FEL w/o Power Steering

[JimBinMI]

Thanks for all of the replies!

I'm guessing that a TC18 with a front end loader could quite possibly render all Kubotas from the BX to the M series useless. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Actually, my wife was very supportive until I told her the cost! Now, I think that I'll need much more snow to convince her! I'm keeping my chin up though because in the forcast we have snow, rain, freezing rain, snow, snow snow...starting later tonight through next Wednesday! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Tried to help my mother in law buy a snowblower yesterday and every store in the greater Battle Creek area was sold out! She ended up ordering one that's due next Thursday. She usually winters in AZ south of Tucson and I think she's wishing that she was there now! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

JimBinMI, sounds like your mother-in-law's smarter than most of us. When we were traveling, we loved southern Arizona in the winter./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[kevincook]

I was just thinking. If I bought a snowblower and the temperature went to 40°F for the rest of the winter I think that would be a great thing. As a matter of fact I would be willing to buy a new snowblower every year if I could get those kind of results!

Good Luck
Kevin

 

[JonE]

Jim, been there done that!

Kevin, I feel the same way!
I had a B8200/fel w/o ps and did not find it to be too troublesome at all. The problem I had is thinking I could plow my drive with it. Oh it worked fine but the bucket on that small of a loader just took forever. I mean the snow blows over the sides and you have to go over and over to get it all. So I finally got a lead on 3pt snow blower and haven't regretted it. Much, much neater and a lot faster!

Interestingly, when I got my blower, I only used it once the rest of the season!!!/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

 

[RobS]

Jim, ya gotta go for it! I just saw our weather forecast and we'll have some form of snowfall for the next seven days! It's high time that "mighty TC" becomes the "mightier TC". And on the wife thing... I had to invest in some precious metal and mined minerals for Christmas since I got the "mightiest 790" for our anniversary (sort of).

Rob

 

[WVBill]

Jim:
I was out yesterday so I'm a little late with my two cents but...

I have a B6100 4wd no Power Steering with a FEL. I don't mow with it so I'd say that FEL work is 90% or more of what I do with the tractor. Have not had it thru a winter yet.

Since this is my first tractor, I can't compare with having power steering. Yes, non PS takes work and others have pointed out techniques to reduce that work. One thing I'll echo - when traveling, either go VERY slowly or hold onto the steering wheel very loosely. The force of a front wheel hitting a rut/rock or anything else is immediately and with full force transmitted through the steering linkage to the steering wheel. And, if you grip the wheel tightly, directly to your fingers, hands and arms. I've found that my non power steering is the limiting factor on how fast I can travel on any given terrain.

WVBill

 

[RobertN]

Hopefully the turning brakes work on the NH-TC18, Unlike my Orange Kubota, where the turing brakes are a silly rolling on the floor laughing joke /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RayD]

Jim,
Just finished putting a Great Bend #220 on my TC-18. Got the loader for $1950.00 and saved tax by picking it up. It took me about 5-6 hours to install. Was very easy and directions were good. No leaks and works great. I went with Great Bend because the loader attaches to the side rails not the front bumper. This way I could still use my front weights. Email me if you have any questions.(dursk@earthlink.net)
Ray

 

[Bird]

RayD, I'm pretty much a believer in going with the same brand of loader as the tractor, but for that difference in price, I might have to re-think that position./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[Blu21]

Ray,how does it attach to the front bumper(7106)?You use front weights with the loader attached?The reason I ask is,one there doesn't seem like there would be room for the weights with the loader on,second,on the 7106 if you remove it there is nothing in the way to prevent you from putting on the weights.Otherwise 1k saved seems like a deal.Tom