Check your ML108H Clamp Bolts

dieselsmoke1 · Aug 29, 2007

Maybe I'm just too heavy handed. While mounting the FEL today and cinching the clamp bolts with a 1/2" ratchet, I popped the head off one of the bolts. Closer inspection showed the bolt cracked about half way through just below the head. Checked the other bolt, also had a mark which could be a stress crack. Consider myself very lucky to have found this with a wrench and not a bump. Just thinking about all the bad stuff that could happen if one or both clamp bolts failed with a loaded bucket gives me indigestion.

bkheur · Aug 29, 2007

thanks for the info. I kinda thought the bolts on my ML106 FEL looked a little weak

. I will be checking mine tomorrow!

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Aug 30, 2007

I've replaced some of them with hardened bolts, as I have seen them let loose.

tydp · Aug 30, 2007

It may have been one of cheap bolts (like the cheap $0.39 snap pins) that are made in India.

shvl73 · Aug 30, 2007

Thanks! I think I'll be replacing mine.

AchingBack · Aug 30, 2007

dieselsmoke1 said:
Maybe I'm just too heavy handed. While mounting the FEL today and cinching the clamp bolts with a 1/2" ratchet, I popped the head off one of the bolts. Closer inspection showed the bolt cracked about half way through just below the head. Checked the other bolt, also had a mark which could be a stress crack. Consider myself very lucky to have found this with a wrench and not a bump. Just thinking about all the bad stuff that could happen if one or both clamp bolts failed with a loaded bucket gives me indigestion.

Help me here. I've looked through the loader manual, and nowhere do I see clamp bolts. Can you be more specific please? Is that really what they are called?

rback33 · Aug 30, 2007

I am sure they are talking about the bolts that go through the "hinge" that clamps the loader onto the rear mounts.

AchingBack · Aug 30, 2007

rback33 said:
I am sure they are talking about the bolts that go through the "hinge" that clamps the loader onto the rear mounts.

Would that be the vertically installed carriage bolt assembly?

rback33 · Aug 30, 2007

AchingBack said:
Would that be the vertically installed carriage bolt assembly?

Yes. I was trying to come up with the better description and part number from memory, but came up empty. Been a LONG week for me. I could have turned around and grab my manual book off the shelf, but couldn't even get myself to do that...