Loader Kubota FEL issue

[jcummins]

Ahhhh the light went off. Thank Xfaxman. I'm normally not that dense to pick up on things, guess I'm getting old.

How serious of an issue is this? I'm using without issues....but my eye keeps looking at that right side. On some post about this, talk of cutting the tube and reweld. I need to double check more, but I think the bucket could be twisted too, since it fits into the attachment plates fine, whereas the grapple does not.

Perhaps do your technique with bucket installed. I'm wondering if the hydraulics is strong enough to pull it back. Bet this was done with pressure from the tractor itself. Not sure if I did it or the previous owner. The M7040 I had in Texas I did considerably more serious work with it with the same type grapple, probably doing things I should never have done (grubbed a lot of trees) and to my knowledge never bent anything.

Once I get this aligned again, would you strengthen that tube? Thinking this process has to weaken it. Seems a simple way of doing that is the right size piece of angle running the whole length of the tube, welded to the tube and the side plates.

 

[Xfaxman]

Ahhhh the light went off. Thank Xfaxman. I'm normally not that dense to pick up on things, guess I'm getting old.

How serious of an issue is this? I'm using without issues....but my eye keeps looking at that right side. On some post about this, talk of cutting the tube and reweld. I need to double check more, but I think the bucket could be twisted too, since it fits into the attachment plates fine, whereas the grapple does not.

Perhaps do your technique with bucket installed. I'm wondering if the hydraulics is strong enough to pull it back. Bet this was done with pressure from the tractor itself. Not sure if I did it or the previous owner. The M7040 I had in Texas I did considerably more serious work with it with the same type grapple, probably doing things I should never have done (grubbed a lot of trees) and to my knowledge never bent anything.

Once I get this aligned again, would you strengthen that tube? Thinking this process has to weaken it. Seems a simple way of doing that is the right size piece of angle running the whole length of the tube, welded to the tube and the side plates.

Yep, the bucket is probably tweaked also.

Try it with the bucket on, if it doesn't untwist, take the bucket off and see if it will go about half of the gap. then try the bucket and the grapple to see how they latch down. The slots in the bucket may be worn some, making it easier to latch with some misalignment.

If you can see the tip of the latch pin sticking down through the grapple attachment plate, the grapple probably won't come off on the right side.

The arrow points to the tip of the latch pin.


As far as strengthening the tube, it will work without it, so that is up to you, I have no experience with the tractor style attachment plate.

This is what my SSQA plate looks like. It will not twist!

 

[skyhook]

jc, after reading your first post, you said you installed a diverter valve,,
just thinking out loud, could it be possible your cylinders are not in sink,,( if thats at all possible)
does the "tube" look bent to you?

 

[jcummins]

skyhook...I've measured the cylinders, don't think this is an issue. I actually don't see anything bent, just the attachment plates not parallel with each other.

Xfaxman I tried every which way I would, don't think the hydraulics are strong enough to twist it back. I wish I had an extremely large pipe wrench...and I do...but at a friends house in Texas. I think that on the torque tude, in connect with the hydraulics would be worth a try..it would add leverage....but don't have. I also double checked the bucket, and it is not twisted. It fits the same way the grapple does. I called a local dealer and discussed. They said on tractors this size...M7040...they don't see this much. It's usually the bigger tractors with more HP that twist things. He said the normal way they fix is to put the attachment plates against something flat...like a wall...and push with the tractor. SO...finding a wall will be difficult. Since the hydraulic method didn't work, I'll be trying 4wd low, very carefully pushing against....something.