Float on BX

[EE_Bota]

OK - back to float....

BX23

I too had a problem this week while clearing snow - I had read of this and tried it a few times with no success - but it sounded very useful. Being new to this, I only tried about the same 'push' that had activated curl and lift - just tried for more shaft distance or a space for it to fit into - like an old manual shifter.

Is there a trick, or just how much extra force (2x,3x), any kind of detent to the shaft (up, down, twist)? How would one confirm a failure rather an operator problem?

THX

Not every Kubota has float perhaps, but the manual that came with my loader says directly that mine does have float.

I don't think there is a trick about it, but I do have to press harder to get it into float.
The detent balls that hold it in float will also offer resistance to keep you from going into float by accident. I have to push through the resistance of the detent balls, so perhaps one does have to press a bit harder, perhaps twice as hard?

The joystick in the video works opposite of my joystick, so to make sure there is no confusion, I think this would be correct in all cases, all loaders:

You push the joystick in the same direction that would make the bucket go down toward the ground. Push about twice as hard as normal down, and a bit faster (for a bit of momentum), and that should probably engage all but the most sticky floats. If that does not work, look at the manual that came with the loader (if you have the manual) and try to verify that your loader has a float position.

I would say a failure vs operator error would be that your manual says you have a float position, and you have done what I said above, and you tried once more pressing even harder, but were afraid you might break something, so you dicided that the valve is malfunctioning.

 

[EE_Bota]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/155314-float-position-front-end-loader.html

The link above has a good discussion about how to tell if you have float, and one possible fix if you do have float, but you can't get it to go into float.

 

[dodge man]

My BX goes into float fairly easy, about like the feeling of shifting gears on a manual transmission on a car, it just kind of notches in there. It is very handy for snow removal. I use it a lot when back dragging snow away from my garage doors as well as when going forward.

 

[tshep]

Well - based on other's experiences....

I went on out to the garage and tried it on a non-running tractor. (I won't start it in the garage - didn't take long to learn that!) Anyway, it didn't want to move past the 7 of 8 compass rose points. I gave it a good shove up towards 12:00 and it went, and stayed! - once. Now, it goes there - extreme 12:00 - and kinda' hangs a bit - but doesn't stay - it falls right back to regular 12:00 (it does bump past something on the way). Hope I didn't break anything expensive!
This is on a stopped engine. I'm hoping a spool or something gets set or reset when the hydraulic pressure is back up.

We missed last night's predicted snow - hoping for the weekend!

 

[gwdixon]

There may be an issue with some BXs not having a float valve position. Here is a thread that may give some useful information.

Problems with Float - BX2230, LA211 FEL - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

 

[DavidAubke]

(I won't start it in the garage - didn't take long to learn that!)

Do you push it out first? pull it out with another tractor? garage floor sloped towards the door? How does this work?

 

[tshep]

I leave a strap under the loader and over the 'bumper' hook, and pull it out with the truck. (It lifts the bucket a bit and doesn't scratch the concrete.) I can push it, but that strap over the 2 in ball on the Dodge is real easy and quick. If I start it inside, I get that visible start smoke and then smell it for 2 days. If I just back it in, fast, it blows right out.

Any thoughts on whether I broke it, or is it a part that regains movement over time?

 

[EE_Bota]

I leave a strap under the loader and over the 'bumper' hook, and pull it out with the truck. (It lifts the bucket a bit and doesn't scratch the concrete.) I can push it, but that strap over the 2 in ball on the Dodge is real easy and quick. If I start it inside, I get that visible start smoke and then smell it for 2 days. If I just back it in, fast, it blows right out.

Any thoughts on whether I broke it, or ir is it a part that regains movement over time?

I doubt you broke anything. Mine is not that great at staying in the float position, and I can work with it just fine, thanks to power steering.

 

[LBrown59]

I was smoothing my slag drive with My bx1500.
Lowered the front blade to back drag and got hung up with 2 much slag behind and in front of the blade.
Went to rise the blade and it wouldnt budge .
Needless to say I was stuck .

Next morning it hit me try the float and it worked allowing me to back the tractor up the drive way .
but i still couldn't get the blade to lift off the ground so i still had a problem .

Later discovered the 3 point was engaged was the reason the fromt blade would not raise up. Duh!

 

[Hondapro]

My BX goes into float fairly easy, about like the feeling of shifting gears on a manual transmission on a car, it just kind of notches in there. It is very handy for snow removal. I use it a lot when back dragging snow away from my garage doors as well as when going forward.

That is how my 2360 is also,it goes into float easly and will stay there.

 

[Matt_Jr]

Don't remember where I learned this, but I'm sure I read it somewhere. If you're back dragging over dirt to smooth out an area, and need more down pressure, fill the bucket with dirt and let it float. The extra down pressure will smooth stuff out more, and you won't be putting too much strain on the loader arms by using the loader like a dozer goin' backwards.

 

[fish6942]

Using the float position is a MUST for backdragging/smoothing operations. It also allows you to use a little more aggressive down angle during back dragging with less concern about bending a curl cylinder.

 

[David M]

I don't quite understand the fine points of it. Can you set the FEL say 2 inches above the ground, set it to float, then the FEL will lower itself to the ground and start floating? Or do you have to get it "just right" before you push it into float mode?

Thanks.

 

[Usta]

David M, you can put it in flaot anytime but I strongly sugest having the bucket on the ground. If you put it in float with the bucket in the air, it will SLAM to the ground. Not a good thing. When you lower the bucket, as soon as it is on the ground, simply push the lever farther forward.

 

[TripleR]

David M, you can put it in flaot anytime but I strongly sugest having the bucket on the ground. If you put it in float with the bucket in the air, it will SLAM to the ground. Not a good thing. When you lower the bucket, as soon as it is on the ground, simply push the lever farther forward.

Actually, I often put mine in float while it is in the air and it doesn't slam to the ground, it goes down at the same speed as if you were lowering it with the engine off.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Yep, mine doesn't slam either.

 

[Chilly807]

Actually, I often put mine in float while it is in the air and it doesn't slam to the ground, it goes down at the same speed as if you were lowering it with the engine off.

Mine does too, but faster than I'd like. I usually set it on the ground, then quickly push the lever into float. Occasionally it'll pick up the front of the tractor a bit before it goes in fully, it takes a few tries to get the feel of it.

I'm going to try the 2 inch bit and see how that works for me. Dropping the bucket a couple inches into snow won't hurt anything. I have two "skids" on the bottom of the bucket to keep the cutting edge off the ground.

Chilly

 

[traildust]

Reviewing my LA352 manual has the flowing note:

"Important: Do not move the control lever into float position when the bucket is off the ground."

The manual does not explain why. I have done it accidentally while moving lots of dirt and nothing bad seemed to happen, I just took it out of float.

 

[TripleR]

Mine does too, but faster than I'd like. I usually set it on the ground, then quickly push the lever into float. Occasionally it'll pick up the front of the tractor a bit before it goes in fully, it takes a few tries to get the feel of it.

I'm going to try the 2 inch bit and see how that works for me. Dropping the bucket a couple inches into snow won't hurt anything. I have two "skids" on the bottom of the bucket to keep the cutting edge off the ground.

Chilly

All I know about is the BX, the bigger Kubotas may very well go down quicker. A BX loader really isn't that heavy. I will have to re check my manual to see if my manual says anything, but the best I remember there isn't. I personally find I ca work quicker by putting it in float "on the go" rather than stopping to do so, but that's just me. I sure wouldn't recommend that others do everything I do with a tractor.

The FEL on my CX80 is a Westendorf and doesn't "slam down" either, but that really doesn't prove some won't.

 

[donn12]

For a lot of snow like we had last night I prefer to control the bucket instead of using float.