430 Loader getting looser

[Chuck4310]

Hello folks.
I'm new to the site so please forgive me if this does'nt come out right.
I've got the 430 loader on my tractor and it gets used a lot.
The attachment at the base of the tower is not as tight as it was 425 hrs.ago. There are now spaces between the "claw" and the square mount. This results in a very loose/sloppy loader situation.
The spaces are hard to measure because I don't have a perfectly flat spot from which to start.
I've noticed that there is no wear on the square mount at all. Harder metal I assume.
The dealer has reccomended a shim kit. It would require shop time which = 50 mi. of trucking.
Has anyone dealt with this problem on their own? I was thinking about some flat stock slid in the gaps and secured somehow. I have very limited experience with my old Lincoln tombstone welder. ( basically teaching myself )
I've attached some pics.
Thanks

 

[mfreund]

I am interested in responses because my 430 loader does the same thing. Anyone know the best way to tighten it up??

 

[dirtworksequip]

Probably the easiest way would be to build up the box section where the contact area of the mast latch hits with some welding passes.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[KevPH1]

Adding/welding flat steel bar stock under (BOTH sides) of the support frame struts. The flat steel bar will take up the sloppy fit and will give you a uniform repair.

Much faster than the weld buildup repair.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Hello folks.
I'm new to the site so please forgive me if this does'nt come out right.
I've got the 430 loader on my tractor and it gets used a lot.
The attachment at the base of the tower is not as tight as it was 425 hrs.ago. There are now spaces between the "claw" and the square mount. This results in a very loose/sloppy loader situation.
The spaces are hard to measure because I don't have a perfectly flat spot from which to start.
I've noticed that there is no wear on the square mount at all. Harder metal I assume.
The dealer has reccomended a shim kit. It would require shop time which = 50 mi. of trucking.
Has anyone dealt with this problem on their own? I was thinking about some flat stock slid in the gaps and secured somehow. I have very limited experience with my old Lincoln tombstone welder. ( basically teaching myself )
I've attached some pics.
Thanks

Is yours on both sides or just one?

I am interested in responses because my 430 loader does the same thing. Anyone know the best way to tighten it up??

Is yours both sides or just one side?



Mine is starting to get a little loose but just on one side. I move travel trailers around alot some weighing 8500lb. and been clearing off some property, cutting trees and taking the backhoe digging out the stumps and the taking the FEL and picking up large stumps.

I have noticed mine for about three months now, but so far mine has (NO GAPS) just loose a little only on one side.

I'm glad someone has posted this, i will keep a close eye on mine and i don't haul my equipment to NO JD DEALERS, i have about three dealers within 75 miles of me, one just 20 miles and none of them knows what there doing.

Thanks for posting

 

[mfreund]

Mine is looser on the left side, it rattles when going over bumps. I wondered of the loader was twisted causing it to engage tighter on the right?? When the weather gets better I am going to experiment to see if I can twist it??

 

[Chuck4310]

Thanks for the replies folks.
Dirt; The "claw" section has four contact points. Are you suggesting running four beads on each support bracket. If so, and I hate to ask a welding question here, but the steel on the bracket must be much harder, what welding techniques do you suggest?

Kev; How would you reccommend securing the flat stock?

M; It seems to be loose on both sides.

JD4300; Mine started out that way. A small gap ( 1/16-1/8" in the bracket )translates into a large amount of slop on the far end.

The pictures don't show the gaps well. When stress is off the loader,I can grasp the top of each tower and shake it side to side easily. I don't think it is in danger of slipping off the bracket, but I'd rather not push it and find out.

I'm suprised that this has gotten so bad so quickly. It seems that since I put the toothbar on and dug a lot of earth, it has accelerated the wear & tear.
As I said, the loader see's a lot of work.

Chuck

 

[AKfish]

IMO - running a bead along the base contact points could easily result in significant uneveness and the "cure" could be just as bad (maybe worse) than the problem.

The insertion of a shim or piece of flat stock would resolve the problem of uneven material filling the wear gap.. but, tacking (I think TIG would be best here) the shims in place; you'd have to pay close attention to the amount of material extending into the open area that rotates when the loader is removed and reattached. You don't want a problem of the loader mast hanging up on the base.

I'd be real curious to learn how your dealer plans to take care of this problem. You mentioned a "shim fix" that was advocated by the local dealer. Did he fully explain what that means?

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[Chuck4310]

AK; Evidently, there is a shim kit available from JD. The dealer explained that , due to loader geometry, it is critical to have the machine on a level surface to determine where to shim. There are four points of contact on each side and each wears differently. ( this is the part where my head starts spinning ). Their procedure is to weld the shims in place.
My problem is why should this have to be done with only 425 hrs.?
I remember looking at literature from JD, before I bought my tractor, explaining how the loaders are engineered for each unit and rigorously tested.
Seems to me they should last a lot longer without this annoying problem.

Chuck

 

[disco]

Hi,
I have had the same problem. A while back I came accross a JD site that had a service bulletin on the 430 because of wear. They do have the shim kits.
Paul