Question About SSQA

[kcender]

I recently bought an L45 with a SSQA bucket,the first tractor I have owned with this feature.I have noticed the tapered part of the locking pin moves up about a quarter inch in the slot when putting down pressure on the bucket.When this happens the spring becomes tensioned to the point of distorting,about as tight as it can get.Is this normal or should the tapered pin not be moving?I am adding a couple of photos to help clarify the situation.In the first one the bucket is laying on the floor with no pressure on it.In the second photo there is down pressure on the bucket.It is clear that the tapered pin has moved but is this normal?

 

[kcender]

Anyone?:confused3:

 

[mddorange]

Well, I don't have your type bucket but on my SSQA, it does not move no mater what I am doing with the bucket.

 

[Morning Wood]

Does the bucket move away from the top ears of the quick attach with down pressure as well?

 

[Mysfyt]

Hard to tell by the pictures, but it looks like the taper pin isn't making contact with the lower flange. If this is the case, adjust the pin until it does. Mine moves a bit but not nearly as much as yours.

 

[Sammy3700]

The one on dad's L3800 does not move. Mine is not SSQA.

 

[kcender]

Does the bucket move away from the top ears of the quick attach with down pressure as well?

As far as I can tell the bucket isn't moving but I will look again.

 

[nybirdman]

Shouldn't move at all.I always drive mine down with a long rod and heavy hammer.

 

[kcender]

Hard to tell by the pictures, but it looks like the taper pin isn't making contact with the lower flange. If this is the case, adjust the pin until it does. Mine moves a bit but not nearly as much as yours.

The taper is making contact with the flange in both situations.The reason I asked this question is to see if this movement is just normal for SSQA systems or if something is wrong with mine.It is under warranty and the dealer is aware of it.He doesn't think it should be moving but doesn't know what to do about it,at least not yet.Thanks for the replies.

 

[kcender]

Shouldn't move at all.I always drive mine down with a long rod and heavy hammer.

Not really following you.I just push down on the levers to engage the tapered locking pins.I don't see where a heavy hammer would be needed unless my system isn't adjusted properly.This is my first experience with this system and I don't really know how much pressure should be needed to engage the locks.

 

[HCJtractor]

That looks about like my system. I have had lots of trouble with it. The round sleeve that holds the pin tends to distort which made the locking pin bind, so it had to be pounded out with a punch and mallet. Then finally the sleeve split and my grapple came off on one side, which caused everything to bend. Sadly I think it's a poor design.

 

[k0ua]

The two SSQA's that I have owned, neither the Kubota or the Kioti move any when you have down pressure on the bucket and the front wheels off of the ground. The pins are "broke over center" and cannot move. The Kubota had 2 handles and the Kioti only has one, but they were/are both tight. In my unqualified opinion, yours has something wrong with it.

 

[kcender]

Stopped at the dealer today to have a look at other SSQA systems.One was an L2501 and the other was an MX5200.Both are brand new with factory installed SSQA buckets.Both machines did the same thing as mine when putting down pressure on the buckets so I think it is just the way they work.If you look you will see a piece of metal welded on each side of the SSQA that acts as a stopper for this mechanism,I see no other purpose for this small square piece of metal.Both people from the dealership that I spoke with said they were never aware of this before. The threaded end of the mechanism,on the opposite end from the taper,hits on this stopper when down pressure is applied and the bucket is somewhere near level or slightly dumped.I think most SSQA systems do this but people just haven't noticed it.It would be easy to weld a piece of metal under this stopper to prevent the pins from moving but there must be a reason for this movement.Maybe if the pins weren't allowed to move something else would bind up,I don't know.As for the pins being "broke over center" they are still allowed to move within the range of the spring until they contact the stopper.

 

[Texas Fella]

What you are experiencing is normal. The pins may move, they may not. The system is built that way to allow for differences in the implement. As long as the pins are in the slot and the sping/rod is over center, you will be fine.

 

[rjkobbeman]

It is possible it isn't locked in correctly. I have an M8540 with SSQA FEL/bucket. If there is any debris between ANY of the mating parts of the FEL and/or bucket, those pins will not go all the way down into the slots. Because the pins are spring-loaded on the levers, you may or may not notice. The levers should go down real easy without any noticeable resistance.

Once the pins are all the way down, there shouldn't be any moving and/or flexing.

When doing any work with your bucket (dirt, etc.) it is fairly easy to get junk in there. Once you remove the bucket, the dirt can get into places that it shouldn't be. I usually rub my hand up underneath the bucket lip (where the FEL hooks underneath) and where the pins go. After a little wear, you will see where the contact points are and where there shouldn't be any dirt. If there is dirt in there, it is taking up clearance.

In addition, once locked in I curl the bucket (or whichever attachment) back and forth real fast (mostly to the all-the-way-curled position) to shake it into place... in case there is anything bound up a little. This shaking usually moves things into the sweet spot where it wants to be.

The pins should be down to where the bucket slot is almost to the top of the taper. When bound by debris, only the tip of the pin will get into the slot... which is no good.

 

[kcender]

It is possible it isn't locked in correctly. I have an M8540 with SSQA FEL/bucket. If there is any debris between ANY of the mating parts of the FEL and/or bucket, those pins will not go all the way down into the slots. Because the pins are spring-loaded on the levers, you may or may not notice. The levers should go down real easy without any noticeable resistance.

Once the pins are all the way down, there shouldn't be any moving and/or flexing.

When doing any work with your bucket (dirt, etc.) it is fairly easy to get junk in there. Once you remove the bucket, the dirt can get into places that it shouldn't be. I usually rub my hand up underneath the bucket lip (where the FEL hooks underneath) and where the pins go. After a little wear, you will see where the contact points are and where there shouldn't be any dirt. If there is dirt in there, it is taking up clearance.

In addition, once locked in I curl the bucket (or whichever attachment) back and forth real fast (mostly to the all-the-way-curled position) to shake it into place... in case there is anything bound up a little. This shaking usually moves things into the sweet spot where it wants to be.

The pins should be down to where the bucket slot is almost to the top of the taper. When bound by debris, only the tip of the pin will get into the slot... which is no good.

I understand what you are saying about dirt and debris but I have cleaned an inspected the areas thoroughly.Also the new machines should have been clean.I think this movement is normal although I don't really understand what causes it.When the male part of the system connects with the female part,on the bucket,there should be minimal movement between them.When I put down pressure on the bucket there is basically no movement between the "ears" and the receiver on the bucket so the bucket seems to be staying tight.

 

[kcender]

I just made a couple of caps to screw onto the the threaded of the pins.These take up the space between the pins and the stoppers.The original lock nuts are still there just below.Now when I put down pressure on the bucket there is minimal movement in any part of the system.If they ever interfere with anything,they can be easily removed.I don't see this being a problem as I only plan on using the bucket with the loader.