Screwed up loader arms with grapple

[bindian]

You won't know for sure if you have more "tweaked" parts until you put the loader bucket back on and see if it sits flat. When digging my first pond I tweaked one loader arm and now the left bucket corner is about an inch above the ground when the right corner is flat on the ground. If this is the case, try pushing it straight against a tree, while tractor is in gear.
hugs, Brandi

 

[streamin]

jcummins, that looks a lot better, glad it worked out!

 

[KubotaToy]

View attachment 439041View attachment 439042
Not sure why you couldn't make the torque tube stronger ?
My QA is strong enough that I welded a chain hook to mine and can use it for lifting at full power and not bend or twist the QA.(these are older pictures, hook was added later)

This is how the SSQA on my JD SS was designed, it had a very beefy steel plate between the loader arms. You would have bent an loader arm before twisting the "timing" plate. I have bent the rather weak rod on my L45 a few times, I now tie down my QA locks with bungee cords to keep them from getting knocked open.

 

[blueriver]

My "levers" pop into place ... when they go over TDC they actually lock in. Maybe adjust the spring? When I release them they are pretty hard to pull up.

 

[bindian]

My "levers" pop into place ... when they go over TDC they actually lock in. Maybe adjust the spring? When I release them they are pretty hard to pull up.

Same as mine. They have a lot of over center spring tension. If they can pop open by themselves, I would think something is worn and needs replaced or adjusted.
hugs, Brandi

 

[KubotaToy]

Same as mine. They have a lot of over center spring tension. If they can pop open by themselves, I would think something is worn and needs replaced or adjusted.
hugs, Brandi

Pretty sure most SSQAs cam over and lock into place by spring pressure, never seen one pop open but when using my root grapple which is on my L45 99% of the time, I have seen limbs stick thru the grapple, hit one of the levelers and pop it open since there is nothing to keep it from hitting the levelers like my JD SS which had a solid plate between the arms. Not a great picture but you can see what I am talking about.

 

[kneedeep]

The 5500 has a Great Bend Loader QA system that uses pins that drop down and held by spring pressure. It would be almost impossible for them to come 'up' and release during operation. They are tough to unpin and will bite your hand if not careful!

 

[jcummins]

I've got it lined back up....almost. It needs to be twisted just a bit more, but try as I may, it doesn't seem to want to go that last bit. I can use the grapple, but the right pin will not stay position all the way down. Creeps back up.

Thought of putting a large pipe wrench on the torque tube, add a pipe to it to give some leverage to torque it back a bit more. Don't have a large pipe wrench though. Thoughts?

 

[sdef]

I have done this a lot and know when it is caught as the rear of the tractor lifts opposite of the side of the bucket that is caught. And the tractor lifts as quick as the loader arms force it too. I have gotten into dangerous situations this way very quickly when working the bucket hard and fast. And it has always been caused by a large root.

 

[sdef]

I use the snot outta my Grapple. Very common to have the rear tires of the tractor off the ground.

I've never had a pin come loose. I built all my attachments and made them fit tight.

I am very cautious when using the Grapple. It puts stresses on the FEL frame that the manufacturer did not account for.

+1. Due to a lot of experience, I have found my rock grapple to be the most useful FEL attachment I own and also the most dangerous.