Loader level tolerance

[BeezFun]

Looking at an L4330 with LA853 loader, noticed bucket edge is not level by about an inch. Determined problem is the height of the frame on one side of tractor is about 5/8" higher than the other. So if you take the loader off and measure from floor to top of the loader frame, the two sides differ by about 5/8". That translates to about 1" out of level for bucket edge. Is this considered normal manufacturing/installation tolerances? If I loosen the loader frame bolts, do you think there's enough slop in the holes that I could correct that difference in height on each side? Tire pressures were all correct, it's on level concrete, etc. Am I being ****?
thanks

 

[dusty3030]

If you are measuring from the ground your back tires could be that much different in size.

 

[WaxMan]

Looking at an L4330 with LA853 loader, noticed bucket edge is not level by about an inch. Determined problem is the height of the frame on one side of tractor is about 5/8" higher than the other. So if you take the loader off and measure from floor to top of the loader frame, the two sides differ by about 5/8". That translates to about 1" out of level for bucket edge. Is this considered normal manufacturing/installation tolerances? If I loosen the loader frame bolts, do you think there's enough slop in the holes that I could correct that difference in height on each side? Tire pressures were all correct, it's on level concrete, etc. Am I being ****?
thanks

No your not being ****, I had the same problem and I ending up just living with it. All I can say is when I had my B3030 in was 1 inch off. One side of the bucket was 1 inch higher then the other. After 650 hrs the bucket blade was worn 1 inch further back then the other side. That was the only thing I noticed after 650 hrs. I tried to adjust but something was wrong in manufacturing . There were others that had the same problem.
I think it was the early 2005 B3030's, So if you don't care if your bucket wears unevenly, other then that I don't think you will have any other problems.

 

[BeezFun]

There were others that had the same problem.
I think it was the early 2005 B3030's, So if you don't care if your bucket wears unevenly, other then that I don't think you will have any other problems.

Yeah, I've found several other threads with people having this problem. My concern is when I do something like grade limestone, I'm going to be dragging ridges into the stone when going backwards, and creating slight gouges when I'm going forward with either the heel or the cutting edge. If I'm just loading manure, who cares. But anything I do where I'm trying to get things flat will be a problem.

 

[WaxMan]

Yeah, I've found several other threads with people having this problem. My concern is when I do something like grade limestone, I'm going to be dragging ridges into the stone when going backwards, and creating slight gouges when I'm going forward with either the heel or the cutting edge. If I'm just loading manure, who cares. But anything I do where I'm trying to get things flat will be a problem.

I was able to learn how to back drag without leaving marks, very light pressure and just the right angle did the trick and left no noticeable marks, but it was more work then if I had a level bucket. I also think it got easier once the bucket wore, it made up the difference in back dragging. I did a lot of grading. But if you didn't buy it yet, pass on it.

 

[Tx Jim]

Simple solution: adjust air in rear tires until bucket is level.

 

[sd455dan]

Looking at an L4330 with LA853 loader, noticed bucket edge is not level by about an inch. Determined problem is the height of the frame on one side of tractor is about 5/8" higher than the other. So if you take the loader off and measure from floor to top of the loader frame, the two sides differ by about 5/8". That translates to about 1" out of level for bucket edge. Is this considered normal manufacturing/installation tolerances? If I loosen the loader frame bolts, do you think there's enough slop in the holes that I could correct that difference in height on each side? Tire pressures were all correct, it's on level concrete, etc. Am I being ****?
thanks

no i don't think so, that would drive me nuts... like Jim said you could run your rear tires at different pressures.

if you can't get it replaced for free, i would try and find a way to shim the loader frame to Make it level

If this is a new machine i would pass, and find a machine where the loader was (actually) built to spec...

 

[BeezFun]

I was talking to my neighbor about this, he has a JD and his loader has an adjustment on each loader arm to level the bucket. It's hard to describe, but the head of a large bolt acts as a stop on each side, so either loader arm can be adjusted slightly up or down. What a great idea, it's difficult to get manufacturing tolerances close enough that the bucket will come out level. Wish kubota had something like this.

 

[rScotty]

Looking at an L4330 with LA853 loader, noticed bucket edge is not level by about an inch. Determined problem is the height of the frame on one side of tractor is about 5/8" higher than the other. So if you take the loader off and measure from floor to top of the loader frame, the two sides differ by about 5/8". That translates to about 1" out of level for bucket edge. Is this considered normal manufacturing/installation tolerances? If I loosen the loader frame bolts, do you think there's enough slop in the holes that I could correct that difference in height on each side? Tire pressures were all correct, it's on level concrete, etc. Am I being ****?
thanks

If it was obvious enough for you to notice then I don't think you are being ****. I back drag a lot to smooth things out and wouldn't put up with one that wasn't plumb. Why bother? Most are exact.

For fixing, sure; anything can be shimmed if that's all it is, but if this is a used machine then what is the chance that something is bent? Hard to unbend loader parts.
rScotty

 

[Chilly807]

It's probably got a slight twist in the arms, is it hard to get on and off the tractor? If you buy, check that first. It's not out a lot by used tractor standards. If it was new and there was another straight one sitting next to it, I'd buy the other one. Used.. Well, it's used.

Sean

 

[kevinj]

Have you followed the setup procedure in the manual?

 

[LD1]

Is it a quick attach loader frame? And if so, when you say you are measuring the frame, are you measuring the part that gets removed, or the part bolted to the tractor?

If the part bolted to the tractor is off, I think adjusting air pressure might be the only solution.

 

[BeezFun]

Have you followed the setup procedure in the manual?

Yes, talked to the dealer who originally sold the machine. He said to put the tractor on level ground, loosen all the subframe bolts, put a little down pressure on the bucket, then retighten all the bolts. He said sometimes that will take out the out of level issue if it isn't too bad. The guy who owns it tried that but unfortunately that didn't help. If you look at the size of the weldments and the lever arms involved, it's kind of surprising they aren't all off a bit.

 

[BeezFun]

Is it a quick attach loader frame? And if so, when you say you are measuring the frame, are you measuring the part that gets removed, or the part bolted to the tractor?

If the part bolted to the tractor is off, I think adjusting air pressure might be the only solution.

It's a QA loader frame. I took lots of measurements to try to figure out what was going on. It was on a well finished, flat concrete floor, tire pressures all correct. I measured to the top of the subframe where it's bolted to the tractor frame, and I measured to the top of the loader arm at various places. The underlying problem (I think) is that one side of the loader frame and loader arm are about 9/16" higher than the other. By the time you get out to the edge of the bucket that turns into about an inch.

I came home and measured my own tractor. The height of the top of my loader arms back at mounting point is different by about a 1/2", but bucket is perfectly level. Looking at the size of the components and lever arms involved, I think JD has the right idea by providing a way to adjust the level. Otherwise the only adjustment you have is the slop in the bolt holes on the subframe.

 

[BeezFun]

It's probably got a slight twist in the arms, is it hard to get on and off the tractor? If you buy, check that first.

I thought about that after the fact. The fellow hasn't been successful getting the bucket level by loosening the loader frame, so I'm not pursuing it any further.

 

[LD1]

Try measuring from the ground up to a point on the rear axle on each side. See if there is a difference there. Sometimes, even though the tires are the same and pressures the same, one tire might be a tad stiffer than the other causing a slight difference