Float position?

[texasjohn]

My LA853 loader will slam down harder than I want if I have it off the ground any appreciable distance... I have gotten into the habit of lowering to about 1 inch off the ground then slamming it into FLOAT....

True, if I am REAL slow, then I do a wheelie because the FEL lifts the front off of the ground.

[RonMar]

Mine comes down at about the same rate in float as it does using pressure to lower it with the engine idling. Slamming to the ground would be a little inconvenient I use mine all the time to lower the bucket while I am shifting gears or something else. It frees up my hand for a few seconds to "multitask".

[john_bud]

NOTE OF CAUTION !

If you "float" down with a full load, you MUST continue until it hits the ground. Must. If you don't and flip it out of float, it will cause a dramatic pressure spike as the valve slams shut. Lines can burst and cylinder packings / seals can also fail. Think Hydraulic shower.

The pressure relief is on the OTHER SIDE of the valve.

jb

[Megado]

Thanks everyone for the explanation. I now have something new to tryout the next time I'm up at my property. Can't wait to smooth out the mess I made last weekend trying to back-drag without using the float technique.

Unfortunately I don't have my manual with me to read up on the specific details for NH but will take a look before hopping in the seat.

Jim H.

[kennyd]

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

[tlbuser]

Originally Posted by kennyd

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

I use this method so I don't have to remove the toothbar. Back dragging with the front edge down (toothbar on) doesn't leave a very smooth surface

[JB4310]

I personally prefer to use down pressure when back leveling with the front bucket, I do it with the heel up a little, for me that leaves the smoothest finish, of course that wouldn't work with a tooth bar.

As far as bjcsc's bucket slamming down, he says it weighs 730 #'s so that could be it, like I noticed when I'm in wheelie mode and hit float, the extra weight of the tractor will slam down pretty quickly.

[RonMar]

Originally Posted by kennyd

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

I find when I keep the bucket curled all the way, the heel digs in and I pickup too much material behind the bucket. I usually put the front edge down a bit. By going from bucket slightly dumped up to about 45 degrees, I can control how much material is drug along, or for how long while backing. The flatter the bucket is(without the heel digging in), the less dirt is drug along. Float is great, lately I have used mine a lot to cleanup after digging out stumps with the backhoe.

[bialecki]

Originally Posted by Megado

Thanks everyone for the explanation. I now have something new to tryout the next time I'm up at my property. Can't wait to smooth out the mess I made last weekend trying to back-drag without using the float technique.

Unfortunately I don't have my manual with me to read up on the specific details for NH but will take a look before hopping in the seat.

Jim H.

Megado, when you back blade in the float position, a filled FEL creates a nice packed surface. Try filling the FEL with soil, rock or what ever. I find the more I fill my 60" bucket the nicer the compressed smoothed soil becomes. You may already be doing this but I figured I would add to this thread with my two cents.

[RonMar]

Originally Posted by john_bud

NOTE OF CAUTION !

If you "float" down with a full load, you MUST continue until it hits the ground. Must. If you don't and flip it out of float, it will cause a dramatic pressure spike as the valve slams shut. Lines can burst and cylinder packings / seals can also fail. Think Hydraulic shower.

The pressure relief is on the OTHER SIDE of the valve.

jb

This same warning applies when lowering a full/heavy bucket without float and closing the valve(handle back to center) since the valve spool must pass thru the lowering position when being moved from the float position to the center position...