Ever bent a SSQA lever? I can't figure out how I did it!

[SmallChange]

One of my quick attach latch levers is now bent. It looks like I operated the machine with the lever open and sticking straight up, and then caught it against something, driving it against the top of the implement and bending it over that edge. The lever is a zig zag, and the bend is near the middle of the center portion. I added a photo -- it's parked with pallet forks on, and they're pointed straight down.

But I can't figure out how I did it! I can't even figure out how I would do it if I wanted to. Maybe run with it sticking up and try to catch it against a sturdy overhead beam while backing up? I've never moved the machine with the levers up, except when unmounting and mounting attachments.

I think I want to fix it. With the bucket mounted, the end of the lever doesn't clear the bucket, though I can force it over that obstacle by hand. Maybe I can replace it, or maybe I can bend it back, though the way it appears to have been bent wouldn't work in the opposite direction, as there's nothing sturdy on the opposite side of the bend (like there was when I apparently did it). I think if I took a torch to it to heat the spot I want to bend back, I'd burn off the plating and it would rust there.

Can anybody tell me how I might have done this?

Thanks!

 

[Hay Dude]

“Can anybody tell me how I might have done this?”


When you hooked up one of your attachments, you accidentally got the locking lever stuck under the cross bar of the attachment, bending the handle back.
Happens to me once in a while.

 

[LouNY]

Just get a large bar and pry it back up,
heating will make it much easier.
Just get a can of galvanizing paint if worried about the metal appearance.

 

[Torvy]

You ate too many Wheaties?

Thanks for bring this up. Yet another thing I need to put on my checklist.

 

[AndyMA]

I've bent a few. Pain until you fix them

 

[SmallChange]

get a large bar and pry it back up

I can do that, but bending it in this direction will try to bend the pivot bolt and the hinge. Any suggestions on creating a point behind it to bend it against, like the top of the mount must have been in front of it in the first place?

Glad to hear this isn't a unique screwup....

 

[RustyA]

Use a pry bar against the forks to get it off the forks. Then slip a piece of pipe over it and gently bend it into place.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just get a 4-5’ metal pipe that fits over the lever and bend it back.
Easy Peezy

 

[SmallChange]

I did bend it back, which wasn't hard at all. But I was worried about where it'd bend, given that going the other way there's no fulcrum over which it bends.

I cut a piece of 4x4 to wedge between the point of the bend, and the cross bar of the loader. It worked pretty well, the lever mostly bending where it was pushing on the end of the 4x4. There's a bit of waviness to the shape, but it's functionally what it once was again.

Thanks!

 

[big bubba]

you'll do fine, seems to me an easy fix. actually imho the real problem to look for is if one lever through use becomes detached while the other is engaged, leading to the cross torque tube being twisted, therefore the mounts become misaligned. happened twice to me, my suggestion is to bungee the levers in closed position to prevent that
you lucked out imho with only a bent lever, happens to the best of us

 

[mini14]

Happens to me with the forks on my skidsteer

 

[Hay Dude]

Another reason to go to Euro/Global attach.

A better, stronger system with less chance of bending those levers. I highly recommend if you do a lot of attach/detach like we do.

 

[ptsg]

Another reason to go to Euro/Global attach.

A better, stronger system with less chance of bending those levers. I highly recommend if you do a lot of attach/detach like we do.

And the attachment won't come off if you look at it the wrong way.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

A general rule is that "if it bent cold, it'll straighten cold." Biggest problem is not bending something else while you're fixing one problem. Sounds like you took care of that. Any time you can remove the bent piece and not endanger any other part, you're better off to do that. Almost always worth the time in the long run.

 

[SmallChange]

Any time you can remove the bent piece and not endanger any other part, you're better off to do that.

Absolutely!

The trouble was, I didn't have anything else as sturdy as the tractor to anchor it....

 

[lpakiz]

A technique I use is to put ALMOST adequate force on, for example, the bent lever via the 4-5 foot pipe suggested above. Put enough force on the pipe to almost bend it back. Then you need to add additional force EXACTLY where you want the bend to occur. Only takes a LITTLE BIT more force, added to the force you have already applied, to effect the bend in the spot you want it to occur.

This works to bend hooks, loops, hoops, etc. from rods. Use a mandrel in your vise, a bit smaller than your desired radius, put a pipe or strong friend on the open end of the rod, apply force, but follow the rod with your thumb or fingers, applying a bit of additional force right next to the mandrel as it winds around the mandrel.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I took mine off and put it in the press.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I only bent a couple hundred of those. Not experienced enough to advise.

 

[5030]

Bent mine a few times. Curling the SSQA forward too far when hooking up tends to put the levers in to the bucket and tweak them.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Being mildly absent minded, I painted the handles on mine "don't forget-um dummy" orange. It can be pretty easy to miss an errant black handle against a field of black. Now they are like a flag waving, "you forgot something dummy."