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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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molsonx
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1 hwleyton,ny
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2007-07-29          144157


Loaned my cubcadet and loader to friend who unknown to me
tried to pull stumps by wraping a chain around the middle of the bucket and well... Anyway what appeared to be some
cosmetic damage to the back center of the bucket upon further inspection there is another problem. When the tractor is on level ground and the loader is in the down position the bucket is not level. Looking at it from the front the bucket is raised or off kilter on the left side by about 3 inches. My question is how should I approach the repair. Is it the or a problem with one of the lift arms or does the bucket itelf need to be "straightened".
There is a small dent or bend on the back center of bucket
but appears to be relatively minor.




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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2007-07-29          144159


Molsonex,

It's nearly impossible to bend anything on a tractor loader, as the tractor will likely tip over first.

Have you checked the quick-attach pins that hold your loader to your tractor? Could one of them possibly be missing?

If both pins are in and secure, I would remove the bucket from the loader and then survey the situation with the bucket off.

Joel ....


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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2007-07-29          144160


Molsenex,

I forgot to mention that you should also check your tire pressures. A low tire can cause some of the same problems.

Joel ....


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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-07-29          144161


I agree with Joel. Remove the bucket and place it on a flat, level concrete floor. Compare height/width measurements end to end and side to side. Also diagonally to see if it's out of square or wracked/torqued. It is possible to bend a loader arm (by ramming something under full power under the right conditions). However, if it is bent simply putting a long straight edge on them both and comparing withh resolve that question. It's also possible the "friend" strained one side or pulled one side higher and that caused one cylinder to pull out farther. If that is the case, lower the loader. With it shut off, slowly bleed the lower part of the cylinders and see if it settles down. If it does, good. Tighten the lines and see how it works. ....


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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2007-07-30          144174



It sure is fun being in this business! We get to see what our friends and employee's do quite a bit, amazing that we still call them freinds or employees! Buckets will twist which should show up with just a level floor. Loader booms will twist as well as the base frames that attach to the tractor. Find a real friend to hold the other end of the tape measure and start measuring for squareness. The boys have already brought up the tire pressure in the rear being critical and that is most often found from a flat tire or just a slow leak. Loaning equipment is a good way to loose friends or to know which ones to value. ....


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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-07-30          144200


I'll have to kick in with Art on this one, I have saw sprung buckets and frames. A frame twist takes a bit of doing but it can be done. Friends like this no one needs. Straightening a sprung loader frame is not a simple task if doable at all. Did the "Friend" fess up to doing the damage when he returned the tractor? I am not very well trained in the diplomacy of handling matters such as this, but a "True Friend" would do what ever it takes to restore your loader to the condition it was before his abuse. Loaning equipment has been discussed here just lately, it is not a way to build friendships. In todays lawsuit happy world you likely are lucky this "Friend" did'nt get hurt and sue for the damages. Frank. ....


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Cub Cadet loader bent howto check alignment

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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-07-31          144211


If the load was in the center of the bucket then likely it is the bucket that is twisted, general purpose buckets are made from relativley light material and are intended to carry a load very evenly spread out.

If however the load was off to one side, and the FEL was loaded to the point the rear wheels came up, and then the FEL was manipulated such that the tractor jerked around trying to yank the stump free, it is VERY likely the loader frame itself is twisted. I've seen them racked from nothing more than lifting a heavy load that was way offside.

As has been mentioned, a good tape measure and a flat level concrete floor will tell you all you need to know. Start measuring diagonals across varoius points of the FEL.

Best of luck. ....


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