Leveling a FEL

[liteblue]

Was trying to do some basic leveling of some newly applied topsoil (with my newly purchased tractor) when I noticed that left side of the bucket was about 1.5 inches higher than the right side. I first checked to be sure that tire pressure was even and it was. Then I checked whether of not the FEL was bent, and it was not. The difference is in the tractor (one side is higher than the other). Two issues: 1) Is this common, and 2) Is there a fix? Thanks for any and all comments. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[texasjohn]

Clearly not common... and not right... I think you are saying that when you place the tractor and FEL on a known flat surface that one edge of the FEL bucket is 1.5 inches higher than the other side. My bucket is absolutely flat. You'll figure it out... good start looking at air pressure... I'd bet that if you measure each side of the frame at a common point that should be equally high off the ground and it isn't, then the problem is somehow associated with the tires... tractor frame certainly must be square. Are tires same sizes on both sides??

 

[RoyJackson]

Check the air pressure in all four tires.

 

[Mike_Lipke]

Your FEL could be sprung (bent). Damaged at dealer or in shipping?

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

You say newly purchaced but is it new or used.If it is new and the tire pressures are ok let the dealer figure it out. If it's used measure the the frame hieght if that's ok measure the lift arms,does it have QA . See if the bucket is atached prorerly. Take the bucket off and see if it is sprung. I hope this helps. It's hard to make something level using something that's not.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Re-torque the FEL frame bolts. I sorta suspect you have a couple of loose frame bolts. The FEL will look lopsided when some are loose. Don't use the loader again untill you check them. I usually put an impact on these.....BobG in VA

 

[JerryG]

Good you got the tire pressure out of the way already. That is always the first thing to check. Look at the tires to see if they are indeed stamped the same size. We have had members that have had the air pressure not even, different tires size side to side and seems like even one that had the same size stamped, but one tire was actually larger than the one on the other side. The next step would be to raise the loader off the ground, measure from different points on the tractor to different points on the loader. Compare these numbers side to side.

 

[liteblue]

As suggested, the tractor is new and therefore under warrantee. I checked the tires carefully - all are same brand, the same (side-to-side) inflation, and the same height to the top-of-rim from the concrete/level floor. The rear of the tractor (behind the seat) is level to the ground. The ROPS is level also. But, the front of the tractor is not (left side is definitely higher than the right side). I even took a level to the frame in front of the front wheels. It shows almost half a bubble off. By the way, I also checked the loader sub-frame bolts and all are tight.

The dealer is stumped, and promised to check into it with the manufacturer. There are no real adjustment points to correct this difference on the tractor or the loader. At this point they(the Dealer) is not in favor of monkeying around with the sub-frame of the loader. Tomorrow I'll take the bucket off, to see if it is sprung . . . but I doubt it.

I'm leaning toward thinking that the frame is either: 1) slightly skewed where it is attached to the transmission housing, or 2) the frame is bent. But this is just so very strange. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Barnboy]

I thought it was just Kubota with this problem. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sorry to hear about your problem. With your FEL being 1.5" off I would say its in the Uprights or some mounting hardware somewhere. My B3030 has the same problem and we found my left upright was not made correctly ect ect but thats another post. Contact the dealer they should fix it.

 

[gbick]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Check the air pressure in all four tires. )</font>
Differant pressures in the front tires wouldn't effect it due to the pivoting axle. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[3RRL]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Differant pressures in the front tires wouldn't effect it due to the pivoting axle.)</font>
Maybe it's the pivoting axle not resting square (even/level)?

 

[liteblue]

Good one to check 3RRL. I'll get under the front end in the morning and see if there is something that doesn't look right.

LOVE this site!

 

[Jay4200]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the back is square and level, then the front HAS to be square and level. The tractor is completely aligned by the rear wheels, and just floats on the front axel. I couldn't exactly follow what you were looking at with the level, but:

If your front axel is not level, and the rear of the tractor is, then the front wheels are different sizes. If the front axel is level (meaning the tires are the same size) and the front of the tractor isn't, then the whole tractor is twisted.

If the tractor itself is straight (and it should be - can't imagine what it takes to bend a tractor), and just the bucket is crooked, then either the loader arms are tweaked (might show up doing a cross measurement to check for square, if you can find decent reference points), or the loader is mounted incorrectly and one side is mounted higher than the other - measure mounting holes/bolts to bottom of frame.

Jay

 

[Catmando]

Your check showed the tractor is parallel with the ground. I think that you said the front (frame) of the tractor is not parallel with the ground. You have also indicated that the FEL is not parallel with the ground.

The FEL is mounted on the frame near where the frame attaches to the transmission housing. With the information that you provided then the problem seems to be where the frame actually attaches to the transmission housing, or the frame is bent significantly from the loader attachment point to the rear of the frame.

Loaders are designed to handle breakout force without bending. So it isn't too likely that the loader is bent. Or that the loader actually bent the frame. Sounds like a manufacturing defect to me.

 

[liteblue]

Posting update: Thanks one and all for the ideas (love this site!). Turns out that NH makes a shim kit for exactly my loader problem. The loader pillars are attached to the frame by 6 bolts on each side - 3 upper bolts and 3 lower bolts. By shiming the upper set of bolts on one side, and the lower set on the opposite side the two pillars are canted slightly.

I'd like to tell you that the problem of leveling the FEL has been corrected, but alas it has not. Now the loader pitches about 1.25" to the right (used to be to the left). The dealer is aware of the problem, states that the manufacturer's spec calls for no more than quarter of an inch out of level. They are actively looking at the problem and I'm confident that they will come up with a final fix.

 

[liteblue]

Posting update: Thanks one and all for the ideas (love this site!). Turns out that NH makes a shim kit for exactly my loader problem. The loader pillars are attached to the frame by 6 bolts on each side - 3 upper bolts and 3 lower bolts. By shiming the upper set of bolts on one side, and the lower set on the opposite side the two pillars are canted slightly.

I'd like to tell you that the problem of leveling the FEL has been corrected, but alas it has not. Now the loader pitches about 1.25" to the right (used to be to the left). The dealer is aware of the problem, states that the manufacturer's spec calls for no more than quarter of an inch out of level. They are actively looking at the problem and I'm confident that they will come up with a final fix.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The dealer is aware of the problem, states that the manufacturer's spec calls for no more than quarter of an inch out of level. They are actively looking at the problem and I'm confident that they will come up with a final fix. )</font>
I think your confidence is well-placed. Case/NH is a good company, and I'm sure they don't want any of product out there to be less than optimum.

Here's wishing you a good resolution, and soon.
John

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The dealer is aware of the problem, states that the manufacturer's spec calls for no more than quarter of an inch out of level. They are actively looking at the problem and I'm confident that they will come up with a final fix. )</font>
I think your confidence is well-placed. Case/NH is a good company, and I'm sure they don't want any of product out there to be less than optimum.

Here's wishing you a good resolution, and soon.
John

 

[3RRL]

liteblue,
You might try using only one of the shim sets...remove one set to reduce the difference?

 

[3RRL]

liteblue,
You might try using only one of the shim sets...remove one set to reduce the difference?