My Tractor Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

318 loader trouble

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
J

Joe318

· Joe318
Joined
·
14 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have a 1984 john deere 318 and I recently ordered a CTC 3240 loader. I received the loader and tried to install it on my tractor but the cross brace on the loader arms hits the front of the loader mount before the bucket is even sitting on the ground (see attached pics). CTC has not been very helpful in determining why this is happening and keep telling me there is something wrong/modified on my tractor. To my knowledge my tractor has had no modifications to the frame and I have a hard time believing John Deere built my 318 different from all the rest.

CTC keeps telling me they have sold many of these loaders for 318s but I haven't found any pictures of a loader that matches mine on a 318. Does anyone have pictures of a 3240 mounted on a 318? I'm hoping I can see something different about the loader or how the loader mounts to the tractor.


Thanks!

Joe
 

Attachments

#2 ·
Do you have any pictures of your tractor without the loader on it?
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #3 ·
None without the loader but attached are some closeups of the mounting points on the frame. The loader has been removed but I won't be able to get pictures tonight because my social secretary has me booked for the evening. I'll get some tomorrow night and post them.

Thank you for the fast response!

Joe
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Everything looks fine to me as far as your tractor is concerned. I wouldn't be surprised that the loader is the issue.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#6 ·
Does the front mounting plates hook into the bottom as well? I only see top pins in place, so it can't put full load on frame. :dunno:
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
The front mount only has the spring loaded top pins. It does not hook to the frame in any other way. I believe the stability comes from the braces that run to the rear uprights which are attached to the belly mount.

Thanks
 
#8 ·
A pic of the connection at the top of the posts may lead to a better understanding, but from what is visible, the brace from the post to the front mount is too long and the front mount should be closer to the grill.

That bracing structure would not work on a tractor where the hood is hinged at the bottom of the grill, while the bracing designed to accommodate the lower hinge point will work on any tractor.

Since words spoken do not get the right answers from CTC, send them a complete set of pics of the problem and ask for suggestions.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Here is a rear view. I guess I agree that moving the mount point (where they are welded to the uprights) of the side braces back toward the rear of the tractor (effectively shortening them) would likely correct the problem. The hood pivots at the top of the grill so the front mount would not interfere. I did return the main mount assembly to the manufacturer and they said it is built correctly??? That is why I am hoping for some pictures of the same loader that functions properly on a 300 series so I can see if any differences are visible.

Thanks
 

Attachments

#12 · (Edited)
If you look at your picture of the lift arm that has their logo on it, the joint under the logo is just behind the front cross brace. If you look at the CTC picture the joint with the logo is past the cross brace. It looks like they gave you the wrong length lift arms. Your 318 is the first pic and the CTC photo is the second. Also, if you look how far the CTC photo shows the lift arm logo going past the hood and then look at yours where the logo and the edge of the hood are at the same spot. Plus the whole cross brace and tube support are different including the joint under the logo. It also appears that the front grill cross brace is much closer to the grill on the CTC picture than on your picture. One more thing is that the grill crossbar on your 318 is very low from the top of the hood compared to the CTC photo. All of these things will make a difference unless they are all caused by a bad underbody mount location.
 

Attachments

#13 ·
You can add that the cross bar in front of the hood is a different design that is less bulky in the Facebook pic, and the cross member between the arms is higher on your loader.

Add them all altogether, and it's their problem, not yours. The big one is the cross bar in front of the hood that requires a shortening or repositioning of the bracing at the post to get it into the correct position to clear the arm cross member.

I withdraw my previously posted suggestion that you ask them for suggestions. Instead, tell them to send you the correct parts. The ones that you have won't work as advertised.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #14 ·
The manufacturer sent me a picture of another customers 318 with a 3240 mounted on it. Looking at the pictures it is obvious the mounting location of the side bracing to the uprights is not the same. Mine (left pic) are mounted higher which would push the front mount forward. I sent these pictures to the manufacturer but their reply was that this was an intentional design change to make welding easier. Seems a little coincidental that moving that mount point down would likely fix my problem. Monday morning they promised to send me pictures of a customers loader that was ordered the same day as mine. We'll see............
 

Attachments

#15 ·
It doesn't matter what day it was ordered. The fact is that the assemblies were not welded together to the same specifications, a fact that can be proven with a tape measure measuring c-c from any fixed point on the post (arm pin, cylinder pin, or mount at the bottom) to the cross bar in front of the grill.

There are other dimensions that can also be used to prove the geometry of the structure and that will locate the position of the cross bar with precision through calculation.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Yeah I could have measured it all up and put it in CAD (I do some CAD at work) but I let them talk me into sending the main mount back so they could check it so I don't have it now (I hope I didn't give away the proof I needed to resolve this).

One thing that doesn't show real well is that the arm cylinders still have about an inch of travel until full retraction when the interference occurs. In my mind it wouldn't matter what tractor the loader was mounted to or even it it wasn't mounted to a tractor, the interference is going to occur before the arm cylinders retract fully. the geometry between the arms and the mount is not determine by the way the loader is mounted on the tractor. I think that is what some of your posts have been telling me and I'm starting to get my head around it now.

Thanks
 
#17 · (Edited)
Joe318 said:
Yeah I could have measured it all up and put it in CAD (I do some CAD at work) but I let them talk me into sending the main mount back so they could check it so I don't have it now (I hope I didn't give away the proof I needed to resolve this).

One thing that doesn't show real well is that the arm cylinders still have about an inch of travel until full retraction when the interference occurs. In my mind it wouldn't matter what tractor the loader was mounted to or even it it wasn't mounted to a tractor, the interference is going to occur before the arm cylinders retract fully. the geometry between the arms and the mount is not determine by the way the loader is mounted on the tractor. I think that is what some of your posts have been telling me and I'm starting to get my head around it now.

Thanks
Click to expand...
You have it figured out. :fing32: The tractor has no part in that particular equation, neither do the cylinders. That is strictly the relationship between the posts, bracing, and cross bar, which is (I believe) welded into one solid piece. It can be sitting on the ground, mounted on the tractor, or hanging from a sky hook, but those dimensions don't change and should be identical to every other loader with the cross bar at the same height made by CTC for the 300 series tractors.

It's all about the geometry.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#18 ·
There he goes again CTC's quality control has always Been Bad
His Loader for the 425 thur 455 X475 Thur X748 & X700 signature series seem to fit But sometimes the Holes need to be expanded In the tractor frame.(again Bad Quality control) and Possibly just a Bad design to begin with
And again the 300 series designed Loader seems to be his Achilles heal Before it was His PTO Pumps which used only 1 set screw to Mount the Pulley on the PTO Pump shaft(when most Manufacture of small loaders that used PTO pumps used 3 set screws) he went away from that. His quality control is just Bad. But he is the Only choose out there for a full fledged Loader anymore. Since Kwik-way was Bought out they Only Make a OEM loader for Simplicity and they don't have any remaining loaders for the 300 series in stock Just Parts. I hope your Issues get fixed:thThumbsU
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#19 ·
I will Not Ramble.... BUT I Have Interacted This Many Times.. Just One Question. Why did you Not Shop and wait Till you could find a True. JOHN DEERE loader ??????? With an off brand . This is Only The beginning of your problems... Good Luck. You will need it..
 
#20 ·
Tony bachler said:
I will Not Ramble.... BUT I Have Interacted This Many Times.. Just One Question. Why did you Not Shop and wait Till you could find a True. JOHN DEERE loader ??????? With an off brand . This is Only The beginning of your problems... Good Luck. You will need it..
Click to expand...
Exactly not to mention the OP probably won't be happy with the lift capabilities either as the 318's hydraulics are not meant to run loaders. If it had been me I would have either bought a Buford bucket or a John Deere 44 loader or possibly convert another quality loader. Or possibly find a Kwik Way.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
About this Discussion
38 Replies
11 Participants
Last post:
Joe318
My Tractor Forum
posts
4.4M
members
246K
Since
2005
A family friendly forum community dedicated to all Tractor owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about specifications, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
John Deere Forum Craftsman/Sears Forum Backyard Round Table: L & G Tractor Related Topics Introductions Walk Behind Mowers