Is this supposed to move? FEL

[Bcamos]

Tractor has 40 hours on it. I've kept everything greased and today I started noticing a clicking noise coming from the FEL. I measured the mounts and they aren't spread apart. They're the same width at the welds as they are at the pin points.


https://vimeo.com/195868967


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[ItBmine]

That's normal. Keep it greased and keep on working. No worries.

 

[sgtboz]

Yep, right as rain. When I see those things sliding around it reminds me how important it is to keep 'em greased.

 

[Bcamos]

Perfect! Thanks guys. I hadn't noticed any movement before, so I was surprised to see it now. Especially after a fresh greasing a few days ago.


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[Kennyd4110]

Agreed...100% normal.

 

[lugbolt]

I know a guy (an engineer of all things) who put shims in there to "quiet" it down. I suppose it can be done but I don't see it to be a problem, unless you're an engineer and everything has to be "just right".

 

[torch]

Is there a reason for so much play? I ask because when I built my FEL, I provided 0.010" clearance on each side of all pivots -- just enough for the grease to squeeze out, really. Was that a mistake?

 

[Tooljunkie]

Is there a reason for so much play? I ask because when I built my FEL, I provided 0.010" clearance on each side of all pivots -- just enough for the grease to squeeze out, really. Was that a mistake?

Nope. No mistake. Think of mass production, dialing in .010 for a one off is nice, but achieving repeated gaps,.250 is easier to achieve. .250 is a guess.

 

[Lil Foot]

Normal amount of play, but that doesn't mean it has to remain. I grabbed a selection of the correct size washers in various thicknesses, and shimmed most of the play out of mine. My old B219 FEL was so sloppy & loose that you could actually get a load to noticeably shift from one side to the other; not anymore.

 

[torch]

Nope. No mistake. Think of mass production, dialing in .010 for a one off is nice, but achieving repeated gaps,.250 is easier to achieve. .250 is a guess.

Thanks for the reassurance. I certainly haven't had any problems with mine as built.

Other industries regularly get much tighter tolerances in production. Can you imagine if, for example, the A-arms on your car had that much free play?

I wonder if it was originally designed with larger diameter pistons in mind, say, before the project reached the accountants?

I think I would be another one reaching for the bag of washers.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Very bad feeling when a-arms start floating around. Had one that bushings became loose. Big prybar found them. Would change direction under heavy braking. Not nice.

I too would be shimming. Just make sure theres no binding through full stroke loaded and empty

 

[lugbolt]

Is there a reason for so much play? I ask because when I built my FEL, I provided 0.010" clearance on each side of all pivots -- just enough for the grease to squeeze out, really. Was that a mistake?

It allows the loader boom to flex a little while being used; without binding the cylinders. It also allows for manufacturing tolerance. Some rubber shims would still allow some flexibility but would likely quiet it's operation down.

 

[Yooper]

I agree with Lugbolt, that space allows for when the side arms flex due to an uneven load. I was thinking a wavy spring washer, but rubber would be better.

 

[ItBmine]

I must use thicker grease, because mine don't make any noise during operation.

I would not shim them with solid washers.