FEL not level

bhh · Dec 9, 2013

So I took a closer this weekend and its not too bad. I used a level to go over the various parts and it looks like the difference between the QA plates is isolated to the crossbar illustrated in the following pic. which I think was is probably twisted a bit as someone said. This is just a pic off the internet so that's not going to show damage but it is minor enough that I can't really see any visible damage or cracked paint to that bar but all the other loader arm elements further up the assembly are still in alignment and the plates themselves aren't bent so it pretty much has to be this bar. I'm going to just use it as-is until I have it at the shop as it's not worth having it trailered over just for this. It almost seems as this particular piece is designed to fail first to prevent more significant damage to the arms themselves.

dieselcrawler · Dec 9, 2013

Redneck that I am... I would take the bucket/forks off, and just (gently!) run into something till it fits right again!

Do it carefully and within reason... but it can be done.

RLstangs · Dec 9, 2013

Remove the bucket. Put the side that is out further against a tree and lock the brakes. Slowly use the hydraulics to tip the bucket bending the center bar back. With nothing hooked up to the bucket attachment and the bucket cylinders part way out, measure the distance of the cylinder rod showing. Bend the bar until they measure the same. If you had cylinder depth stops that you put on a digger to control the depth in the field, you put them on one cylinder and bend it back by retracting the cylinder.

bhh · Dec 12, 2013

RLstangs said:
Remove the bucket. Put the side that is out further against a tree and lock the brakes. Slowly use the hydraulics to tip the bucket bending the center bar back. With nothing hooked up to the bucket attachment and the bucket cylinders part way out, measure the distance of the cylinder rod showing. Bend the bar until they measure the same. If you had cylinder depth stops that you put on a digger to control the depth in the field, you put them on one cylinder and bend it back by retracting the cylinder.

If we don't have too much snow this weekend, I'm going to give this a shot. Thanks!

bhh · Dec 15, 2013

RLstangs said:
Remove the bucket. Put the side that is out further against a tree and lock the brakes. Slowly use the hydraulics to tip the bucket bending the center bar back. With nothing hooked up to the bucket attachment and the bucket cylinders part way out, measure the distance of the cylinder rod showing. Bend the bar until they measure the same. If you had cylinder depth stops that you put on a digger to control the depth in the field, you put them on one cylinder and bend it back by retracting the cylinder.

This worked perfectly! Took 5 min. Thanks!