Loader Unlevel bucket

[tookielee]

Not the cylinders, bucket will not flex that much. Prove it by disconnecting cylinders
at one end with bucket touching the ground, it'll still be off. Air pressure checked?
Measure the height at the center of each rim/axle end, there are a lot of people
reporting tires that are not the same height as each other

 

[jmc]

.... Measure the height at the center of each rim/axle end, there are a lot of people
reporting tires that are not the same height as each other

Mismatched tires is an interesting possibility. While it might be hard to get an accurate vertical measurement in a deep dished rim, swapping mismatched tires from side-to-side should change the bucket tilt direction. Or measure their circumferences on the floor.

 

[DonRybak]

Everybody keeps mentioning tires and tire pressure. If it was either of those then the whole frame of the tractor would be uneven with a flat surface such as my driveway but it's not. One of the pictures I included earlier shows that the bucket and frame of the tractor are uneven with each other. It could be that the frame of the FEL itself is the issue. I know that if I take the bucket off so that only the FEL arms are there, the left arm touches the surface before the right one. Only way I know to determine if it's the FEL or cylinders is to disconnect one end of each cylinder then do a measurement of each cylinder. Since several of us owners are seeing the issue I feel that RK needs to do some investigating. Maybe even check the tractors they have sitting on the lot to see if they might have one right there.

 

[snymat68]

It would be nice if Doug (RKTractorGuy) could weigh in on this. With his industry experience and involvement with RK now, I imagine he could offer some input/solutions.

 

[DonRybak]

I was told today that a matched set of cylinders are being ordered for my issue. Woohoo, maybe is the near future I can use my bucket to do some ground leveling. Happy days are here again.

 

[gunny0628]

I was told today that a matched set of cylinders are being ordered for my issue. Woohoo, maybe is the near future I can use my bucket to do some ground leveling. Happy days are here again.

Don, who made the decision to get those ordered for you? Store level, corporate?

I looked at my bucket/FEL when it was raised, and empty and it was very noticeable.

 

[ptsg]

Did anyone measure both left and right cylinders either fully extended or retracted? Or did I miss that post?

What happens if you go to max lift? Will it twist the loader arms and get straight? That would prove that the loader arms are bent.

I don't think the problem is on the cylinders. What are the odds of putting one cylinder longer on various tractors?

To me, it seems like the loader manufacturer has a problem on the welding jig for the loader arms, therefore causing all these problems. They might not have realize the problem though.

 

[CADplans]

I don't think the problem is on the cylinders. What are the odds of putting one cylinder longer on various tractors?

To me, it seems like the loader manufacturer has a problem on the welding jig for the loader arms, therefore causing all these problems. They might not have realize the problem though.

I agree with this, it is not the cylinders.

The cylinders can be removed from the loader frame,, and the bucket will still show the same twist.

Try it, if new cylinders are coming, you will need to remove the cylinders anyways,,,
set the bucket on a saw horse,
with the bucket supported, remove the lift cylinder, and lay it on the ground,,

The bucket, sitting on the saw horse will not "twist" the frame.

The saw horse can be under the right side, the saw horse can be under the left side,,
it will not matter,, the unlevel bucket will remain unlevel.

You can also remove one cylinder, and chain the removed cylinder in the closed position while it is on the ground.
the other cylinder will now move the loader arms through the travel range.

it does not matter which cylinder is removed, left or right, the bucket will remain unlevel.
The side that is high, will remain high,,

You can test this, and prove the cylinders are not the problem by simply removing one cylinder.

 

[DonRybak]

Gunny, I don't know if the decision was made at the store or corporate level. I went in the store to pick up horse feed he called me aside and told me that Monday the cylinders would be ordered. He said they just replaced a set on another tractor but it was the bucket cylinders, not the arms. I mentioned that I was wondering if possibly the FEL arms might not be welded correctly but he didn't seem to be too concerned it was them. All I know is that there's an issue and they need to fix it so I can use the bucket.

 

[gunny0628]

I’m taking more pictures tomorrow. With the loader raised in the air, while parked on a level surface, it is noticeably off and uneven. While this might be acceptable to some - it is not for me. I spent close to $42000 at the local store, in cash. This was my retirement money.

I know this isn’t a piece of construction equipment. But on the hood it says “performance series”. I’m slightly miffed that this issue is being dismissed because the quality of the tractor isn’t that of a $100000 excavator.

I understand flaws. I understand that the floormat might not stay down on the floor - as is the case in mine. And I am constantly tripping on it when getting in the cab. I can overlook this and trim a slight excess of rubber matting on my own.

I expect some growing pains. But I don’t expect a tractor that is sold on so much hype about how long they’ve been in service, who makes the engine, the history of the company - all to have a loader that won’t sit level on the ground. Why is there no interest in this?

I was told that there is plenty of mention with other tractor manufacturers on this forum and the topic of unlevel or uneven loaders. I haven’t been able to find much about others, except the RK.

Yes I’m new to RK tractors. Yes the only other tractor I had was a 1978 ford gear tractor. But I’m not new to quality and service. If something isn’t right it should be addressed by more than a couple of guys hypothesizing about the cause. We can prove there’s a problem. We just need them to address it.

Sorry for the rant. But it bothers me every time I walk out to my shop and see my tractor backed in and the loader facing me.