Unusual applications of the FEL

   / Unusual applications of the FEL #1  

Buck

Platinum Member
Joined
May 30, 2001
Messages
670
Location
Ontario, NY
Tractor
JD 790 (2001)
Front End Loader technology is a very common discussion topic on this forum. New members are often asking whether a FEL is a good investment or not.

I will never forget when a very good friend (a conservative banker) and his wife came over for dinner just after I bought my tractor. When they arrived, they were late, and I was out on my tractor and my friend said" ( pointing at the FEL): "What are you going to use that for?"

The only part of my friend that I don't like is that he makes my finances his business, so I was absolutely intimidated by the question. I really didn't know exactly. So I shrugged my shoulders.

Well, it has almost been a year, 150 hours on my tractor, and I know the FEL has been a good value.

This morning, I document ------ a fraction ------ of what I used my FEL for:

Attached is a photo of me watering a small flower bed over an area that would require a very very long hose. The water comes from our pond.

Buck
 

Attachments

  • 5-163595-water.JPG
    5-163595-water.JPG
    145.7 KB · Views: 404
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#2  
Next, I moved my boat from my barn. I didn't need to buy one of those balls that fit at the end of the tractor to move such things, one of the teeth on the FEL toothbar was sufficient.
 

Attachments

  • 5-163598-boat.jpg
    5-163598-boat.jpg
    145.7 KB · Views: 348
   / Unusual applications of the FEL #3  
I just showed my wife the picture of you watering your plants. She smiled and said "Now that's a thought! Very good! Maybe I will even get on the tractor to do that!"

I have been encouraging her to get on our TC33D and learn to use it. So far she has not shown a lot of enthusiasm. I think you just inspired her to learn! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Chris
 
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#4  
O.K. You are right. This application is not so unusual. Here I am digging a trench that allows my sump pump pipe to drain without clogging.

Although this on the surface is not unusual, the fact that I could get this job done within a half hour may be unusual to a person contemplating purchasing a FEL.

Unfortunatly, I didn't get a photo of me getting stuck in the mud while dumping the dirt ( I used the FEL to get out), my wife had the camera!
 

Attachments

  • 5-163602-trench.JPG
    5-163602-trench.JPG
    116.4 KB · Views: 360
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#5  
O.K. Here, use your imagination. My 10 year old is a roller blade freak.

We built a ramp last night -- up 'till 11 P.M. How could we get it to the driveway from the barn?

We put a 2x4 along the lengthwise section of the ramp and a chain around the highest part of the ramp perpendicular to the 2x4. The chain simply was connected to a single tooth on the toothbar. The straight piece of plywood was not transported with the ramp -- was brought up separately.

This use of the FEL was what gave me the idea for this thread. I am sorry I don't have any photos of the tractor in transit.
 

Attachments

  • 5-163604-ramp.JPG
    5-163604-ramp.JPG
    107.9 KB · Views: 309
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Here is another thing I will transport to my driveway from my barn, when finished, using the FEL, a "halfpipe".

I will make sure I post a picture of this in transport for my TBN buddies. In the meantime, please let us know how you are using your FEL.

Buck
 

Attachments

  • 5-163605-half.JPG
    5-163605-half.JPG
    115.9 KB · Views: 259
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#7  
cstocks,

You will not reget the purchase of your TC33D. Here is a photo that my wife took of the garden we planted, using the tractor, this morning. She didn't know she caught me on the tractor going down the driveway.

The point is that bigger projects will become more practical. I remember when I didn't have so much land, and it was pretty easy to waste the day watching football.
Buck
 

Attachments

  • 5-163610-pond.jpg
    5-163610-pond.jpg
    144.1 KB · Views: 291
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Another "tractor enabled application for the wife":
 

Attachments

  • 5-163613-flower.jpg
    5-163613-flower.jpg
    133.3 KB · Views: 273
   / Unusual applications of the FEL #9  
   / Unusual applications of the FEL
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Harv,

Yes the water picture is very similar. In fact I remember --- now --- seeing those pictures!

Like most things in my life, I realize that I am rarely the first.

Thanks for the reminder,

Buck
 
 
 
Top