New Holland LOADER safety notice!

Bob_Skurka · Feb 3, 2005

Inspector, it might be possible that you already have the low profile fittings. When I was talking to the service manager at my dealer, he said that he didn't have the new fittings yet but he was under the impression that the fitting was simply a lower profile unit.

He also said there were only 2 12LA loaders that they sold that needed the retrofit. Mine and one other. So I suspect they had a couple fittings suppliers and some got the right ones and some got the wrong ones!

SacandagaBrad · Feb 4, 2005

Inspector - mine is about the same age, will have had it 2 years in September. But who knows when it was manufactured? I was under the impression when I ordered it that the 12LA loaders were going as fast as they could get them. Probably depended on the supplier of components at a given time during manufacturing. Glad you don't need the upgrade - one less headache is never a bad thing!

Brad

pekabu · Feb 4, 2005

I finally checked out my 12La loader today. Hasn't been hitting. It's not because I haven't worked it hard. It appears the two fittings at the end of my piston are rounded, and screwed in 1/8th inch more than the rears.

Inspector507 · Feb 4, 2005

Maybe I'll try to snap a pic of the fittings on mine this weekend. Are the ones on the other end of the cylinder the same fitting?

OkeeDon · Feb 5, 2005

Called my dealer, he knew all about the campaign, but didn't have the parts from NH yet. He'll call me when he gets the fittings, and will pick up and deliver the tractor for me. However, I haven't checked yet to see if there really is a problem. I'll check tomorrow, but regardless, I'd like to see some more pictures to compare. Mine will be 2 years old in April, and I have over 450 hours on it, which is probably more than on most 12LAs, with no problems, except that a couple of the quick disconnects have a habit of popping loose at the wrong time.

SacandagaBrad · Feb 5, 2005

All the fittings on the loader are the same on mine. I think Bob summed it - sounds like only a few have the fittings that are hitting the arms. If yours look different than what I posted above, they are not hitting, and you haven't received a notice, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Double check with the dealer.

Brad

OkeeDon · Feb 5, 2005

Oh, I got the notice all right, complete with the big, bold faced warning in Caps, "DO NOT OPERATE THE LOADER", which I though was pretty funny after something like 450 hours of mostly loader use. I can't remember ever getting on the tractor without using the loader for something!

I'm headed over to the shop in a few mintutes and will check it out against your photo.

SacandagaBrad · Feb 6, 2005

Don,

I've continued to use mine as well for light work, mostly snow. How much snow can you get in your bucket /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif It seems that the only time it would hit the fitting is all the way down such as for digging or raising the front of the tractor, so I try to avoid that position. Inspector had mentioned he didn't receive his recall, so that's what I was getting at when I said I would worry to much about it.

Just a reminder for anyone reading this, especially new to equipment, the other issue is how you could get hurt with a failing loader. The warning on the recall reminded me of this. I learned on day 1 at the construction site - you do not work, walk, or otherwise get in the way of a raised loader, dump truck bed, excavator bucket, etc - loaded or not. The veterans here at TBN will tell you the same thing. That's putting a lot of faith in a pressurized oil system with rubber hoses. I know they're reinforced, but they flex all day, every day and you rarely see them replaced until they blow. I don't operate heavy equipment any more, but do oversee construction and constantly remind, sometimes not very politely, the workers and inspectors to stay clear of raised equipment. About the only thing a hard hat is good for when 3 tons comes crashing down on you is it serves as a neat little package to carry you off the site. That's the gruesome reality of it all, even with our smaller CUTs. Not trying to scare anyone, but if it saves someone from injury, then it was worth the couple minutes of typing.

Brad

OkeeDon · Feb 6, 2005

I checked, and wanted to take some pictures but my camaera batteries have been giving up the ghost a lot easier, lately. Need at least one new battery, or finally give in and get a newer digital...anyway, the fittings have rounded corners, and look like steel fittings, rather than the aquare-edged brass-looking photos above. There appears to be a good half inch of clearance between the fitting and the loader boom, and there are no marks or scars anywhere.

I use the heck out of my loader, digging below grade as much as it will allow, using it to lift the tractor, and using it with the home-made root rake I built, which has to put more of a strain on it than just about any other 12LA in use! Just yesterday, I wanted to get the front end up onto a wooden deck that was about 14" above ground, so I could put some heavy stuff in the loader, so I used the loader to help the front tires "crawl" up onto the deck. Then, my son-on-law loaded 4 boxes of cast concrete "stone" into the loader, and I let myself back down. No hits. no problems.

The attached picture is not the same fitting, but the elbow-portion of the fitting has the same profile.

pekabu · Feb 6, 2005

Mine look very similar.

Inspector507 · Feb 6, 2005

Don,
Mine look similar to those. Maybe that's why I never got a notice /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

SacandagaBrad · Feb 6, 2005

( Mine look similar to those. Maybe that's why I never got a notice )

That's interesting that Don got a notice with rounded fittings (I assume that's what mine will be replaced with) and you did not. I wonder if they're going to replace Don's. I also wonder if some folks with the squared off brass fittings like mine and didn't get the notice and have a problem they are not aware of.

Brad

OkeeDon · Feb 6, 2005

I will say this. When I called the dealership's service department, the first thing they said was, "bring it in." Then, someone said something in the background, and he said, "Wait, we don't have the parts, yet. Bring it in if you can leave it a while."

Well, I had already read what Spencer2000 siad about NH paying for the transportation, and I really didn;t want to go to the trouble of loading it up, hauling it to the dealership, etc. So, I told a little fib: "My trailer is broken. I'm told that NH will pay for transportation." The answer was, "Yes, we'll call you and make arrangments when we get the parts."

My comment is, it's bad enough to have to haul the thing in for service, I really didn't want to haul it in for a mistake made by NH. If I HAD hauled it in, and then found it didn't need the part, I would really have been p.o.'d.

Now, I'll suggest to the dealer when they call that they stop by when they have a service man in the area, and let him determine whether it needs the repair. If they'd rather haul it in and deliver it again, that's OK with me. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

SacandagaBrad · Feb 6, 2005

That would a be a good suggestion. When I called my dealer, they too said they did not have the parts in yet, but thought the repairs would be done at the house rather than needing to haul it to the shop. I don't blame you for not wanting to trailer it in yourself plus be without a machine for a while! Good luck.

Brad

SacandagaBrad · Feb 10, 2005

The dealer called today to say he had the new fittings and if he could get to the tractor to install them. I leave it parked in the shed and told him where the key was. I got home tonight, new fittings in place! They said it was a simple fix that didn't need the tractor hauled back to the shop.

I have to believe someone, somewhere, must have broke one of those fittings and called it to the attention of NH. I think NH handled it well with the notice and got the fix out fairly quick. I'm sure mine would have let go at some point in the future, maybe several years, but sometime. And I probably would not have noticed it unless there was a leak beforehand, given the hidden location.

Anybody else get theirs done yet? You should be hearing something soon I would think.

Brad

tractornate · Feb 10, 2005

well guys I've read and even learned a lot on these forums over the last two years and finally signed in to day. I would like to say that i am impressed by the knowledge you guys have.
I must admit our service manger has been working with NH for several months on this issue we have had several (not a lot ) of fittings ever so slightly crack causing an oil mess and a safety hazard. I hope your dealer's take good care of you if not let me know and i will warranty them for you.

Inspector507 · Feb 10, 2005

Can I get free shipping to the NW for my warranty work? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just teasing, welcome to TBN

OkeeDon · Feb 10, 2005

Weocome to TBN, tractornate. Our knowledge is acquired one little bit at a time from a really diverse group, including several dealership folks. You'll be a welcome contributor. Don't be shy, we don't bite.

jwstewar · Feb 11, 2005

Dealer just called me. I had originally called him last week and he asked me to fax him a copy of the letter. They are going to pick it up in the morning. While it is there I'm going to have them take care of the other minor things that it needs while it is there before warranty runs out.

jwstewar · Feb 12, 2005

I'm having withdrawal /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Tractor hasn't even been gone 2 minutes and I already miss it. Wife is working and the kids are at the grandparents so I'm just here by myself missing my tractor......It looked so sad up on that big red track as it was pulling away. I think it was crying because it didn't want to go to the Dr. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I'm lost w/o my little Blue Buddy. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif