Silly question: float position?

   / Silly question: float position? #1  

davesisk

Platinum Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2002
Messages
864
Location
Raleigh, NC USA
Tractor
Massey-Ferguson MF 1220
OK, so I've seen several times someone mentioning putting the bucket or snow plow in "float position". What is it? Why use it? I know this is a silly question, but having this PT1418 is nearly my first exposure to "heavy equipment".

Regards,
Dave
 
   / Silly question: float position? #2  
If you push the joy stick all the way forward it should stay in float (not come back). It keeps the implement floating so it can move up and down freely, only the weight of the implement keeps it down. I use it a lot so the implement will ride on the terrain rather than lifting up or digging in.
PTRich
 
   / Silly question: float position? #3  
If you pull the joystick back, the arms raise. If you release the joystick it springs back to the center position.

If you push the joystick forward, the bucket lowers. If you release it, it again springs back to the center position.

If you push the joystick as far forward as it will go, it will go past an indent and stay there. It will not spring back. This is the float position.

When in the float position, there is no hydraulic pressure forcing the arms up or down, just gravity. This is the position that you operate a mower in. It allows the mower to float along with the ground, riding over small dips and bumps. This position is also useful for backdragging the bucket or a box scraper for final grading and such. It floats along and glides over things. You can use this position for the snow plow when going forward. The gauge wheels keep the blade from biting into the surface. However, it is very hard to use the bucket in float and going forward. This is true of most FELs on most tractors. The bucket will tend to dig in and the tractor will want to ride up on the loader arms, lifting the front wheels off of the ground. You can get around that by curling the bucket back until the leading edge just comes off of the surface. I've had little success with this technique, but on occasion use it, just to see if it will work /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you find the float position on your machine.
 
   / Silly question: float position?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Duh, OK I understand. And "yup", I found it, I just didn't know what it was called. I also didn't realize that pushing the lever forward until it clicked relied only on gravity to keep it down. Thanks for the explanation!

Regards,
Dave
 
   / Silly question: float position? #5  
Well I have learned something new today! THanks

KCook
 
 
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