LA435 SSQA Plates to Back of Bucket - small gap OK or no gap allowed?

[LakesideTractorGuy]

Greetings, first post, first time tractor owner -- great site/forum content!! Anyway, I took delivery of B2601 with LA435 recently and first use of bucket I noticed gap between SSQA plates and back of bucket. Gap is the same on both sides where I can slide a paintstick completely through with slight friction fit... please see pics...

Both locking pins seem fully seated in the slots (protrude 1" both sides) and no gap on bottom angled portion where the SSQA and bucket mate... The top angles do seem to be a little shy of "fully seated" as the white line the dealer/Kubota has on there is ~1/4" away from where I think it is supposed to be (pics may show this as well)... I tried "scooching" as far right and left as possible thinking there might be a weld bead in the way...same results no matter....

Any thoughts are appreciated and if the gap is a non-issue and I am over-thinking this, please let me know... I have 10 tons of gravel to move so want to be sure before digging in! Thanks!

 

[jimh406]

It sounds like you just got it. I'd talk to the dealer and point them to the pictures you posted.

Fwiw, the fit seems off to me, but I don't know if it's the bucket or the loader.

 

[LakesideTractorGuy]

It sounds like you just got it. I'd talk to the dealer and point them to the pictures you posted.

Fwiw, the fit seems off to me, but I don't know if it's the bucket or the loader.

Thanks for the quick reply jimh406 ... It is a new machine and I had a call into the dealer about this as I put a square on the SSQA and both plates were true... but... the back wall of the bucket has an inward bow... in short, service manager got right back to me and talked me off the ledge -- he checked several machines on the dealership's lot and apparently that gap is common...he said as long as the SSQA pins are locked in deep and the top edge is under the top bevel by a good 1/2"-3/4" things will settle in with use...

Anyway, thanks again and hope this helps any other new owners that aren't quite sure what they are looking at...

I'll be sure to post a follow-up if any structural changes occur (good, bad or otherwise) after I move a small mountain of gravel in the days/weeks ahead.

Cheers!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

What your pointing to is not a critical or really a relevant contact point.

 

[Mikeymotorbikey]

Exactly as Wolfman said above, and mine is the same. No issues after 3 years of ownership.
Congrats on the new tractor!

 

[GeoHorn]

Those type of construction are commonly welded at “points of contact” …rather than continuously…for a reason. Continuous weld creates a warpage that mis-aligns the end-product as the weld cools.
For that reason a Jig is used to afix the pieces …and the welds are completely sufficient to support the expected loads. This sort of construction is common. and correct.

I’ve got a loader adaptor that, on first glance, appears woefully inadequate to support the expected loads. The weld-beads are only an inch-long on the four places the adaptors are attached. However, the loader is only rated at 2K lb capacity… and the totality of weld-beads far exceed that by at least double.

Enjoy your new machine!