Twisted LA724 Boom

[mfgkenney]

Hello everyone, spring is finally here in Maine, and I think i can safely take my snow plow off my L3540 that I picked up last fall for a song. I want to mount the loader that came with the tractor, however when the original owner was unloading it, it got bent. I can't find a salvage loader to save my life right now, but a new boom is still available from Kubota according to Messick's website for about $3800. Does this look like it can be fixed by a good fabricator, or should I bite the bullet and order a new boom? I have other bucket tractors available, but this one has a nice cab on it and this loader will lift almost twice what my old ford will. Hay season is coming, and it will be nice to have another tractor to move round bales around.

thanks,
Matt

 

[fried1765]

Hello everyone, spring is finally here in Maine, and I think i can safely take my snow plow off my L3540 that I picked up last fall for a song. I want to mount the loader that came with the tractor, however when the original owner was unloading it, it got bent. I can't find a salvage loader to save my life right now, but a new boom is still available from Kubota according to Messick's website for about $3800. Does this look like it can be fixed by a good fabricator, or should I bite the bullet and order a new boom? I have other bucket tractors available, but this one has a nice cab on it and this loader will lift almost twice what my old ford will. Hay season is coming, and it will be nice to have another tractor to move round bales around.

thanks,
Matt

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I don't really know, but wonder if an auto body shop, with a "frame machine" could repair that loader.

 

[DustyRusty]

A good body shop with a frame machine could pull that back in place, but they would need the loader and the tractor in order to know how much to pull and where. Also, a metal fabrication shop might also be able to do it, but the auto body shop with the right equipment could have it done in a few hours since it is going to be one or two pulls.
You said that the previous owner did the damage, but was it adjusted in the price that you paid for the tractor?

 

[D2Cat]

Looks like you have one weld that gave up. That seems to be a weak spot on some loaders. Not a complicated problem. I'd measure how far the frame needs to be pushed out, then rig up a jack from the opposite side and see how it moves. Hopefully you can get it wide enough to attach connect it to the tractor. Then take it to a welder you trust and have him weld it.

The best way I've found to discover is someone can do a job is how them the job and say, "Not sure if this can be fixed or not" If he say "No probably not." you move on. If he starts measuring and asking questions he's got it!

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hello everyone, spring is finally here in Maine, and I think i can safely take my snow plow off my L3540 that I picked up last fall for a song. I want to mount the loader that came with the tractor, however when the original owner was unloading it, it got bent. I can't find a salvage loader to save my life right now, but a new boom is still available from Kubota according to Messick's website for about $3800. Does this look like it can be fixed by a good fabricator, or should I bite the bullet and order a new boom? I have other bucket tractors available, but this one has a nice cab on it and this loader will lift almost twice what my old ford will. Hay season is coming, and it will be nice to have another tractor to move round bales around.

thanks,
Matt

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Can it be straightened snd repaired - probably but at what cost both in dollars and your time and inconvenience?

I think, actially I know, I would drop $3800 on a new one rather than deal with the uncertainty and aggravation of a repair.

Dan

 

[Runs With Scissors]

It's just in my nature to try to fix things. I can't explain why though.

I would take some pics to a body shop and ask them.

I bet they could get it close enough for me to "go at it" with the welder.

I have seen some pretty mangled cars fixed. (Well fixed "good nuf" for the insurance company at least )

 

[TheOldHokie]

It's just in my nature to try to fix things. I can't explain why though.

Dont worry - its something you will outgrow.

Dan

 

[GreensvilleJay]

EASY repair !! BTDT when the round tube broke off the right arm on my BX23S last summer. Took the 2 pieces...to local 'fab' shop Wednesday night, it was fixed by 9AM Thursday. The bare frame for me would have been $2600+ 13%, NOT under warranty, none ever failed( BAD weld...made on a Tuesday ?).
Take ALL the hydraulics off and a good shop CAN fix it for you. Neighbour's table is 5by10, 4" thick SOLID precision ground piece of steel. He somehow lined it up,bzzzzapped it and the SSQA frame pinned on silky smooth,so I KNOW it can be done.
At the very least, take to a shop. If it costs you $1K,(bery high guess, as I got a deal..) you'll have saved $2800 !

 

[DustyRusty]

Today body shops have very good precision tooling to repair cars. That will not present them with any problems especially if you give them the tractor to align everything to. It is a tractor, not a car so the tolerances are a lot wider.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The fact that the boom is imploded I would replace the whole boom.
It's a real week spot now.

FYI: For those looking, the cross tube weld being cracked is the very least of his worries.
It's the boom wall being imploded makes it pretty much wasted!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

A skilled welder will know how to cut out the bad and replace with good. Properly done it will be as strong as the original.

 

[mcmxi]

Looks like an easy repair for a decent welding shop, and probably around $1k. A better design would be to have that round cross tube pass through the rectangular tube with welds on the inside and outside of the loader arms, unless it is that way already. I can't tell from the photos. Also, it wouldn't be hard to add some plate to make the loader way stronger than the OEM variant.

Personally (if I were the OP without welding equipment or proficiency) I'd get a quote from a welding shop, and if it was 30% to 50% of the cost of a new part I'd choose to have it repaired. In my world though I'd repair the loader myself and make it a lot stronger than the OEM version.

 

[mikester]

A skilled welder will know how to cut out the bad and replace with good. Properly done it will be as strong as the original.

A little skill and a dab of paint...better than new!