooked because of how bolts were tightened.

Also, don't misunderstand, I'm not bad mouthing anyone or any brand. Just trying to apply logistics to this issue.

 

[jmc]

The mounting bolts between loader and tractor was the first response to OP's problem above, 94 posts ago.

 

[ovrszd]

The mounting bolts between loader and tractor was the first response to OP's problem above.

Yep. That would have been the first thing I tried if I were the warranty mechanic. If that didn't work I would have "tweaked" the FEL to get the amount I needed. In this case he left it with .5" twist.

My FEL right now has .5" twist to the left. I could bring it in here on my flat shop floor, loosen all of the mount bolts, and possibly correct that. But my problem is in the framework and can be corrected by "tweaking" the FEL. My mounting bolts have never been touched since assembly. I think we would have to look long and hard to find an owner here on TBN that has had to loosen their mounting bolts to fix this problem.

I'm all for it being the fix in this case. I am just concerned how a re-occurance can be prevented.

 

[snymat68]

Weld it solid! :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Weld it solid! :laughing:

I've saw threads here about owners having bolts come loose but I don't think I've ever heard of welding it on!!!

 

[Diggin It]

Maybe a dealer or dealer mechanic can confirm this, but I think almost all FELs are attached to the tractors at the dealership? So across the World we literally have tens of thousands of mechanics installing FELs. This is the first time I've heard of this issue.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about crooked FELs. I'm talking about them being crooked because of how bolts were tightened.

For the particular retail store at hand, it's my understanding they are all assembled at two or three regional locations and trucked to the stores with the FELs on. That makes it feasible that many machines could be assembled by the same employees using the same procedures.

 

[ovrszd]

For the particular retail store at hand, it's my understanding they are all assembled at two or three regional locations and trucked to the stores with the FELs on. That makes it feasible that many machines could be assembled by the same employees using the same procedures.

Now that you mention it, I think that's what I read too!!! And we are looking at numbers much, much smaller than more popular brands. So it's still feasible for them to do it that way. No local dealer base to do that work.