FEL Damage

[Rowski]

First major damage to the new tractor, well it not new anymore 180hrs. Scratches and dents don't bother me to much. I try to avoid them but the happen. This damage is to the structure, and I don't like that kind.

What happened, I Think, is that I was using the FEL to remove one day, 10 hrs worth. The next time I used the FEL the snow in there turned to ice. Black bucket getts heated up by sun, below freezing temps at night. When I curled the bucket it tried to compress the ice and damaged the FEL arm. In the summer I never had a build up problem with dirt or even mud. Most of the time the snow doesn't stay in there either but it did that day.

It split the weld. Concaved the top of the arm. Sides are bowed out a little. I have already welded a plate on it.

I didn't feel anything when it broke. I noticed it when greasing the FEL.

Hopefully this doesn't happen to others playing or working in snow. I keep an eye on it and clean it out when needed.

Derek

 

[RobS]

OUCH! That's a bummer. Thanks for sharing though, maybe the rest of us can avoid a similar plight.

I've had the snowblower on my garden tractor frozen to my barn floor from melting/freezing. Once had to use a sledgehammer to free up. Now I leave it raised while stored.

Water sure is powerful stuff, isn't it /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boondox]

Ouch! I think all of us living in snow country are familiar with the gripping power of ice, but it never fails to amaze me. In fact, having been iced out of my vehicles many times, I wish auto makers would offer optional D-handles on the driver's door for those days when you just gotta rip the damned thing open!

Having escaped your situation with no damage, In winter I now lower the FEL and rear blade onto blocks of wood...but not in line with the tires /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pete

 

[Rowski]

Pete

You may try coating the weather stripping (seal) around the door with silicone. I usually by a spray can soak the rag down and wipe it along the seal. This helps a lot but doesn't do anything for the door handle getting coated over with ice.

Derek

 

[Thomas]

Yikes. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
hard to believe that frozen water can do so much damage at time.

I tried my darnest to keep an eye open where joints collect snow than turn to ice....like the steering rods and joints.

Still waiting to see your snow plow for winging back the banks.

Hope these coming storm will be easier on you.

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

 

[gordon]

Derek, don't start tearing up the tractor just kus I do. I'm sorry to hear of your problem but the good thing is that it's fixable. Amazing the power of ice. How is the tractor working out for you pushing back the banks???
Good luck
Gordon

 

[Boondox]

I've still got a can of silicone around here somewhere. Usually I leave them in the garage and they stop working the first time the mercury dips below zero...but I think I remembered to bring one inside this year. Thanks!

Pete

 

[DFB]

Derek,

I know just what your sayin' about that snow and ice buildup where the bucket pivots. I get that too. Been tryin to keep it clean. Not much chance to melt in this cold weather being outdoors all the time. I'll watch it even closer know. It's too bad we had to learn about it this way.

DFB

 

[caddison]

Rowski,

Thanks for the heads up. I have used my loader to move a ton of snow this winter and never even thought about that. Appreciate it!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Don't feel to alone, I had a rock wedged behind my bucket on my Ford backhoe, between the end of the dipperstick and my bucket. In use things sometimes get stuck in places, usually in the teeth and then you have to "floss" by running the bucket on the ground or on a stump.

This time a rock had fallen from the sides of the trench probably. (have to get out my TLB book and re-read that page about doing a professional job i.e. keeping the top of the sides of the trench clean). Being I guess terminally dumb and lazy I tried different positions to bounce the rock out, even lifted the dipper all the way up, would have been great if the rock rolled out, bounced off the dipper/boom junction like a ball in a pin-ball machine and hit me in the fore head. Maybe then I would have learned without damaging the hoe. I curled the bucket back (open). Rock didn't come out but I assumed hydraulics would stall when bucket hit rock.

WRONG /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif hydraulics stalled after bucket it rock and then due the great leverage pushed it backwards crushing and splitting open the dipper stick. My friend the huge equipment repair guy repaired it so it is better than it was originally, also at the time put some rock/dirt guards to protect the grease fittings (kind of a poor man's way of trying to copy what Kubota has done on their newer hoes). Now and then he would throw something out to amuse himself...

"Man the people they sell these tractors to!" /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I'm convinced that when I finally retire from all this work I'll be hoping I'll have a grandchild to help to avoid my pitfalls. By then I hope I have it all under my belt. Would be nice to have it a little beforehand, and this board's a good way to do that!

dig on!

del