Loader Quick attach latch pin not fully latching

[ozman]

Hey everyone,
I have a 2007 kubota L3400 that didn't come with the quick attach set up when I bought it new. When I bought it I also bought the quick attach plate (L2230A) and a welded on plate for the bucket. Over the years I never installed it until this past week I decided to install the quick attach frame and buy a new bucket (l2256) from the local kubota dealer. Well, long story short I am able to latch fully one side of the quick attach to the bucket, but I cannot seem to fully latch the other side. The pin goes into the slot on the bucket, but it won't fully latch and go under the little bump stop on the quick attach plate for the other side of the bucket. I'll try to take some pictures over the weekend, but does anyone have any suggestions?? The dealer is too far away to bring the tractor to have them look at it..
Mark

 

[sdkubota]

Have you tried lifting the bucket and tipping it forward until it is balancing on the top attachment bar then trying to latch the bottom pins? Someimes a little wiggle goes a long way.

 

[ozman]

Sdkubota,
I tried unlatching it and then taking a floor jack to raise the bucket up to do what you are saying, but there's not much room to go. Part of it is when it is hooked on top, both the quick attach and bucket are touching on the top part of the quick attach, but on the bottom there is a gap and they dont touch. The gap is less than a 1/4 inch. Should I try to push up against something to see if both the quick attach plate and the back of the bucket touch eachother from top to bottom?

 

[sdkubota]

There should be a small gap like you described. It is possible there is a portion of weld preventing the bottom from lining up or the hole isn't quite right. I would raise it up while hooked on the top and see what the problem is with the bottom pins not lining up. Of course, be safe because it isn't fully latched.

 

[ozman]

It's funny that you mentioned that the hole may not be quite right. Last night I raised the loader/ bucket up and I measured the way the factory welded the plate onto the bucket and it looks like the holes are slightly off on one side when compared to the other side. Its like the rectangular hole is slightly father out on that one side and the pin goes in, but not as far as on the other side. Its just like an 1/8 of an inch more that it could go so the latch lever will lock under the bump stop.

 

[sdkubota]

It's funny that you mentioned that the hole may not be quite right. Last night I raised the loader/ bucket up and I measured the way the factory welded the plate onto the bucket and it looks like the holes are slightly off on one side when compared to the other side. Its like the rectangular hole is slightly father out on that one side and the pin goes in, but not as far as on the other side. Its just like an 1/8 of an inch more that it could go so the latch lever will lock under the bump stop.

Shouldn't have to...but sounds like a little cutting and welding is in order.

 

[Leejohn]

Put the bucket about 4" from the floor and flat, then get a pry bar and left up on the bottom. On mine if I do it on one side it might not go, one side seems to work better then the other. Go to the other side and try. My pens will not go until the plates are flat on the bucket.

 

[ozman]

Put the bucket about 4" from the floor and flat, then get a pry bar and left up on the bottom. On mine if I do it on one side it might not go, one side seems to work better then the other. Go to the other side and try. My pens will not go until the plates are flat on the bucket.

Leejohn,
I'm gonna try that later today to see if it will work. It's a bummer that you have to do that with two Kubota parts, you shouldn't have this kind of trouble. But I guess when working with metal it's bound to happen.

 

[94BULLITT]

Is the bucket centered on the QA?

 

[SSdoxie]

You mentioned buying a weld on adapter plate when you got the QA, but since bought a new bucket. Have you tried putting that adapter plate on the QA to see if it locks down? If it does then problem is in the new bucket and little grinding should fix it, if neither will lock down then it is in the QA and need to look at that, make sure there is a weld bead sticking out in the front that may be holding that corner of the bucket from coming in far enough.