Hello everyone, I own a John Deere Ct 332 and I have been experiencing issues with a few nuts that hold the loader arm joints in place coming loose. I have tried using lock washers, but they have not been effective. My next step is to use locktite red. However, before I proceed with that, I want to ensure that the nuts are tightened to the proper level. I am not looking for a specific torque specification. My plan is to tighten the nuts as much as possible with a large breaker bar, then run the machine to shift the weight on the joint before tightening them a bit more. After that, I will remove the nut, apply locktite, and tighten it again. Does this approach sound correct, or should I avoid overtightening to prevent restricting joint movement? Thank you.
I own a similar machine, and the type of pin you are referring to may be a tapered pin. If any pins become loose, it is crucial to replace them immediately to prevent further issues. If replacing the pin does not solve the problem, using a cutting torch to remove the bushing and weld in a new one along with a new pin may be necessary. I have already completed this process with four pins on my machine.
I have identified two joints on my machine that have become loose. One is located at the back of the machine, near the boom, and is the bottom joint closest to where diesel is filled. The bolt in this joint has come loose, despite being secured with a lockwasher and locktite. The other loose joint is the lowest pivot point where the bucket connects to the boom. The bolt in this joint also came loose, causing the cylinder to shift. We were able to realign the cylinder and resecure the bolt with locktite. Can you clarify the difference between a pin and a bushing? Despite having the machine's technical manual, the diagrams are not very helpful.
Both of those components are taper pins that fit snugly into taper sleeves, with the bolt passing through both the sleeve and pin. When the bolt loosens, the pin shifts slightly within the sleeve, causing wear on both parts. Continuously tightening the bolt will eventually lead to the bolt breaking and the pin coming out during operation. For instance, on my equipment, the bolt on the bucket hinge at the bottom left kept coming loose. Despite my efforts to secure it, one day the pin came out while I was working. I removed the worn pin and realized the other side's pin looked new because the sleeve had worn out unevenly. After consulting with the manufacturer, I ordered a replacement sleeve for the end of the boom at the bottom. After cutting out the old sleeve with a plasma cutter, I welded in the new one and secured it with a pin and bolt. Since then, I've put in roughly 500 hours of work without any issues, although I still check it every 100 hours for maintenance. The same process can be applied to the pin on the opposite side of the boom by the fuel door - simply purchase a new sleeve, cut out the old one, weld in the replacement, and always ensure everything is securely fastened.
Answer: Answer: Yes, it can be common for nuts holding loader arm joints to come loose due to machine vibrations and heavy usage.
Answer: Answer: In addition to lock washers, using thread locker such as locktite red can be an effective solution to prevent nuts from loosening.
Answer: Answer: It is advisable to tighten the nuts to the proper level without overtightening to avoid restricting joint movement. Using a breaker bar, adjusting the tightness after shifting weight on the joint, and applying locktite can be a suitable approach.
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