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

 

[joecdeere]

Solution Summary: Shim Kit Available to Correct 400 Series Mast Claw Looseness on the Mounting Frame

Publication Date: Dec 18 2002
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**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**

Complaint or Symptom: The loader is loose on the mounting frames. A gap is created through heavy usage between the square tubing of the mounting frame and the front pad of the claw retainer of the mast.


Problem or Situation: The contact surface area is reduced. Also refer to DTAC solution 43992 for loader mounting frame and mast adjustment.



Solution: Shim kit AW32306 is available from service parts beginning February 15th, 2003 to weld to the mounting frame to eliminate the gap and prevent looseness. Instruction W49388 is included in the kit.
******************************************************************
############################################################

Solution Number: 43992

Solution Summary: LOADER DOES NOT ATTACH TOTRACTOR PROPERLY

Publication Date: Sep 7 2004


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**


Complaint or Symptom:

Loader does not attach to tractor properly. Loader mast is loose on mounting frame or front frame does not engage mounting bracket.

Problem or Situation:

Loader frames have not been adjusted correctly during installation.

Solution:

Using the following procedure, adjust frames to remove looseness in mounts or to allow front frame to engage bracket.

Detach loader from tractor.
Loosen rear frame hardware and rotate top of mounting frames toward rear of tractor.
Tighten hardware to specified torque.
Install loader onto tractor, allowing loader mast to rotate rear frames as loader rotates into position.
If masts remain loose on frames, repeat procedure, loosening hardware at mast arm to front frame connection to allow masts to rotate further on rear frames.

Additional adjustment may be obtained by enlarging rear frame bolt holes to 19 mm (.75 in.).

Also, slots in front latch AW29199 or AW29755 (depending on loader model) may be elongated toward rear of loader to allow further rotation of masts on frames.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

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

Your

- why should this have to be done with only 425 hrs.

I was wondering what do you lift with your FEL?

Can you shake both sides by hand?

I don't know why yours is that bad with only 425 hrs. and mine is
just a little loose, only on one side with about 802 hrs.

 

[Chuck4310]

JD4300; The loader is used for snow plowing, bucket work with toothbar and with forks for logging. I am also suprised at how fast it is wearing. Both towers can be swayed back and forth.

Joec; Thanks for the info on the shim kits. It's probably going to happen one day.

Meantime I've come up with a very temporary fix for the winter using Simpson gusset plates. I bent them as shown in the pics and slid them into place bending the "tabs" over to hold them in place.
I only tried this on the front claw as these are the worst. I fit two in the right side and one in the left.
The loader stays on most of the time so the plates should stay ok.
It's too cold out to try it out today but I'll let you know how it works out.

I could only fit four pics on this post so I will do the rest on the next.

Chuck

 

[Chuck4310]

Here are the rest.

Please keep sending suggestions. Thanks.

Chuck

 

[sixdogs]

Solution Summary: Shim Kit Available to Correct 400 Series Mast Claw Looseness on the Mounting Frame



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**


Complaint or Symptom:

Loader does not attach to tractor properly. Loader mast is loose on mounting frame or front frame does not engage mounting bracket.

Problem or Situation:

Loader frames have not been adjusted correctly during installation.

Solution:

Using the following procedure, adjust frames to remove looseness in mounts or to allow front frame to engage bracket.

Detach loader from tractor.
Loosen rear frame hardware and rotate top of mounting frames toward rear of tractor.
Tighten hardware to specified torque.
Install loader onto tractor, allowing loader mast to rotate rear frames as loader rotates into position.
If masts remain loose on frames, repeat procedure, loosening hardware at mast arm to front frame connection to allow masts to rotate further on rear frames.

Additional adjustment may be obtained by enlarging rear frame bolt holes to 19 mm (.75 in.).

Also, slots in front latch AW29199 or AW29755 (depending on loader model) may be elongated toward rear of loader to allow further rotation of masts on frames.

There is a shim kit for my JD790. Has anyone actually done this or used one?

 

[Chuck4310]

Update.

Well, I plowed last night and today. We got about 18".
The temporary shims took A LOT of the slop out of the loader operation. I was pleased and a bit suprised. They held their position just fine with vigorous use of the loader.
I am going to pick up a slightly thicker gusset plate and try and get it down to just one on the right side.

Chuck

 

[AKfish]

Update.

Well, I plowed last night and today. We got about 18".
The temporary shims took A LOT of the slop out of the loader operation. I was pleased and a bit suprised. They held their position just fine with vigorous use of the loader.
I am going to pick up a slightly thicker gusset plate and try and get it down to just one on the right side.

Chuck

Good news! Any talk with your dealer on the factory fix? Or is it too spendy?

AKfish

 

[Chuck4310]

Last time I spoke with the dealer, he said that they could send their road service up to look at it and possibly install the shim kit here. He suggested I wait until there is another call in my area for the travelling mechanic to save on $.
I've had them here for warrantee work in the past several times and they are good.
We have not talked $ yet. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Chuck

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Last time I spoke with the dealer, he said that they could send their road service up to look at it and possibly install the shim kit here. He suggested I wait until there is another call in my area for the travelling mechanic to save on $.
I've had them here for warrantee work in the past several times and they are good.
We have not talked $ yet. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Chuck

Hope you can get it fixed, if you could find out from the dealer

why it got that loose, would really appreciate the information.

 

[Chuck4310]

Just thought I would give you an update.
I found some thicker flat stock and changed the length and bends slightly to hold in position better. Works better with one piece of material on each side.
It also seems to have reduced the gaps in the other contact points.
This "fix" is only temporary, but it sure has tightened things up. I've been moving a lot of snow lately, and I can feel the difference.

Chuck