Surgical devices and methods are described. The loading devices can include an elongate shaft extending distally from a housing and a hinge can be disposed between the elongate shaft and an articulating distal portion. The articulating distal portion can hold an end effector to be loaded onto a surgical device. The loading device can have features for stabilizing and holding the distal portion at a particular angular position relative to the elongate shaft, such as washers having protrusions that seat in corresponding recesses formed in the hinge. During articulation of the distal portion, an articulation rack can be advanced which can deform the protrusions on the washers. The washers can rotate and seat in the recesses at the next angular position and change the degree of articulation. The deformable washer and corresponding recesses can apply a biasing force that holds the articulating distal portion in a desired angled position.