Loader... To remove or not to remove...

[Donnyj]

I have tried everything possible to get the loader off of my machine so I can get around while mowing and manuever in the woods dragging logs. Those pins will not move unless you beat on them. Up and down with the loader. Curled bucket forward and backwards. Moved tractor forward and backwards. Nothing seems to help. I can't believe with the way loaders are designed today to be removed very easy that the one on my tractor can be so hard. I have PM some of you Kioti owners and tried all the advice that you gave. I had a old loader on a very old Ford that was very easy to remove. I find it hard to believe that a new tractor today would be so hard. Does anybody else take there loader off? After all, it is an attachment of the tractor that I would think should be able to be removed fairly easy without beating pins or worse yet hitting the side of the tractor if you miss. Any ideas? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I posted this in the wrong forum. Should have been in the owning/operating forum for Kioti. Sorry.

 

[DK35vince]

I went several years mowing with the loader on my DK 35.
I finally decided to try taking it off to mow.
I found it easy enough that I have been taking the loader off much more often for mowing.
A few things that I have noticed are the more level the area you take the loader off the better/easier.
Once I put the stands down I slowly bump the loader control lever to tilt or roll the bucket while I hold pressure on the pin handle (turning the handles). Once the pins get to the point that they will turn in the hole I can grab ahold and pull it right out. Once I do 1 side I repeat the same process on the other side.
Each time I take the loader off I have found it faster and easier than the time before..

 

[GeorgeW]

DonnyJ,

Sorry that you are having trouble removing the loader. While I haven't tried removing the whole loader, I usually remove the bucket on my DK45 when mowing, etc. I have been able to manuver in some pretty tight places with the bucket removed. Also, I feel that I have some protection to the rest of the tractor, especially the front, if I leave the rest of the loader attached. Possibly you have tried this but still need more room.

I had the same problem with one of the pins on the backhoe when trying to remove or install it. One pin came right out and the other was so tight that I thought I would never get it out. However, since I have taken the hoe on and off several times, the pin now only needs a light tap. Maybe with a few cycles, yours will free up.

I am sure that the experienced gurus here will have some useful suggestions for you.

Good luck.

George

 

[RedDog]

I take mine off everytime I mow now. I only started this recently. Mowing is very easy now. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif


I have never had to "hammer" the pins out. The first time, I flipped the handles on the pins to get a good grip on them with my hand. I tried pulling and twisting, but to no avail. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I was going to go get my 1/2" breaker bar, but saw I pipe wrench close by to use it.

With tractor running, I would put it in float position and then stick the pipe wrench in through the pin handle and "unscrew" the pins. It has worked every time with no hammering or bent pin handles.

I also put some grease on the pins when I reinstalled them.

Good luck and make sure you have a litte bit of pressure on your loader legs, then use the float position.

RedDog

 

[Donnyj]

I have tried the float position as well. Good idea though. The pins never get loose. I have to tap on the pins with a hammer just to get them to spin. I tried taking the loader off in the grass, the driveway gravel and then finally in the garage. I have spent close to an hour on 2 separate occasions trying different procedures. The end of the pins are almost in line with the hood. I would hate to try to remove the pins with a punch and hammer and happen to miss and hit the hood. I'm sure if I could get them out and grease them, they would go in and out much easier the next time. Taking the bucket off works fine for mowing, still would like to take the loader off. In the woods though, If I was to hit another tree while looking back I would much rather hit the bucket instead of the QA plate. Just my opinion though. Thanks for the replies. Maybe my dealer will have a answer tomorrow.

 

[RedDog]

Your not trying to take it off with nothing on the front are you? I mean you still have your bucket attached to the quick attach plate, don't you?

I have taken mine off with the bucket on, and with pallet forks on. It hasn't made a difference.

I would try turning the pins with a bar, and make sure you have some pressure on the loader legs.

RedDog

 

[Donnyj]

Yes, I have the bucket attached. The pins on the loader only have a 90 degree handle. Nothing really there for me to attach a bar to except prying against the loader arm with a bar. If they had a hole of some type, then I could spin the pins with a bar. I will contact my dealer tomorrow and see if he has attempted to remove the loader. From what I understand, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, the first few DK45S came delivered to the dealers with the loader already on from Kioti. The dealers install the loaders now. Not saying that has anything to do with it. I maybe wrong about that, but my dealer told me that back in May when I bought mine. If he has one on his lot maybe he would go out and try to remove the loader. At least see if the pins come out. Really that is all I need to find out. I could handle it from there.

 

[VT_Kioti]

DonnyJ
My CK30's loader pins were like that when it first came. After removing the loader (no easy task) I reamed out the holes in the towers. This removed all the paint they spray in there and they have been no problem since.

Al

 

[HODAK]

I removed my loader once just to see how tough it would be. Followed the instructions in the book and it was off in about 5 -6 minutes. I held on to one of the pins and moved the joystick slightly until I felt the pin loosen. This indicated to me that the holes were aligned. Just pulled them right out. They did have a small amount of grease on them already. Installing took about the same amount of time. I was on a flat concrete surface. I mow with it on - 60" flail mower.

 

[Dargo]

I'm actually curious. On one of the "other" orange tractors I used to have, it was a royal PIA to get that stinkin' loader off and back on again. That loader had a bar that went across the loader arms over the top of the hood. Does your loader have that brace that goes over the hood?

If so, you're not the only person to have trouble with that style of loader; as far as removing and re-installing. I'm yet to see a loader with the brace bar that goes across the hood that is easily removed. I need to take my loader on and off numerous times during the year. I actually got rid of that tractor because of it being so much of a PIA to do so.

It seems that most of the new loaders have a much different design. Even though the tractor I have right now is still one of the "other" orange tractors, they most certainly borrowed a page out of the JD playbook on loader design. I can literally have the loader off, or put back on, in about 2 minutes or less. That is one feature I always liked about my JD tractors.