Attaching FEL is not going right

[frysl]

Hello all,
I've got an L3301 with about 11 hrs and a LA525 FEL. I've removed the loader now 3 times and every time I do getting it disconnected is not a problem, but back on is a different story. The pin on my left drops right into place. The pin on the right is not going in unless I put my boot heel to it repeatedly.
The first time was in the backyard so I thought maybe it was just due to slightly uneven terrain. The last two times have been in my drive which is flat concrete. Pin and bushings are both clean, no obstructions.
Any ideas or advice?
I hate to take it back to the dealer just to have them tell me it's a simple something I could of done in my drive.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[bcp]

Some ideas:

Your driveway may not really be flat, but just looks that way.

The loader or bucket has a slight twist.

One or more tires may be over or under inflated.

I think I would have the hoses hooked up, then make slight movements of the joystick to see if one direction moves things into closer alignment, and slip the pin in.

Bruce

 

[eipo]

Are you lifting the front of the tractor off the ground prior to trying to slide the pins in?


Sent from a field

 

[Lennyzx11]

I have the same one. It has seemed to get easier with practice but still a bear occasionally. For me. I take it off by curling all the way up as the last step when disconnecting.
Then going back on. I pull in till the arms touch the uprights. Hook up the hoses and then curl the bucket to lower the holes into alinement. Really try NOT to use the lift/drop function. That's the one that gets them out of time on mine.
Put one pin in whichever hits first and then curl/lift drop pray to the moon to align the other one till it slides in by hand. I tend to do the left side first.
Then I can stand on the ground on the right and fiddle with the joystick and the hst pedal back and forth with left hand to get that final alinement to press by right hand the 2nd pin in. Don't lose cool points by running over your toe doing this though!

I remember reading on here one gentleman took his back and the dealer did some slight grinding to make the fit s little easier also.

But you really want to do it flat on concrete as you did if at all possible. I've did mine on dirt on a piece of plywood that seemed to make it easier also.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Diydave]

An alignment punch sometimes saves whole pages of cussin...

 

[frysl]

Are you lifting the front of the tractor off the ground prior to trying to slide the pins in?


Sent from a field

No Im not.
If I read the manual correctly, it says to take the weight off the wheels, but not the wheels off the ground.
Steve

 

[frysl]

Some ideas:

Your driveway may not really be flat, but just looks that way.

The loader or bucket has a slight twist.

One or more tires may be over or under inflated.

I think I would have the hoses hooked up, then make slight movements of the joystick to see if one direction moves things into closer alignment, and slip the pin in.

Bruce

Thanks, I'll check.

 

[frysl]

I'll give it a shot, and try not to lose the running-over-my-own-foot cool points!
Thanks,
Steve

 

[scdeerslayer]

Might want to try placing something under the left side of the bucket.

It's probably rare that both pins will line up perfectly at the same time on reattachment. Get one in and adjust so the other one will go in. As long as they come out easily I wouldn't worry too much. It should get easier with practice.

 

[Ike]

I have the same tractor and loader. If I take mine off on the barn floor where there is cement it goes off and on perfect. I took it off out side on the gravel and I had one of the legs holding the loader up sink in had a bear of a time getting one pin in. I don't use the lift on it at all I just use the curl t o take mine off and on. One word of warning if you take it off out side put pads under the support legs. I took mine off the last time and it sit outside for a couple days. It rained and both legs sunk into the hard pack gravel. After a few nice words I used the 3 point to raise it and put a 2X6 pad under each leg then hooked it up. Try this on yours and maybe it will go back on easier

 

[Grandad4]

My little BX has had a similar issue since it was new in 2005. On attaching the FEL, one pin always slips right in; the other always needs 2-3 love taps with a 2 lb. persuader. I always figured the FEL mounting brackets were installed just a tiny bit out of alignment, but it was never enough of a problem to need fixing.