Need input from Front End Loader owners

[Anonymous Poster]

My question is dealing with the down pressure of front end loaders, specifically enough down pressure to raise the front wheels off of the ground and how it relates to the “float” feature. Recently I read some information on this (maybe I misunderstood) and I assumed it was regarding most newer tractors. It stated in effect that the “better” modern loader systems today have a float feature…..and to lift the front wheels off of the ground, one must simply curl the bucket down before applying down pressure. Is this the way all new Kubota loaders operate? How about John Deere & New Holland? I have seen (and would prefer) tractors that had enough down pressure to lift the front end with the bucket FLAT on the ground AND also had the float feature. Did I misunderstand the information, or do newer tractors/loaders (unfortunately) need to curl the bucket down to accomplish this? Thanks for any and all input on this………

-Greg J

 

[Bird]

Greg, my B2710 works as you said you'd prefer, i.e., it will pick the front wheels up with the bucket sitting flat on the ground. Naturally, you pick the front up even higher if the bucket is rolled forward with the leading edge on the ground. And then of course, if you push forward a little harder on the joystick into the float position, the front end will drop back down.

Bird

 

[Roy]

My Kubota LA211 also lifts the tractor from either a flat postion or with the leading edge down. It has float (a Year 2000 model).

 

[glennmac]

Just to amplify slightly on what Bird said, since you seem to be unfamiliar with loader joystick controls. There are two forward postions on the joystick: regular forward for downpressure, and even further forward for float that engages with a detent click. Pushing the joystick forward in the regular forward position will put downpressure on the loader. That downpressure can raise the wheels no matter whether the bucket is in dump or curl or in between -- but as Bird says, you can get more elevation if the bucket is dumped. If you continue to push the joystick forward into the detent click, the down pressure will end and the bucket will simply float on its own weitht. I sort of assumed that all tractors with a single joystick operated this way. Certainly all the B series Kubota's do. Just try them all out at the dealers.

 

[bsauter]

My B2150, B2910 and L3010 all would lift the front wheels with the bucket flat. And even higher with bucket curled of course. All had float. All worked great. Good luck in your purchase.

Brad, Kubota L3010HST, loader, R4 tires
Pictures at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=179207&a=9183978

 

[WVBill]

The B219 Loader on my 1978 Kubota B6100DT will not raise the front wheels with the bucket flat. It will take some weight off of them but there's not enough piston travel for any more. Curling the bucket down will raise the wheels.

Bill

 

[glennmac]

I don't mean to be unnecessarily picky about other people's use of terminology, but sometimes unclear words confuse us all, especially beginners.

We are all communicating the same message to Greg but are using different words to describe the bucket position that results in the greatest wheel lifting elevation. The maximum bucket elevation position has been variously described by us as when the bucket is: "curled down" or "curled" or "dumped" or "leading edge down" or "rolled forward". Could you translate that if you were unfamiliar with the operation?

I say that there are two rotational bucket positions: "dump" and "curl". I say that because that is what the loader manual and loader controls call the two positions. Using this terminology, maximum wheel elevation is achieved when the bucket is in about the 90% "dump" position -- ie, when the bucket is dumped to the position where the bottom edge is is vertical to the ground.

Of course, if you were starting from the maximum dump position, you would have to curl the bucket slightly to get to this vertical position ... ah, what the heck ... which way is my refrigerator.

Glenn

 

[Bird]

Very good, Glenn!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Of course I sometimes even get confused with clear words./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[bpence]

WOW!!! Great explanation. Even I understood (well, mostly anyway) your explanation, glennmac. You're so right about how we talk about things we're familiar with and we "assume" (bad thing) that everyone else knows the lingo.

Bob Pence

 

[DVerbarg]

My observation is that all three major brands all have the ability to lift the front wheels off the ground on the newer machines (with properly sized FELs). Some FELs are able to lift higher than others (with the bucket flat) due to the arrangement of hydraulic pistons which also contributes to digging depth capability. All three brands also have the float feature.

DaveV