FEL w/o Power Steering

[jima1]

JimBinMI,

You've probably gotten all the advice you need from the experts by now, but here's my $0.02 based on B7200HST experience:

Yes it can be hard to turn with a heavy load, but keeping an implement on the rear and keeping the tires properly inflated makes a big difference. On snow, you won't even notice the effort /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I do find the loader practically useless outside of 4WD and low range. Hydraulics are very slow unless RPMs are kept >2000 (no doubt the TC18 will be better in this dept). Biggest problem IMHO is the danger of a broken wrist if you hang on too tight and a front wheel catches on something /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Also watch the tight spots now, you'll be quite a bit longer. For high usage, I'd get a tractor with PS, but as a weekend amateur it's in the expensive luxury category.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Estif]

Thomas;

Deep South. Grew up in the midwest, so I know about snow. Winters here don't get up to needing chains...and I've finally come to like it that way.

Steve

 

[DennisY]

If the better 1/2 says o.k. strike while the iron is hot!!

 

[JATO_RaT]

Jim, its hard to say how your tractor will turn with the added weight of not so much the loader but that load in the bucket which extends many feet in front of the tractor effectively compounding the weight over the wheels. I would not let that stop me from putting a loader on since it is the second most useful tool on the tractor. Steering will be harder no doubt, particularly when you are not rolling (moving forward or backwards). The answer to that is to do as I do and turn, be it forward or backwards while the tractor is rolling. Having power steering, I still find that most of the time I roll before I turn, not only is it easier to turn, but I know it saves the tires
"The only down-side I can see to your getting an FEL is that the rest of us will have to put up with a whole new batch of "MIGHTY TC18" remarks," Oh Mark, Hehehehehehehehe.

 

[Thomas]

Rat,
Since the FEL the second most useful tool on a tractor,/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifwhat would be the first useful tool on a tractor?

Oh I don't think Jim will say to much./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JimBinMI]

Thomas,

We got another 4-6 inches last night, with drifting!

More justification for the front end loader! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

I told my wife that if we get much more snow the FEL will not be a "Want", it will be a "NEED"! I emailed the guy that mentioned the Great Bend FEL that he bought for $1950, waiting to find out if it's quick detach like the New Holland or not. I think I will NEED a quick detach since I don't want to mow with it on.

I'll be going outside pretty soon here to move around some more snow...still having fun!

JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

JimBinMI, in my opinion you've got the right idea; GET A QUICK ATTACH loader. When I had the B7100, it was not a quick attach, and of course, you can do what you want to do with it on there all the time, but it sure is a lot less convenient. Besides being a little bit of a visibility obstruction when mowing and tilling, I sometimes had to raise, or lower, it to avoid fences, tree limbs, etc. And when mowing with the brush hog on rough ground, the tractor rides much smoother without the loader. The weight of the loader out in front causes the front end to bounce up and down more on rough ground at higher speeds.

Bird

 

[Thomas]

Jim,
Maybe your first idea was better [snowblower}with all the snow thats falling out there,heck your not really into winter yet. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Kinda wish you send some snow my way...so I can enjoy going out to play...oops work.

Bird is right about being aware when useing other attachments with the FEL on the tractor,got my mailbox once and couple of trees. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

50 degress here and a wild day weather wise. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif



Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

Bird,
I'm sure you still remember changing the fuel filter also oil filter how you had to twist and bend yourself around also washing and waxing the B7100 /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif...not much room w/ the FEL on the tractor and always remember to keep an eye open when servicing the FEL..ouch...bang on the head. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Don't tell Jim what he in for just yet. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Thomas, I remember all of it except the waxing. I'm too lazy to do that./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif It is a little easier servicing a tractor without the FEL on it, though.

Bird