Bent fel

[MXBX]

Please Help.

I think I bent my FEL. I noticed My FEL looked uneven when working, just an inch or so and was having some difficulty getting the FEL re-attached. Is this an issue that any of you have experienced? I'm bewildered 'cause I do believe that I must have stressed the machine beyond its limits. I can only imagine it must have happened when digging out a stump. Any ideas for a fix?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Pictures would help us evaluate what the proper fix should be!

 

[MXBX]

The pictures don't seem to reflect just how much it feels like it's listing to the right. I'm also having difficulty aligning the FEL with the tractor and re-attaching it. The left side goes on fine and I have to muscle the right side on its cradle. BTW, the first few times I removed the unit and re-attached it it worked perfectly.

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[MXBX]

The tractor was sitting on a level spot. The first picture is of the top edge of the bucket the second and third pics were taken with the level on the arms.

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[koja]

Mounts may have moved on you. I think there is a way to adjust them. Probably do it on a level surface with the loader sitting flat and loosen the frame bolts and see if it levels out. If so tighten and torque the bolts. I don't know what the torque setting would be on the frame bolts , but I assume its got to be over 100lbs. Perhaps some one else on here would know?

 

[cerlawson]

I assume the tires all are properly inflated. In some cases like this you can force things back, but carefully. Remember steel is elastic and the reverse force and direction will have to over "bend" and then relax to see how you did. It takes multiple trys.

When I've done these things I find an immovable object to work against, like a tree. Sometimes a porta power can be used rather than the hydraulics of the rig. I've straightened trailer tongues, bent jacks on trailers, Home TV towers bent, etc. The 3 foot high farm jacks also work good for stuff like that.

 

[MXBX]

Mounts may have moved on you. I think there is a way to adjust them. Probably do it on a level surface with the loader sitting flat and loosen the frame bolts and see if it levels out. If so tighten and torque the bolts. I don't know what the torque setting would be on the frame bolts , but I assume its got to be over 100lbs. Perhaps some one else on here would know?

Are these the frame bolts you're referring to?

[/IMG]

 

[MXBX]

I assume the tires all are properly inflated. In some cases like this you can force things back, but carefully. Remember steel is elastic and the reverse force and direction will have to over "bend" and then relax to see how you did. It takes multiple trys.

When I've done these things I find an immovable object to work against, like a tree. Sometimes a porta power can be used rather than the hydraulics of the rig. I've straightened trailer tongues, bent jacks on trailers, Home TV towers bent, etc. The 3 foot high farm jacks also work good for stuff like that.

Sir, the tires are properly inflated but I don't know about the bending thing. I think it's over my pay grade. I'd be terrified!

 

[Lil Foot]

My old (and somewhat abused) B7100 had a visibly out of level loader when I got it. PO said it had been that way since he bought it. I loosened every bolt & nut that held the loader to the sub frame, sub frame to the tractor & the loader to the tractor itself, and then placed the lower side of the bucket on a stump. I gave it a little preload, (lifted the tractor slightly by pushing the bucket down) and then tightened everything up. Leveled it right up.
I have to do the same thing with the in-bed rails for my Reese 16K slider 5th wheel hitch periodically.

 

[BAP]

Have you tried running the loader up to its full height and back down until the cylinders are sucked in all the way. Do this a couple of times to make sure that the cylinders haven't come out of synch with each other. Possibility something happened such that one cylinder is lagging behind the other causing it to be out of level. Also, it is the rear tires that you need to make sure are properly inflated.

 

[MXBX]

Have you tried running the loader up to its full height and back down until the cylinders are sucked in all the way. Do this a couple of times to make sure that the cylinders haven't come out of synch with each other. Possibility something happened such that one cylinder is lagging behind the other causing it to be out of level. Also, it is the rear tires that you need to make sure are properly inflated.

We may be on to something here. I checked the front tires earlier and they were both about 12 psi. I just checked the rear, which are filled, and one read 11 psi and the other 5 psi. Hmmmmm

I had run out the cylinder on the right then pushed it in to its stop and did the same on the other side while the FEL was off the tractor earlier today. Didn't help with the alignment.

So should I add air to the right rear?

p.s I used to live in Northwood, NH. A beautiful place!

 

[85Hokie]

We may be on to something here. I checked the front tires earlier and they were both about 12 psi. I just checked the rear, which are filled, and one read 11 psi and the other 5 psi. Hmmmmm

I had run out the cylinder on the right then pushed it in to its stop and did the same on the other side while the FEL was off the tractor earlier today. Didn't help with the alignment.

So should I add air to the right rear?

p.s I used to live in Northwood, NH. A beautiful place!

I would do that first and then park it level again - looking at your last picture, from the level to the rops....it seems to be off a smidge.

 

[koja]

Are these the frame bolts you're referring to?

[/IMG]

Yes , the bolts that attach the mounts to the frame .

 

[koja]

My old (and somewhat abused) B7100 had a visibly out of level loader when I got it. PO said it had been that way since he bought it. I loosened every bolt & nut that held the loader to the sub frame, sub frame to the tractor & the loader to the tractor itself, and then placed the lower side of the bucket on a stump. I gave it a little preload, (lifted the tractor slightly by pushing the bucket down) and then tightened everything up. Leveled it right up.
I have to do the same thing with the in-bed rails for my Reese 16K slider 5th wheel hitch periodically.

X2 , doubtful that you could bend the frame of the loader. I can see where you bend the bucket itself , but most likely not the frame.

 

[MXBX]

It's too dark now but first thing in the morning I'll try to remove and re-attach the FEL. Hopefully the air in the rear rt tire will be the fix. I really appreciate all the help. You guys are the best! I'll report on how things stand in the morning.

 

[Kennyd4110]

FYI on the tires, since the front axle pivots a low front one will not really show up, but since there is no pivot or suspension in the rear a low tire will make things appear out of level, especially at the front. I suspect airing up that low tire (and finding out why it was down to 5 psi) will solve your issue.

 

[Tooljunkie]

One way would be to reference tractor frame to loader frame. And tractor frame to level. One low tire 1/2 the pressure is quite low. Bet measuring tire height from rim to ground you will find a big difference.

 

[MXBX]

GOOD NEWS! IT WAS THE REAR TIRE PRESSURE.

This morning re-checked the tire pressure after jacking up the rear and rotating the valve to the 12 o'clock position. Filled the low tire then removed from jack and drove to a level surface and removed the FEL. Re-attaching the FEL was smooth and easy.

Thanks to everyone who gave my issue a thought. I'm so relieved it was such a simple fix.

 

[cerlawson]

Nice going. As was mentioned, the rigidity of the FEL supports is great, so I was waiting to see how difficult it was when you tried to "bend it back".

 

[Kennyd4110]

GOOD NEWS! IT WAS THE REAR TIRE PRESSURE.

This morning re-checked the tire pressure after jacking up the rear and rotating the valve to the 12 o'clock position. Filled the low tire then removed from jack and drove to a level surface and removed the FEL. Re-attaching the FEL was smooth and easy.

Thanks to everyone who gave my issue a thought. I'm so relieved it was such a simple fix.

Awesome! I love the simple fixes!



Plus, if it was bent I was afraid you where going to blame me and my hooks