My 430 FEL is at the dealer!

[Crabgrass]

Dealer just picked up my 4400 for installation this morning. He expects it to be done today. I ended up getting the heavy duty bucket, level indicator and he's going to weld on some bucket hooks too.

No real news in this post; I'm just a bit excited to get a new toy! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JayC]

Congratulations! Don't forget to post some pictures of your new toy! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="green"> No real news in this post; I'm just a bit excited to get a new toy! </font>

Ha! You say that now! Soon you will realize what an important day this is!

Maybe your town will have an annual parade to remember it... Ok not THAT big, but close...

[PerryWhite]

I jokingly tell my dealer that it should be illegal for
them to sell a CUT without a Front End Loader.
Be careful though, you will now be tempted to spend
too much time on your 4400 and not get enough sleep at nights. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Post some pics asap and have fun.

[SteveH_CT]

Oh let me tell ya - you are in for some fun - I've found a lot of uses for the FEL, the best so far is moving tree trunks around my yard... much better than a wheelbarrow. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[yellowsocks93]

That's so true. We can't sell a compact or utility tractor unless it has a loader on it.

[stuart]

I have a 4300 with a 430 loader and was wondering if you have your tires filled with ballast or whether you have a ballast box or some other weight at the rear of the tractor. How much weight are you using to counterbalance the FEL?

[jrdellaratta]

I have a 430 on my 990; tires are filled, and have either a cutter or box on the 3ph at all times. Box may be unnecessary, given filled tires, but it does make a handy tool carrier. In any event, the box is usually filled with several cinder blocks and my tow chains.

[4710and110TLB]

On my 4710 I have the 460 and it has NO problem whatsoever picking up the rear of the tractor with 110 gallons of washer fluid in the rear tires, along with misc other weight on it. I Have even got the back end off with the ballast box and it weighs 1200 lbs. These loaders pack a punch! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Crabgrass]

Hi All. I was the original poster. Concerning ballast, I used the loader for 12 hours the first weekend I got it. I bought a Frontier 72" box blade at the same time and had it on the 3pt the whole time. Even though it only weighs about 350 lbs it was stable with a full load of loose dirt. I was pretty cautious, though, as Deere recommends a whopping 1300 lbs (yikes!) of ballast. I assume if you start loading some heavier material in the bucket you could get into trouble.

Since this is my first FEL I did some poking around in the safety forum trying to learn what got others in trouble. I really would like to keep my tractor's "shiny side up" if you know what I mean. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] From what I read, most problems occurred when:
1. The owner consistently used his FEL with some sort of ballast, but took the ballast off, forgot about it, and started working. Deere hydraulics are *strong* and won't bog down with a heavy load -- the result is the back of the tractor will raise up pretty easily.
2. Driving with the loader raised and hitting a hole or a bump. This one is much scarier as a roll-over can be the result.

I nearly did the second one even though I was very aware of it. I was working on a slight incline (10 degrees according to my tilt-o-meter) and dislodged a big rock. My "uphill" rear tire went over the rock at the same time my "downhill" rear tire went into the hole the rock left. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Instantly the tractor went to 25 degrees -- the max my tilt-o-meter reads!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Luckliy I had my seatbelt on and the loader was low and I was able to crawl out of the hole.

Man, I had to change my underwear after that one! I'm pretty particular about safety -- doing research on what got other into trouble, wearing my seatbelt, installing a tilt-o-meter, etc and it STILL happened. Sheesh... I don't even like thinking about it.

Ron