Did I bust something on the loader hydraulics?

[npalen]

Might try removing the bucket and rest the ends of the boom on the floor to compare. See if one boom is up off the floor similar to the end of the bucket as you show in the pics.

Edit: Does the grapple attach to the bucket shown in the video? If so, perhaps the bucket is tweaked. (You mentioned using the grapple when the incident occurred)

 

[JCoastie]

the SSQA faces seemed square when I removed the grapple and put the bucket on. I was thinking the SSQA tube twisted, but that was not the case. I didn't however check them down on a flat surface, I'll try that. Visually it seems the lift arms are at different heights, also verified that with a level show in the pic on the previous page. The bucket and the grapple have the same tilt, it is not the attachment, it is the FEL causing the issue. I can also see the FEL is off from the drivers seat, there is a flat bar on top of the FEL torque tube that houses the hydraulic lines, and when that rises above the brush guard, using that as a visual reference, you can see it is not level. I did have the grapple attached when I hit the tree that caused this, but have switched attachments back and forth a few times since. The grapple is a stand alone attachment, it does not attach to the bucket.

 

[Loaderman22]

I've also had an issue with my old JD2155, but the internal sleeve (that the pin rides in) on the very end of the loader arm shifted inside the loader arm. Had to take out pin, jack up loader arm to see the sleeve without the loader mount in the way.

Do you by any chance have a framing square, not just a speed square? Could the tube be bent in the middle, past the reach of the square you're using?

 

[JCoastie]

I do have a framing square, I'll check that tomorrow when there is light, there is no visual bend though.
The loader pins seem to spin freely without any binding when unloaded, but I have not taken them out or removed the loader. I've never removed the loader, and I'm a bit unsure/uneasy about attempting it.

 

[Loaderman22]

I do have a framing square, I'll check that tomorrow when there is light, there is no visual bend though.
The loader pins seem to spin freely without any binding when unloaded, but I have not taken them out or removed the loader. I've never removed the loader, and I'm a bit unsure/uneasy about attempting it.

Don't blame you, if something is tweaked, then things will likely not go back together as easily.

 

[JWR]

I think it is primarily the loader frame itself. I say"primarily" because when a complex structure like that gets torqued or spindled, the end result is almost certainly a combination of several things being very slightly "off" such as a slight bend in the cross bar of the loader frame plus attachment bolts that "gave" a little bit during the incident plus the left/right shifting of rest points of the loader frame in the cradle where it rests allowing quick removal of the loader, etc. All those things and probably others are additive in the final distortion of what was once "square." I doubt that you can ever measure or visually find the culprit as it is the sum of many. All you can really hope to do is get it back square enough where you don't care any more. That is exactly what I did when I bent my loader.

 

[MHarryE]

I remember you said it looked straight when raised all the way. By any chance does one cylinder reach its limit before the other? That would be the case if the loader frame was twisted some way. If they both reach end of stroke at the same time it is the rear attaching points - like you mentioned the tractor had been split, loader removed. You have already tried aligning but worth another shot. Rear tire pressure check but that couldn’t be caused by hitting a tree hanging from the left end of your bucket.

 

[Vigo327]

Popping a lot of E-popcorn over here. Im keeping THIS post short so some people in this thread can uh.. finish it.

Im certainly interested in what the solution turns out to be.

 

[ismilelots]

I was carrying a 16' log in my grapple and I clipped a standing tree on the left side. It wasn't crazy hard, i.e. the tires didn't come off the ground, but the left side of the tractor dove a bit. After it was over the loader was no longer level side to side, the left side was down about an inch and a half to two inches. I guess I was hopeful it'd be a bent SSQA torque tube which seems fairly straight forward to correct, but the SSQA faces are square. I can see nothing bent visibly.
Looking at the loader arms, one is definitely higher than the other. In use, It seems I can lift to max height evenly (as best I can tell) and I can press down so the implement sits flat on the ground, but I can also dig in more on the left side since it is uneven. I really don't know what's wrong. After I shutdown, I always relieve the hydraulic pressure by lowering the 3pt hitch, and the loader arms, I also toggle the loader joystick to release any remaining pressure once completely shut down. We often use the bucket top as a seat, and it's always been solid. This morning I noticed this (shutdown overnight and not started this morning), there is no pressure in the hydraulic system, all 4 rams move when I step on the bucket. Any ideas, and it is related to my uneven issue?

Video of what I am seeing New video by JCoastie

I had that happen on my LS. Apparently it had something to do with compressing the one cylinder and it didn't bounce back. My dealer said to try raising and lowering the loader all the way up and down into the float position. After 5 times, it was right again.

 

[rScotty]

the SSQA faces seemed square when I removed the grapple and put the bucket on. I was thinking the SSQA tube twisted, but that was not the case. I didn't however check them down on a flat surface, I'll try that. Visually it seems the lift arms are at different heights, also verified that with a level show in the pic on the previous page. The bucket and the grapple have the same tilt, it is not the attachment, it is the FEL causing the issue. I can also see the FEL is off from the drivers seat, there is a flat bar on top of the FEL torque tube that houses the hydraulic lines, and when that rises above the brush guard, using that as a visual reference, you can see it is not level. I did have the grapple attached when I hit the tree that caused this, but have switched attachments back and forth a few times since. The grapple is a stand alone attachment, it does not attach to the bucket.

JCoastie, the thread seems to have gotten confusing. As near as I can tell, half the replies are about the loader not being square after being stressed, and the other half are about why the FEL bucket bounces like it does in your video back in your opening post.

I'm not at all convinced that the two things are connected.
rScotty