bushing slop, ??

[mrbb]

OK I an new I guess to owning a skid steer, I picked up a older one, last yr and am now starting to have time to do some extra time to go over things. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how much side to side slop in bushings is normal and acceptable, and at what point is it too much right now my boom bushing have a good 1/8 inch plus of side to side, but very little if any up and down like movement, so I THINK that would be OK! my bucket bushings on the bucket end, have a 1/4 inch or so , side to side and about an 1/8 inch in the up and down on the pin the top bushings near the cab are pretty tight. so can anyone tell me what is normal amounts, and say in spec, and at what point should they be replaced, I am guessing the one's on my bucket side, should be replaced, due to slop in all directions of an 1/8 inch or more! Thanks in advance, I appreciate the advice of those more skilled than me!

 

[Tazza]

It depends on the machine, some have seals between the arm and bushing to keep rubbish out, when people replace teh bushings or pin, they don't always do the seal(s). Personally, i like to have as little side to side play as possible, it helps reduce how much dirt can get in the pin/bushing hole and wear it out. When you grease, you push the rubbish out, but best it doesn't get there in the first place.
1/4” seems a lot to me, if you have a lathe, it's not a bad idea to machine some nylon spacers to put in there to take up most of the play. I have done it multiple times before with great success.