Repairing Loader Arm...advice

[ETG802]

I have a 2012 DK40SE with 950hrs and a KL401 loader- purchased it last spring. It's been a fantastic so far. I have worked it hard (100+hrs) digging a foundation, logging, and other things. However, I don't think I have exceeded the loader weight capacity. This past weekend I was moving a bucket of soil and I heard a pop. The right arm of the loader had cracked at the "shoulder" pivot point. The pin/pivot seems fine but the arm has nearly cracked/ripped off. The crack is round so maybe a weld failed??... but I am not an expert. I spoke with a dealer and they suggested a repair rather then replacement. My "go to" welder was game but cautioned me that it a repair will always potentially be a failure point down the road. Any advice, especially if you've had similar problems would be appreciated. See pics below.

 

[TractorTech]

Out of warranty?
I would plate it top and bottom if there is room.

 

[4570Man]

That arm is pretty screwed. Excavators are for excavating for future reference. I think I’d cut the arm a foot back and rebuild the whole front section. That would give you a chance to rebuild it with thicker material in the pin area and plate the repaired area. That might be more of a job for a shop vs a mobile guy but it can be repaired for a lot cheaper than new loader arms.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

That arm is pretty screwed. Excavators are for excavating for future reference. I think I’d cut the whole arm a foot back and rebuild the whole front section. That would give you a chance to rebuild it with thicker material in the pin area and plate the repairs area. That might be more of a job for a shop vs a mobile guy but it can be repaired for a lot cheaper than new loader arms.

X2 in doing it in a shop (versus in the field) and cutting it back far enough for gussets.

Is the rest of the arm straight/true and not tweaked?

 

[mrmikey]

Doesn't look like the weld was much to begin with. Remove the pins from both sides so you can move the arms up clear of the vertical mount, clean it up and pull it back into place. It may be tweaked as MLF was asking but it's not that far apart. As was said, reinforce it best way you can, doublers or gussets.

 

[mikester]

Pull the arms off, clean all the parts and re-post some clear pics. Too hard to tell what broke and how from these photos.

 

[MichiganRob]

Sorry to bump an old thread.

Can I ask how your welder did the repair & how it's held up? I have a DK45SE with 2300 hours that the the exact same thing today.

I've lurked here for years but I guess I never had an account, until today.