Everybody loves a guessing game

[jcliburn]

See if you can identify this orange contraption.

Bonus points if you can say what's wrong with it.

Yes, it came off my tractor.

Jay

 

[deepNdirt]

quick connect for FEL bucket

 

[milkman636]

How did you get that custom bend?

 

[Craig Clayton]

I would guess that it came off or was not hooked on properly and someone lifted a load.

Craig Clayton

 

[jcliburn]

Heh, you guys are too good.

The bend came as a result of overly aggressive use of my grapple. (Read, human error.) I was running in 2nd gear low range collecting a grapple load of logging litter and uprooting some privet adjacent to a large pine stump, when I made contact with something solid: one of the big stump's roots just beneath the surface. No problem, I thought. It's happened before. Backed up a little and raised the grapple tines a tad to clear the root, then moved forward again. Felt a little resistance, but not much -- figured it was the privet rootball -- so I just pushed on through.

Bad move.

Something didn't feel right. Backed out and was horrified to see the grapple had detached from one of the SSQA brackets. The other side was hanging on, but the damage was done. Torqued and bent the tube of the SSQA assembly. Displaced it vertically up and horizontally toward the tractor.

Thank goodness I didn't bend a loader arm.

Tried to straighten things with a chain and come-along attached to a stout tree, but no joy.

Jay

 

[kevinj]

You need to check your grapple fit. It should not come off on one side.

I have a Markham bucket that was made "to skid steer spec" per Markham.
That may be true but it does not work right on Kubota due to the rebated top of the QA device.

Compare the fit to you bucket, look at the top and the bottom by the beveled pins.

Also the pins should have stops above them when latched

When hooked there was 1/2" open on the bottom by the beveled pin

I had to weld in a piece of steel to shim the top where it belonged, no problems since.

The pic should show the issue that I had.

 

[jcliburn]

Thanks kevinj, i'll definitely look at that when I replace the ssqa assembly.

I have a gator grapple that hasn't given me a speck of trouble yet. I'm going to blame myself for now, but I'm absolutely gonna look at the fit when it's all back together.

Jay

 

[kevinj]

Thanks kevinj, i'll definitely look at that when I replace the ssqa assembly.

I have a gator grapple that hasn't given me a speck of trouble yet. I'm going to blame myself for now, but I'm absolutely gonna look at the fit when it's all back together.

Jay

Pay attention to the top pad about 3" down, that MUST rest on the attachment.

Kubota uses a solid plate so no problems there, but some others as you can see do not.

 

[jcliburn]

I see the pic now, Kevin, and your shim. Thanks a lot.

 

[638]

That is very fixable. Cut the tube in two at the bend, pick your bucket up with it and then weld the tube together again.

 

[Farmerford]

Some Kubota FELs with QA, like the 853 (I think that is the number) on my L4330 had locking pins cut at an angle on the end that would allow the pins to move back against the holding spring and unlock under load. Kubota made a kit that blocked the disengagement of the pins from the pin holds. Before I knew about the kit I made a simple one for my machine; it is just a sleeve that goes inside the spring and around the central bolt to keep the bolt from backing out. It leaves enough spring travel to let the overcenter handles move to the lock position. It cost a few Dollars and works fine. If your FEL does not have the locking kit you might consider getting one or making your own.

 

[jcliburn]

That is very fixable. Cut the tube in two at the bend, pick your bucket up with it and then weld the tube together again.

Attempting to repair it is a possibility, but it may be beyond my ability. One problem is that the tube has twisted. That's the easy part. Your recommended repair method would definitely work if that were the only issue, and I could handle that myself using the method you suggested.

The bend is another matter. I don't have a torch, so bending it back straight is problematic. It also isn't evident as you look at the tube just *where* the bend is.

I'm going to price a new one today, and whether I attempt a repair will be based upon how horrible the news is on that front...

Thanks,
Jay

 

[jcliburn]

Some Kubota FELs with QA, like the 853 (I think that is the number) on my L4330 had locking pins cut at an angle on the end that would allow the pins to move back against the holding spring and unlock under load. Kubota made a kit that blocked the disengagement of the pins from the pin holds. Before I knew about the kit I made a simple one for my machine; it is just a sleeve that goes inside the spring and around the central bolt to keep the bolt from backing out. It leaves enough spring travel to let the overcenter handles move to the lock position. It cost a few Dollars and works fine. If your FEL does not have the locking kit you might consider getting one or making your own.

I can't picture in my mind all the details of your locking mechanism. Can you post a picture of it?

I'm also not clear whether the lock pin was actually retracted on the left QA plate when I discovered the grapple detached on that side. It probably *was* retracted, but I can't for the life of me remember that very important detail.

Thanks,
Jay

 

[kevinj]

I can't picture in my mind all the details of your locking mechanism. Can you post a picture of it?

I'm also not clear whether the lock pin was actually retracted on the left QA plate when I discovered the grapple detached on that side. It probably *was* retracted, but I can't for the life of me remember that very important detail.

Thanks,
Jay

Keep in mind that if the implement does not fit right the bottom lock can disengage if the implement is not tight to the frame.

Check to be sure yours has the stop blocks over the pins when latched closed.

 

[kevinj]

Look at the gap on the frame, this is not good.

First pic is before I repaired the bucket, second is after repair.

 

[jcliburn]

Kevin,

My QA assembly is exactly the same as yours: model L2226. The stop blocks are there.

I'm positive the latches were locked when I hooked up in the morning, drove a mile, and started working. I'm *not* sure the left-hand latch was engaged at the time I discovered the grapple was detached from that side. I just can't remember in all the excitement. I had been working for over an hour when it happened. It's possible a hefty branch got kicked up just right and struck the locking handle from the underside and unlatched the pin -- who knows. Or it could've just been a bad fit (like you mentioned earlier).

Jay

 

[kevinj]

Kevin,

My QA assembly is exactly the same as yours: model L2226. The stop blocks are there.

I'm positive the latches were locked when I hooked up in the morning, drove a mile, and started working. I'm *not* sure the left-hand latch was engaged at the time I discovered the grapple was detached from that side. I just can't remember in all the excitement. I had been working for over an hour when it happened. It's possible a hefty branch got kicked up just right and struck the locking handle from the underside and unlatched the pin -- who knows. Or it could've just been a bad fit (like you mentioned earlier).

Jay

I have had a few times where the implement is not on perfect and the pin will not go under the block!!!!

I always check to be sure it goes under or the pin can lift up when backing or using down pressure.

 

[Farmerford]

See attached positive pin lock mentioned earlier.

 

[kevinj]

Farmer,

There must be a couple different designs. Mine and the OP have a plate welded to the frame that holds the pin down when in the latched position.

See my pic in post 14

 

[Ductape]

If the cross tube is bent..... just cut it out and either weld in a smaller diameter tube that fits inside, or weld in a center sectin of the same diameter with a sleeve in each side. It would be easy enough to fix if you can weld (or have someone to weld it for a six pack).