Bent Loader Mounting Arm. GJ to the Rescue?

[bedn0009]

Hello,

This vertical arm on my loader bent. I have no idea how (it doesn't matter) but I need to get it replaced or fixed.

Is there a way to fix this?

• I have put a #1 on the picture where the arm is bent.
• The picture marked #2 is what it looked like before getting bent, and also shows how it mounts to the tractor
• I can order a new part from the manufacturer, but it will require much work, precise weld alignment, or cash.
• I'd like to ideally work with what's there now.

Thank you for your advice.

Jeff

 

[WillyBoy]

It looks like the inboard side of the right arm is bell mouthed a little. It's hard to imagine the cause.
I'd be inclined to clamp the arm so that it can't move and lever the bent lower end closed until it matches the other side without being too tight to fit over the mounting tube. Then weld a piece of minimum 3/8 inch thick "C" shaped steel over that cutout section to stabilize the opening. It looks like there are collars on the mount tube that would prevent a thicker lower end on the arm from fitting in properly, so that might not work without more modifications.
I'll wait to see what anyone else comes up with.

 

[joe49]

Saving the paint a issue?

 

[The Cobbler]

I'm thinking cut the welds, bend the pcs back in to position. once it's all aligned weld it up again.

 

[jack stand]

Are you sure it's bent and not just out of time with the opposing upright? This could happen if something happened to whatever mechanism is that retains the upright to the round mounting point while pushing into a load or pile.
The picture is not clear to me, but if it's not bent or twisted inward towards the tractor, it's probably not bent a getting it back in time will be simple.
Edit; didn't notice the 2nd Pic with the loader detached.
That little bend of the lower "hook" still may have happened during that event. Those lift arm cylinders work off of the same supply line a theoretically work together providing the resistance (work) is equal. Once that side slipped out of the chassis frame it's load became the "easy" route for the flow putting it out of time.

 

[PCustoms]

Are you sure it's bent and not just out of time with the opposing upright? This could happen if something happened to whatever mechanism is that retains the upright to the round mounting point while pushing into a load or pile.
The picture is not clear to me, but if it's not bent or twisted inward towards the tractor, it's probably not bent a getting it back in time will be simple.

Looks bent to me:



That's a fixed point btw, so no way for it to be "out of time"

Not sure how the OP did that on such a small tractor but I'd cut the whole thing off and weld on a new one right around where his "1" is circled.

Bending it back is going to be a bear, and unless you can weld a plate over the inner side it's naturally going to open up again.

 

[Firebrick43]

Take the arm off and clamp it to the side of a bench or something similar upside down on wood block on the floor.

Take a flat bar of steel that is as tall as the pins it sets on diameter. Don’t use a pin or you will mess it up.

Hit the top(bottom but upside down now) with a BFH

 

[jack stand]

Looks bent to me:



That's a fixed point btw, so no way for it to be "out of time"

Not sure how the OP did that on such a small tractor but I'd cut the whole thing off and weld on a new one right around where his "1" is circled.

Bending it back is going to be a bear, and unless you can weld a plate over the inner side it's naturally going to open up again.

See my edit. I did miss that picture.

 

[bedn0009]

Saving the paint a issue?

NOt really. I can repaint

 

[Wrench97]

Heat, beat, weld a cut out reinforcement on both sides if it will fit, but on at least one side.

 

[larry_g]

Other than being bent from riding over the inside collar (?) what problems is it causing? Does it just look bad but is still functioning just fine? I'd suggest that you look everything over real close to see what else might be out of line, bent, or has changed. Something has slipped to allow that to be off the mount enough to take a force that it is not intended. Since that joint has no fasteners or pins in it then something else has to keep it in position. Did this just appear or did you goof up and cause this, but don't want to admit it? If you don't know the root cause of the problem then you will not know what the proper fix is.

I highly suspect that it it is still working just fine, just ugly.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[djbmw]

I would personally bend it back using the tractors own hydraulics and a tree, or my 20 ton PortaPower Kit. Once back into alignment (use a caliper and compare against the other good side), I would likely scab on additional plate steel to reinforce it (weld it on).

 

[bedn0009]

Other than being bent from riding over the inside collar (?) what problems is it causing? Does it just look bad but is still functioning just fine? I'd suggest that you look everything over real close to see what else might be out of line, bent, or has changed. Something has slipped to allow that to be off the mount enough to take a force that it is not intended. Since that joint has no fasteners or pins in it then something else has to keep it in position. Did this just appear or did you goof up and cause this, but don't want to admit it? If you don't know the root cause of the problem then you will not know what the proper fix is.

I highly suspect that it it is still working just fine, just ugly.

lg
no neat sig line

It appeared when I removed the loader.

 

[36truck]

How much digging are you doing with it? I think you overloaded one side while digging in hard soil that bent it. That tractor is not meant to do that. I know I had a 25 hp kubota tractor. The arms were fine but the front wheels didn't make it had to weld a plate to each wheel.
Heat it up bent it bank into place then weld a strap around it.

 

[Firebrick43]

How much digging are you doing with it? I think you overloaded one side while digging in hard soil that bent it. That tractor is not meant to do that. I know I had a 25 hp kubota tractor. The arms were fine but the front wheels didn't make it had to weld a plate to each wheel.
Heat it up bent it bank into place then weld a strap around it.

I would guess digging or running into piles. Possibly picking up max weight one corner of the bucket and not evenly distributed. Or turning up the relief valve to get more lift out of it.

 

[larry_g]

It appeared when I removed the loader.

Can you answer the first two questions I asked?

 

[bedn0009]

Can you answer the first two questions I asked?

I think it's functioning fine, but I did notice a bit more slop in the mount when I was using it the last time. I would worry about bending it further and causing a total failure