FEL w/o Power Steering

[JimBinMI]

Yea, yea, I know! I said that I had no plans on having a FEL on my TC18 so I bought it without power steering, however...I didn't plan on having this much snow either!
We already have more snow this year than we did all of last winter and it's not even winter until Dec. 21!

I am planning on checking prices on a 3 pt. snowblower but I know that they aren't cheap and I can only use it for a couple of months a year. However, if I get a FEL, I can do some snow removal to compliment my rear blade and use it for many other things too. What do you guys think?

Another question, for those of you out there with FELs and NO power steering, how is it? Should I consider it? Should I only consider trading up to power steering?

Any ideas/opinions/suggestions appreciated, JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

JimBinMI, my opinion is to just buy the front end loader and put it on that TC18. I think a FEL is one of the handiest attachments you'll ever use.

And yes, I love the power steering. That was the main reason I traded up from the B7100 to the B2710, but I used that B7100 without power steering for 4 years. It takes a little more muscle to turn, especially with a load in the bucket, but not an insurmountable problem. A lot of us are old enough to remember driving cars without power steering, and we managed pretty well, but want the power steering now.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I haven't owned one myself but the several people I know who owned tracors with FEL's without power steering said it was miserable trying to turn with any weight in the bucket.

I don't think the loader would work as well at moving snow as the blade except for the fact that you would be able to stack the piles higher. I think a snowblower would be faster than using a back blade and you never have to worry about where to put the piles.

I had a 32" JD walk behind snowblower that I used to clear the driveway with. I found that if I had just a couple inches of snow then using a back blades was quicker, however, if the snow was deep enough (more than 4") it was actually faster to use the walk behind snow blower. I just bought a new tractor with a loader and I still think I will buy a 3 pt. snowblower for it.

Good Luck

 

[Thomas]

Jim,
Haven't heard from you in a while,and thought maybe you were still diggin yourself out of the snow storms.

Birds right about not having power steering,for my B7100 hasn't any power steering.
During the winter use with the plow and the FEL,its isn't all that bad with out power steering,just don't let your front tire catch a snow bank while your traveling...ouch. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Little advice..keep your NH in 4wd when useing your FEL during snow removeal. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Once you have your FEL you will wonder how you ever got a long with out it.
I guess your on winter break out there from school, /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif so have fun and relax.

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

 

[JimBinMI]

Thomas,

Thanks, for the advice. Not on winter break until next Wednesday but had a snow day on Tuesday and another one today! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Just talked to my dealer and he has a FEL in stock and can install it for $3,000 and that the 4x4 would help steer the tractor some. Now I just have to see if I can justify it in the checkbook or credit! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I know that I would get use out of it year around.

If I bought a snowblower, it would probably go to 40 degrees and stay there the rest of the winter! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

My wife even said that it made more sense to buy a FEL than a 3 pt. snowblower. She even gave the go ahead...as long as she continues to get what she wants! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

JimBinMI

 

[JimBinMI]

Bird,

Thanks for the reply, I drove some old cars without power steering too, we used to call it power steering made by "arm strong"! Also had a 65' Malibu that would sometimes stall in the rain, before I put new wires and distributor cap on it, and then you had no power steering.

Don't know what I'll do but this snow could get unmanageable this winter! It was -3 degrees yesterday morning, chance of rain/mix of rain and sleet/sleet on Saturday.

Need to go out and plow again, JimBinMI

 

[RobS]

Jim, your last sentence reminded me of a joke I'll throw on the off topics forum...

Hope you are still enjoying the snow /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Rob

 

[RobertN]

Jim,
I put a loader on Kubota B8200 last year. Yes, it was about $3k installed; that seems about right. I do not have power steering either. It is harder to steer with a heavy load, and when going slow. It's definitely do-able though. I use it all the time.

As was mentioned too, a FEL will TOTALLY change the dynamics of your tractor. You will be amazed that you ever lived without it!

It would be expensive, but is a PS upgrade available for you TC18? It would make it nicer, but is in no way required.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[Bird]

RobertN, I just talked to a dealer who told me Tisco makes a complete tip 'n tilt kit (hoses, valve, both cylinders, etc.) for the B8200 and B9200. Don't know how well it would adapt to the B2710, but he also quoted me a price of $861.00 for that kit./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Bird

 

[JimBinMI]

RobertN,

I checked with my dealer and to their knowledge, there is no power steering add on for the TC18, you either buy it with it or not. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

JimBinMI