Tree Mulcher
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, I have experienced all of the issues you are experiencing.
I will start with the boom arms jumping around as this may also be the cause of the bucket out of level (most likely the arms are bent).
Lift cab and check the retaining ring part number 4s-5875. this is located on the lower pin of the vertical lift link. If this pin comes out in operation usually with the arms up high, you will have a very bad day. I have had both the retainer rings come out and had the whole pin come out. The retainer rings are junk in my opinion. I have had some pins machined to take a snap ring in place if the retainer that disappears and threaded so a cap can be bolted to the end of the pit to keep the pin from coming out. When the retainer is missing the boom arms will jump side to side as you raise and lower the arms.
The unlevel lifting may be caused by missing retainer rings as described above. If not, you likely have bent arms. No big deal just bend the other side down to level it side to side. Find a tree or concrete you can try to lift with the corner of the high side. you may need to work at it, but you can usually bend them straight.
The lack of fine control is normal in the lift arms. the work around if fine grading is to use the bucket tilt for fine adjustments. At idle these machines don't have good control. I don't like grading with cat machines because of this. C model machines were worse. You may have other issues but hard to assess without the machine in hand.
FYI I would not classify myself as a wrench but instead an unfortunately highly experienced operator.
I will start with the boom arms jumping around as this may also be the cause of the bucket out of level (most likely the arms are bent).
Lift cab and check the retaining ring part number 4s-5875. this is located on the lower pin of the vertical lift link. If this pin comes out in operation usually with the arms up high, you will have a very bad day. I have had both the retainer rings come out and had the whole pin come out. The retainer rings are junk in my opinion. I have had some pins machined to take a snap ring in place if the retainer that disappears and threaded so a cap can be bolted to the end of the pit to keep the pin from coming out. When the retainer is missing the boom arms will jump side to side as you raise and lower the arms.
The unlevel lifting may be caused by missing retainer rings as described above. If not, you likely have bent arms. No big deal just bend the other side down to level it side to side. Find a tree or concrete you can try to lift with the corner of the high side. you may need to work at it, but you can usually bend them straight.
The lack of fine control is normal in the lift arms. the work around if fine grading is to use the bucket tilt for fine adjustments. At idle these machines don't have good control. I don't like grading with cat machines because of this. C model machines were worse. You may have other issues but hard to assess without the machine in hand.
FYI I would not classify myself as a wrench but instead an unfortunately highly experienced operator.