Reusing parts after a fire, #1, the loader

[Garrik]

Guys, unfortunately my Kubota MX6000 burned in the recent CZU Lightening Complex fire near Santa Cruz, CA.

The loader was effected, obviously, but does not appear to have been badly damaged. It is covered in soot and the hoses appear pretty degraded, but all of the pieces are intact, nothing melted.

Does anyone have real world experience with trying to recover and reuse something like a FEL after it was on a tractor that burned? Any guess as to whether it is worth bothering to try to recover it?

My guess is that each cylinder would need to be rebuilt (new fluid, new seals) and all of the hoses replaced at the absolute minimum.

Thanks!

 

[jaydee325]

It really depends on how intense the heat was.

Many years ago, I was a service tech at a John Deere construction equipment dealership. A 350 wide track dozer came in that was burned from the firewall back. Everything forward, including engine electrical was fine. So, insurance said they would repair vice replace.

When I got done removing smelly sooty parts, I had 2 frame rails with the transmission/differential cases sitting on stands. The transmission gear cluster appeared to have been baked in very hot oil. I did a file check on several gears and could get some cut but the metal seemed hardened to me, but insurance said use the gear cluster. I was not in agreement with this, but the insurance company was in charge!

After over $30,000 in parts and labor, the owner picked up the dozer. About 2 weeks later, he was back with a hung up transmission. Upon disassembly, I found one of the gears in the main cluster had shattered. Another $7000 in parts and the owner had pretty much a new dozer from the firewall back!

Bottom line, heat can do a lot of damage not readily apparent. If you want to try and use the loader because you can get it for a great salvage price, then go for it. If insurance is involved, get a new loader and get anything else affected by heat replaced.

 

[FTG-05]

I'm so sad to hear about this.

 

[CoyPatton]

It really depends on how intense the heat was.

Many years ago, I was a service tech at a John Deere construction equipment dealership. A 350 wide track dozer came in that was burned from the firewall back. Everything forward, including engine electrical was fine. So, insurance said they would repair vice replace.

When I got done removing smelly sooty parts, I had 2 frame rails with the transmission/differential cases sitting on stands. The transmission gear cluster appeared to have been baked in very hot oil. I did a file check on several gears and could get some cut but the metal seemed hardened to me, but insurance said use the gear cluster. I was not in agreement with this, but the insurance company was in charge!

After over $30,000 in parts and labor, the owner picked up the dozer. About 2 weeks later, he was back with a hung up transmission. Upon disassembly, I found one of the gears in the main cluster had shattered. Another $7000 in parts and the owner had pretty much a new dozer from the firewall back!

Bottom line, heat can do a lot of damage not readily apparent. If you want to try and use the loader because you can get it for a great salvage price, then go for it. If insurance is involved, get a new loader and get anything else affected by heat replaced.

My opinion on the FEL cylinders, most cylinder outer walls are thin enough that very little heat would create enough metal fatigue, that replacement would be the only way to proceed. You posted a pictured on another post and I have a lengthly comment there. But in looking at that photo, wheels appear to be deformed, and rear fender has definite heat stressors showing. Perhaps stuff on the front of the loader may be ok—these are not shown in the photo I saw. Mt concern on the loader is what we can not see at all in that other post photo, the tractor side of the loader that would have more heat exposure.

 

[dodge man]

I would not use it if it was exposed any heat at all. Sorry to hear about this, hopefully insurance has you covered.

 

[ovrszd]

I had a catastrophic shop fire 10 years ago.

Your description tells me your FEl is usable. I salvaged wrenches that had the plating tarnished.

Easy test is what I called the hammer test. Hit the object with a ball peen hammer. You can tell by the sound whethers it's lost it's tensile strength.

If the hoses survived, the cylinders and frame are fine.

 

[4570Man]

He’s got another thread with pictures. It burned until it went out. No hoses survived.

 

[ovrszd]

Hate when members do that.... Thanks 4570. I'm out.

 

[Xfaxman]

This thread is about the loader. The other thread is about the rest of the tractor.

 

[Garrik]

Sorry guys, ran out of time this morning.

If you are up for taking a minute to look, there are pics in this folder.

The hoses survived, but are distorted. I will try the hammer test, but my sense is that the structural steel is not the problem. Question is whether, as a member pointed out, the hydraulic cylinders need to be replaced or just resealed.

 

[Sportsman762]

How is the chrome on the cylinders? I would be concerned that the heat has annealed the rods and the tubes. Also all the brass bushings are probably shot. Minimum would be rebushing the loader and resealing the cylinders. The valve is toast, tolerances are too tight for it to have survived without distortion. It might be salvageable, but it is a risk.

 

[bcp]

Keep the bucket. Extend the sides and make it into a leaf/trash/high volume light-duty bucket.

Bruce

 

[crazyal]

If the paint is badly burnt I wouldn't use it. If the paint is just covered in soot I would.

 

[4570Man]

Here’s the picture from his other thread. This thing didn’t just burn a little bit.

 

[dusty3030]

This thing is scrap. Was it or was it not insured?

 

[CoyPatton]

Having watch the video that was posted by the OP, I personally would not attempt to salvage any part of the tractor or loader with the exceptions of the SSQA, bucket, QA and box blade.
While he rubbed on a couple of the cylinder rods, and the chrome looked ok where he rubbed, my concern for them would be in the cylinder portions and distortions of the tube from heat. Personally, I would always fear a weak point in metal on the loader and the expense of replacing so many parts to refurbish the loader from bushings and pins, to mounts to bolts and the time involved to clean it up, and paint ad well as replace parts.....

 

[Rebeldad1]

Put some hoses on it and give it a try. If uncertain pull the cylinders and take them in to a hydraulic shop to be resealed and checked out.

 

[ovrszd]

Put some hoses on it and give it a try. If uncertain pull the cylinders and take them in to a hydraulic shop to be resealed and checked out.

Yes..

 

[Mat4644]

This thing got very hot. No way you'd be able to just slap hoses on and give it a try. The crusty hoses still in place are an illusion. How do you burn 4 tires and the fuel tank and dash off and not get extremely hot. Cylinders would need to be completely disassembled, cleaned, evaluated and totally rebuilt. Not worth the risk and future hassles. It's either yard art now or weigh it for scrap.

 

[PILOON]

I scanned the photos and it looked to me that some red paint still showed on the bucket.
If so then the bucket possibly escaped high heat and would be usable.
But seeing the overall photo I agree with scrapping the rest.