Safe FEL use or not?

JDgreen227 · Jul 4, 2004

During this weekend's reroofing project my JD and loader was quite an asset, it greatly reduced the work involved in moving two layers of old shingles to a dumpster a distance away. We also used the loader bucket with a built up platform to hoist the bundles of new shingles to roof level, much easier than using a ladder.

My query is, how many TBN members use their FEL as a work platform when they need more space and stability than a ladder provides? We were working on a very steep roof and it was more practical to stand in the elevated bucket to work on the first few feet of the lower roof. Yes, I know the manual that is provided with a new loader warns against that stunt, as do numerous stickers plastered on the loader itself.
We did NOT operate the loader with anyone in it, the method was to climb a ladder, and enter the elevated bucket.

As the loader leaks down, the bucket settles, and we would exit it every 15 minutes, stand on the ladders and have my wife start the tractor and elevate the bucket once anew. The job is done, and we escaped injury, and would use the same method again if it seemed practical. The tractor was always off when someone was in the bucket, parking brake on, and the loader was so close to the house if it lost several inches of height the bucket would have scraped the building and stopped downward movement.

Do you guys think this an unsafe way to use the FEL? My feelings were, the loader bucket is less likely to fall than a ladder, and we had more space, thus being less prone to over reach. I'd welcome your comments, good or bad.

Thanks.

RoyJackson · Jul 4, 2004

As long as there was someone manning the tractor to keep the loader in position, I'd do it.

Bob_Skurka · Jul 4, 2004

Well I've never done that BUT what I have done that is similar, and also against the rules (and is probably a black mark on my "permenant record" somewhere) is stood on pallet forks of a forklift and used that as a platform to work. I've even been lifted up on the forks (which I am sure is a much bigger no-no).

What I would be more concerned with if I was you is the excessive bleed down of your bucket.

Henro · Jul 4, 2004

I've done it too...

The real risk is if a hose on the side of the cylinder that is holding the bucket up would fail, the loader could drop suddenly and without warning.

Myself I consider this a remote possiblility, but I also remember someone in the past reporting how he had his bucket up in the air holding something, and a hose burst without warning, and the bucket and whatever it was holding crashed to the ground. So it COULD happen...

Cliff_Johns · Jul 4, 2004

Safety is a relative thing. Roofing your own building is a safety risk, so is being on a ladder. The likelyhood of a hose breaking is probably within the same limits as the ladder rung breaking, or you missing a rung when you are manuvering around to get to what you need.

Seems like a relatively safe thing to me, but it is a calculated risk.

Cliff

zuiko · Jul 4, 2004

I think I would leave the machine running so it maintains the level of the loader. Other than that it doesn't sound like a bad idea. Roofing a steeply pitched roof is dangerous proposition no matter how you do it.

DannyD · Jul 4, 2004

Guess my idea of being in the bucket to trim my cedars is also a no no, but that is the idea I have. Now all I need is the gas powered trimmer, and the wife to be in a good mood so she can operate the tractor with me in the bucket..........I need to make sure she is not mad at me, in other words.

beenthere · Jul 4, 2004

Safe?
I can tell you 'unsafe'.
That is putting a 40' extension ladder in the bucket of a C Farmall when I was 16, and spray painting the side of a barn that was 50' from the ground. THEN, tired of climbing all the way down each time to move over a few feet, the 22 year old farmer's son just jockeyed the tractor 'crab style' and I jiggled the ladder over (just to save that long trip down and back up). Lasted about half way down the side of the barn (thought we were pretty clever at the time, as the painting was going pretty fast).
Then, a rear tractor wheel dipped into a shallow hole, the bucket moved a loooooong ways, and the ladder came down along the barn with me at the top.
Broke the ladder in many pieces when the top of the ladder hit a large corner post at the corner of the barn, which broke my fall as I went through the ladder. Came to rest standing up, with one hand resting on top of the corner post. Unbelievable, but its just the way it happened. Farmer was most upset because it was a borrowed 40' extension ladder.
Now, that was 'unsafe'. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

JimR · Jul 4, 2004

Works for me. I remember trimming the tops off of the apple trees for my father in law many years ago. I was up in the bucket of my old 8N with a chainsaw.

markct · Jul 5, 2004

well heres my view on this, often times in industrial sutiations a man basket is used on a forklift, this is considered safe by osha provided that it has the proper height railings and is attached to the forklift by a safety chain so it cant slide off the forks. in this case you are also relying on hydraulic hoses and cylinders just as you are in the loader, so in my opinion as long as you hoses and such are in good shape i wouldnt worry much about the loader dropping but since you have no safety railings you should be carefull but its no more dangerous than working on a plank of scaffolding or a ladder for that matter, even being lifted up in the bucket is almost safer than climbing a ladder and getting into it that way

caddison · Jul 5, 2004

JD,

Last year our fair board built two new buildings in our live stock area, a new sheep barn and show arena. We used a JD 4300 with a carrier carried by forks on the FEL on the 4300. We had a person on the tractor at all times manning the controls and keeping things level. It saved a great deal of time and we spent many hours without incident. We also used one on a CAT Telehandler and a IH 1256. They were safe and very handy.

Richard · Jul 6, 2004

Regarding the bursting of a hose at an inopportune moment... seems to me there are TWO hoses holding the loader up?

If ONE side burst, wouldn't the loader sag but not necessarily fall to ground?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Would the bursting of one side be reasonably expected to overload the other side hence, bursting it or twisting something?

Just seems to me that if a single side burst, you'd probably be hurting (in danger of falling out/other) but seems to me it wouldn't dictate the bucket crashing to earth.

What happens in the real world?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Oh, and I side with the calculated risk side. Seems to me if I just got done carrying a 3,000 rock, it will HOPEFULLY carry my sub 1,000 lb body /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif (but I've never done it)

markct · Jul 6, 2004

yea but both hoses are connected to the same valve, they are just teed off the same line, so one goes the other drops too, but still i wouldnt worry too much, usualy hoses blow when on max pressure, what im trying to say is that your fel is usualy rated to lift many times more than the weight of two guys, so you have a safety factor of many times, if you have a loader rated to lift 2000 lbs, then two 250lbs guys still leaves you with a 4 to 1 factor of safety, and thats not to mention that the loader has a safety factor built into it originaly so you actualy have more than 4 to 1, now of course if your hoses are frayed and rusty then i would be much more leary of using it this way, but as long as everything is in decent condition i would consider it perfectly safe

Richard · Jul 6, 2004

( yea but both hoses are connected to the same valve, they are just teed off the same line, so one goes the other drops too )

How obvious

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Shows how often I look at my plumbing

beenthere · Jul 6, 2004

Just a broken hyd hose won't allow a free-fall, but a controlled drop as the oil is pushed out the broken hose.
Wouldn't want to be standing under it nonetheless, but riding the bucket down probably would be just a new thrill, with outside chance of some sore spots. Not a life-threatening ordeal, IMO.

(Not even as good a ride as when a kid, we would take turns climbing up to 40' in aspen trees, while the other buddy would chop it down with a hatchet, and the rider crashing down through the other trees to the ground. We didn't have all this controlled organized play that the protected kids in today's society have /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

bandit67 · Jul 6, 2004

beenthere,

Your childhood stories crack me up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Certainly not very "PC" by today's "standards". Boy, sometimes I miss the good old days, where kids laughed when they got hurt while playing, instead of getting a lawyer. Takes all the fun out of being a kid. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif What kind of cool stories are today's kids gonna be able to tell when they grow up.

DannyD · Jul 6, 2004

Kind of reminds me of the ole tree in the woods at dad's. At the very top of it...........very tall to a 10 year old, but still tall today for a 46 year old. At the very top are the initials dd loves bg. still do today, and no that is not Holly's other name. next time I am at moms, I am going for a walk in the woods, they told me the forts, and playhouses are still there, i sure hope so.

Sadly the stories of today will be of shootings in high schools, kids in prison, etc. Can you imagine a generation that does not know what an long play album is, or 8 tracks tape, or even cassette tape? I get to live next to some of this, the son is not out of high school, and on house arrest. Kids these days have it made, or so they think.

OK, enough down memory lane.........I want a coke in a little glass bottle with a cap you have to pry off

Junkman · Jul 6, 2004

( OK, enough down memory lane.........I want a coke in a little glass bottle with a cap you have to pry off )

Heck.... I'm so old that I can remember when Coke had real cocaine as one of the ingredients!!!!! That was back in the 1950's in Cuba..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and, yes, it came in a green glass bottle with the name of one of the bottling plants on the bottom /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif....

slowrev · Jul 7, 2004

Danny,
Just think, these kids are tomorrows adults /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif And one day one of them might be president /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
On the brighter side maybe they will get all of the criminal acts out of their system before they go into politics.

AndyM · Jul 7, 2004

and, yes, it came in a green glass bottle with the name of one of the bottling plants on the bottom 

You mean one of these? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I own antiques that are as old as Junkman! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[ducking]