Float on BX

[montelatici]

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

Frankly, float might be fine for snow on gravel, but on asphalt the bucket will hang up on the surface with any kind of negative (biting) angle on the bucket. It will not hang up with a positive angle on the bucket but then you really can't get down to the asphalt. So, unless I am doing something wrong, manual adjustment of the bucket angle and height seems to be preferable.

 

[TripleR]

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

Frankly, float might be fine for snow on gravel, but on asphalt the bucket will hang up on the surface with any kind of negative (biting) angle on the bucket. It will not hang up with a positive angle on the bucket but then you really can't get down to the asphalt. So, unless I am doing something wrong, manual adjustment of the bucket angle and height seems to be preferable.

As with most applications using my FEL, I use a combination of float and manual; not sure there are many situations in which one will work best all of the time except maybe smooth concrete. I doubt that I will ever "perfect" the use of FEL, just too many variables and not enough skill.

 

[keyman1808]

I agree with Montelatici. When I clear my driveway I prefer to control the bucket. I like a little downward pressure and curl the cutting edge ever so slightly to get a good clean pass. Float will sometimes kick the bucket up and leave snow behind.

 

[tshep]

Well - after that little bit we got in Richmond - it did float!
But, it didn't stick in float, and sure seems like it would be handy. I'll try working on the detent system in the spring.
I have a lot of poorly overpatched asphault, and float worked a lot better than a fixed position on the edges I couldn't see.

 

[gwdixon]

Well - after that little bit we got in Richmond - it did float!
But, it didn't stick in float, and sure seems like it would be handy. I'll try working on the detent system in the spring.
I have a lot of poorly overpatched asphault, and float worked a lot better than a fixed position on the edges I couldn't see.

Sometimes condensation will build up in the spring area of the detent valve. Don't try to take it apart!!! Ball bearings will go everywhere.

A fix it to drill a 1/8" hole in the bottom of the long silver tube on the control that holds the detent valve. Then spray WD40 with the straw attached up into through the hole to displace the moisture and lube everything inside. Repeat every time you grease the zerks.

 

[tshep]

Mr Dixon?... or others - I got bored when our storm didn't show!

BX23 - I don't think I have a "bottom of the long silver tube on the control that holds the detent valve" that I can discern. I do have two fairly equal black hexagons (right hand one is pretty tight - trying CCW). I'm looking at the bottom of the control, past the casting, at the extreme end from the lever.
If mine looks that different should I drill and squirt it anyway? Different syle, different fix? Does it disassemble? (I read the warnings - !)

 

[Chilly807]

I tried dropping the loader into float mode with it a few inches off the ground on Sunday. No big deal, it just settles down as fast as the fluid can get out of the cylinders. I doubt it will harm anything other than possibly aerating the hydraulic fluid a bit from cavitation.

Chilly