Kubota Skid Steer Type Quick Coupler

[tom9961]

I had my dealer add the skid type quick coupler to my new tractor and convert my bucket with grapple to fit this new system. The same day I brought the tractor back from having the 50 hr service done I started finishing the dirt work I was doing before the rain came and I took it for the service. As soon I tried to back drag some dirt the bucket came off! I took it back to the dealer that very same day to fix the bucket problem. The pins that have the cut face on them that slips into the lower bracket on the bucket had both tips broken off of them. Two days later they had replaced the tips and I thought I was ready to go back to work. As soon as I got home and started to scoop some loose dirt the bucket fell off again. I don't have a picture but maybe I can explain my question. The cut face of the pin faces me when I am sitting in the cab. I think what is happening is that with any down and backwards pressure the smooth cut face of the pins simply slid up and come out of the bracket. (Just like a door knob and latch when the bolt pushes against the striker plate it pushes the bolt in so the door can close). But with this quick coupler the pin seems to be backwards in that the pressuee of back dragging or down and backwards pressure pushes the pin closed which causes the bucket to come off. If I try turning the pin around so the streight side of the pin is facing me in the cab the slot for the pin is not wide enough for the pin to close. I know it would help if I had a picture but may someone else has this same quick coupler and will know what I am talking about. If anyone knows what I am talking about - which way is the cut face on your pins facing. Does your bucket or forks come off?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

We have had to replace the couplers and put on ATI's for 3-4 customers becasue of this. There are certian implements that the coupler does not mount to very well. The standard for these things is very loose, so these kind of problems are not terribly uncommon. Apparently whatever standards commission is making some changes to improve this.

 

[40Kchicks]

The sloped side should face you in the drivers seat. I have never had this problem before even with one of my buckets that fits pretty loose. The locking levers are in the down locked position I assume?

Eric

 

[tom9961]

I think that if I just enlarged the slot the pins fit into so that I could turn the pin around with the slanted side facing the other direction it would solve the problem. What abgout it would that work?

 

[tom9961]

Thanks Eric. The locking arms are down. I worked 15 to 20 loads of gravel during my first 50 hours with no problems. But, now they are a real problem and have broke two sets of pins.
Any other idea anybody?

 

[wushaw]

The bucket maybe not seated all the way down on the loader arm side and the pins are not getting full engagement.

I have to shake my bucket to get it to sit flat against the loader arm side. Maybe yours is doing what mine does and when you lock your pins they are not getting a good bite.

 

[LarryRB]

kubota has a shim kit, along with new springs and pins. Total time to fix, about three minutes each side and no tools needed... The fix works excellent BTW

 

[tom9961]

LarryRB Thanks!
Can you tell me more? Is this something my dealer should know about or will get the answer if they call Kubota tech support.
This is a real pain in the _____.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Thats specificly for the L48 coupler, the L series tractors use a different QA. To my knowledge there is no shim kit for that tractor.

 

[KennyV]

Tom… Don’t make the slot any larger /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif… The ramp (slanted side) is made that way to hold everything tight. Do you have a heavy spring at the top of the pin? That spring will work with the ramp and locking cam to hold things tight. If the springs are not right it will not hold in the locked position. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif KennyV.

 

[tom9961]

KennyV Thanks for your reply.

I just woke up after pretty muck dreaming and thinking about this problem all night. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I have come to the same conclusion that the slanted pin and spring works with the ramp to keep the slack out and everything tight. The problem when I tightened the spring it shortened the pin even more and it became easier to drop the bucket. If I let out on the spring there didn't seem to be enough pressure to keep the pin from releasing.
So I thought I could add a shim between the top of the spring and the keeper block. It will make it harder to install the pin assembly but it would allow me to set the pin at max depth while adding more spring compression.
What do you think KinnyV? Its 60 miles to the dealers and I have already made three trips and still no fix. So if anybody has a idea I could use the help.

 

[40Kchicks]

Does the pin go all the way into the bucket hole? It should. I believe the slope is just for making it easier to get the pin down all the way. I have a little quick attach backhoe that I had make the hole bigger so the pin would go all the way down when it locked in otherwise just the tip of the pin and spring tension are holding the bucket on. Or is it that the bucket coupler and tractor coupler don’t seat together right and you will need to add a shim to the slopped part of the bucket quick attach? There has got to be a pretty easy fix but I don’t think turning your pins around is it. Any chance we could get a picture to look at?

Eric

 

[texbaylea]

tom9961

I have had the same problem with the QA on my L3130/LA723. The angle of the top hook on the bucket does not match the angle at the top of the adapter so that the bottom of the bucket hangs away from the face of the adapter. I have learned to do a fast roll back and bounce the bucket so that it lies flat. I may eventually weld a small lip at the bottom of the bucket hook that will bear further down on the adapter and change the angle of dangle. I have also added a stack of washers about 3/8" high to increase the pressure on the pins so that they resist cam out more. I may add a few more washers until it is very hard to shove the levers down.

I have unseated my pallet forks and my tree shear with backward movement but it is harder to do with the washers added.

Vernon

 

[ksmmoto]

I am having the same problem on my Kubota L3430 with LA513 Loader. Never had any problem with my heavy duty round back bucket or the pallet forks. But I just purchased a Piranha Root Grapple Bucket and a stump bucket.

When I tried out the stump bucket I noticed that it was loose with the pins all the way down. I measured the slot and it is deeper than the Kubota buckets. I went ahead and used it on some small jobs and when back dragging the bucket came off chipping the pin tips.

I am going to weld a small strip of 1/4" or 5/16" plate on the bucket slot to tighten it up. I will check into shimming the pins down also. If the bucket is held tight without play, the pins should lock it in. It came out because the bucket gets pulled back and down causing it to be held only by the pins tips which will chip.

I mentioned the grapple bucket also. The slot is big on this too. I will fix before operating as I have to run the hoses first anyway. Also the vertical back brace on the left side was misaligned causing the bucket to not fully engage the quick tach slot. I ground clearance with my 7" grinder so all is fine now.

I will post photos soon, maybe tomorrow.

ksmmoto

 

[texbaylea]

ksmmoto

I was mowing yesterday without a bucket on the loader so could take a close look at the QA. My washer stack is at least 1/2" - 4 thick washers. The nuts on the pins are on just enough to be sure that the nylock insert is binding - about flush at the top.

I am looking at finding a method that will let me add a clamp to secure the tree shear to the FEL. That is the attachment that I am most concerned about popping off.

Vernon

 

[tom9961]

Thanks everybody!!

It sure seems a lot of you knew what I was talking about.

Because of all of your replies, I looked at the problem with a different eye. I have added at least 1 to 1 1\4 inch of washes to shim the pin and add downward pressure on the spring. Like, texbaylea I have the nut on the attaching rod just catching the lock nut.

I haven't got to really work with it yet but at least when I tested it the pin did not try to move upward. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The bucket did not come loose. This could be the fix.

However it does seem like one of my springs is really weak. With the shims on and the locknut turned all the way out one side feels like it has no pressure on it at all when I lock the locking lever. Hoping my dealer finds out something from Kubota and maybe offers some real help this time. I know it needs at least one new spring and could ues heavier spring on both sides.

Thanks again

 

[texbaylea]

tom9961

Be careful how many washers you add under the spring. You DO NOT want to compress the spring completely. The 1 to 1-1/4" you stated would have completely collapsed the spring on my unit.

Vernon