Loader Unlevel bucket
- Thread starter DonRybak
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Qapla
Veteran Member
If you are near Christmas or Bithlo - you're right, there is not much out there - even the St John's River is more like a ditch where it crosses Hwy 50
Have you checked with
Yesterday I was out using my FEL and thinking about the unlevel bucket issue and how wide spread it seems to be. I have pretty well ignored the issue for the last year or so but today I decided to go back in and see if there has been any new ideas or solutions. If I remember correctly it was Gunny0628 that they loosened the FEL mounting bolts and re-torqued them with the FEL level to corrected his. Then a few months back he posted that it had become unlevel again. After that robfnk discovered his was unlevel. Robfnk, did you ever get yours corrected? Next question is has anyone tried loosening and re-torquing their FEL themselves and if so did that fix it? I was thinking of parking my tractor on my concrete driveway, correcting any tire pressure issue then lowering the bucket leading edge to the concrete so I know for a fact that it's sitting level. Then loosening all FEL mounting bolts so any difference in the FEL frame mounting with even out. Then re-torque them in a pattern of a bolt on the left and then the corresponding bolt on the right side until all are done. It doesn't appear that it would be that hard of a job. Unlike robfnk, my bucket stays uneven when dragging in float mode. Now that I have finally fully retired at 73 I have a lot more time to spend on projects. My bucket only has about 1.25 inch difference between left and right side so it's able to be lived with but now it's starting to eat at me again. Hope everybody stays safe......Don
I would thread lock on the bolts, so they cannot loosen up.
Btown, I don't think it's an issue of the bolts loosening up but an assembly issue. It appears that all the owners that have reported the issue are in the south east where the tractors were assembled in Williston, FL. I downloaded the loader manual today and it gives instructions for attaching the loader to the tractor as if you purchased it after the fact. It appears that there's only 6 or 8 bolts per side that actually attach the FEL to the frame of the tractor. Once the rain clears out so I don't have to lay on a cold wet ground I'm going to try and loosening and re-tightening them with the bucket in a known level position. Once I finish I'll post the results for those interested......Don
jmc
Elite Member
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- Jul 21, 2003
- Messages
- 3,097
- Location
- SW Indiana
- Tractor
- Ford 1920 4x4 (traded in on Kubota). Case 480F TLB w/4 in 1 bucket, 4x4. Gehl CTL60 tracked loader, Kubota L4330 GST
Don, you might note how big those clearance holes are for the bolts too. If designers made them sloppy to aid assembly, all you have is clamping friction.
And maybe scribe a line or two after realignment that spans both mating surfaces in case it distorts again. The shift in those witness marks might be insightful.
And maybe scribe a line or two after realignment that spans both mating surfaces in case it distorts again. The shift in those witness marks might be insightful.
Good suggestion jmc. I'll do that. This has been going on so long that I can't remember for sure but it seems like all the folks that has the issue it was the same side of the bucket that was lower. If that's the case and the only owners reporting this have units assembled in Williston, FL, that would lead you to think it's a assembly procedure or maybe an issue with an alignment jig if they use one wouldn't you?
jmc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2003
- Messages
- 3,097
- Location
- SW Indiana
- Tractor
- Ford 1920 4x4 (traded in on Kubota). Case 480F TLB w/4 in 1 bucket, 4x4. Gehl CTL60 tracked loader, Kubota L4330 GST
Is Williston an assembly plant or a dealer? I always assumed the dealer mounted the loader, for compact shipping and not needing to provide "with loader and without" tractor inventories.
Tree Farmer Dave
New member
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- Mar 8, 2019
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- 11
- Tractor
- RK 37
I'm in central Ohio, so I assume my RK37S was assembled at Waverly, Oh. Bucket is unlevel. Haven't gotten around to leveling yet, as being unlevel has not caused any problems in the work I do with it, but appreciate all the posts about fixes.
jmc, Williston is one of the two assembly sites in the US. From what I was told when I ordered mine the dealer receives it completely assembled with the options your ordered. When I did the order I was given a choce of tire type and what attachment(s)such as FEL I wanted installed. I was given a delivery date of two days later and the dealer told me that if would be ready for me to take a couple hours after arrival once all the serial numbers on the paperwork was verified.
Tree Farmer Dave, as far as I know you are the very first person outside the south east that I know has spoken up about this. Be sure to check your time pressure all around because that plays a role in the position of the bucket. Make sure when you check the tire pressuire in the rear tires that the valve stem is at the 12:00 position since the rears are filled with beet juice. I have been very happy with mine other than the bucket issue and the paint fades very quickly if exposed to the sun. Mine sits outside 24/7 so it's faded to a dull orange. FEL is still nice and bright. But what the heck, it's a tractor.
Tree Farmer Dave, as far as I know you are the very first person outside the south east that I know has spoken up about this. Be sure to check your time pressure all around because that plays a role in the position of the bucket. Make sure when you check the tire pressuire in the rear tires that the valve stem is at the 12:00 position since the rears are filled with beet juice. I have been very happy with mine other than the bucket issue and the paint fades very quickly if exposed to the sun. Mine sits outside 24/7 so it's faded to a dull orange. FEL is still nice and bright. But what the heck, it's a tractor.