Our first two FEL equipped tractors had the loader controls on the loader and I didn't have any real complaints, but now that I have gotten use to fender and side console mounts, I find the loader mounts annoying; just what you get use to I guess.
A question on this issue, but first, a caveat:
I'm assuming the fender-mounted and loader-mounted sticks on the Grand L's and the B2630's are physically the same units, dimension-wise, etc.... If anyone knows otherwise, please comment, so I'm not trying to compare apples to oranges here. Thanks.
I tried a BX25 and a B2630, both with Loader-mounted FEL sticks. My father is 86 years old, and owned and operated dirt equipment (977's, D-5's? etc...) for many years before going to all hydraulic cranes, for 20 years. His largest crane was a 55 tonner.
He said his friend's Grand L (5740? 4750? Neither of us can remember--he said it had the cab and the whole shebang, costing in excess of $50K) has the fender-mounted joystick.
My Dad said that he found that WITH IT'S SHORTER LENGTH,
the Grand L's fender-mounted stick is actually HARDER TO DUMP AND CURL ACCURATELY, when doing fine work (I'm imagining loading equipment, etc...--not simply moving dirt).
He explained that the longer stick on the loader-mounted models actually gives you
MORE CONTROL, due to the larger movements required. (I think his comment only applies to longer, loader-mounted sticks on FEL's
generally--I don't think he's operated a loader-mounted stick on a
Kubota--just the fender-mounted one, on the Grand L, above),
Anyway, again, he found the dump circuit on the fender-mounted control would "dump awful quick, if you're not careful, as it's a little harder to control, with it's shorter stroke."
He STILL works, sometimes, as it suits him, in the crane business, as he likes it, but he has used this Grand L a lot, recently. He spoke very highly of it, otherwise, and said the owner overworks it mercilessly, and yet "nothin' broke." :thumbsup:
I just wondered if anyone else could comment on this issue, as I want to possibly order a B2630 with the fender-mounted (short stick).
My concern is, much of my work will be more "precision work" (loading/unloading with SSQA forks)
and I am concerned about the dump circuit being too hard to exert consistent fine-motor-control over, if my father's experience is generally true of the Kubota fender-mounted joysticks.
Btw, my Dad is a WWII combat veteran (motor pool sergeant who was running dozers, cranes, etc...in the Philippines, when he wasn't being shot at or bombed--they lost almost half their unit when the ammo dump was blown up--may they R.I.P.),
so he's been in construction for 67+ YEARS, still runs cranes, and takes a motor home KISS would tour in, across the country, to truck shows, so he's still an expert operator, bless his soul, not to mention the gentlest "gentleman" I've ever known, despite a lifetime in the construction business. (Please knock on REAL wood for him, three times--I'm superstitious--thanks!).
So I
was going to take his advice, and get the B2630's standard, LOADER-mounted FEL lever, but a recent back injury (and surgery)
has me wondering if I really want to LEAN FORWARD to operate the FEL.
Does the LOADER-MOUNTED "LONG-stick" REQUIRE one to lean forward, on the B2630? I can't remember if I actually HAD to lean forward to use the loader-mounted FEL lever I tested out last year, before I was injured, as I was not conscious of this potential issue back then. I'm hoping it won't be an issue now, but I'm thinking I should play it safe and get the fender-mounted stick, just in case.
But if it IS too sensitive to control accurately, for fork-work (loading my truck, installing/removing my 300+lb. pick up cap, etc...) then the fender-mounted stick could cause more problems than it's worth, potentially.
And the only fender-mounted sticks I've used were 20+ years ago, on his 480 and 580K Case backhoes.
I'm assuming physical size has something to do with it, so I'll tell you that I'm 5'10-ish and height/wt. proportionate--other than the Heineken baby I'm carrying. :laughing:
Thanks,
My Hoe
