Top 10 things NOT to do with a new loader!

Gale Hawkins · Apr 9, 2010

Good advice to the fuel. With FEL work I like to set it at about 1000 and just use the foot fuel control if I need more. I found the shuttle shift is faster than clutching and braking too when needing to get stopped fast.

big e · May 29, 2010

When bushogging next to woods drive with the loader control away from the trees, they like to operate the FEL too.
and
Apparently, the FEL is not a bulldozer. When pushing trees, limbs, and brush... don't hit stumps or you may have hydro (liquid gold) all over your woods. Broken seals are expensive!

montyhp · May 29, 2010

Don't do what I did...

Cut a tree and it ended up hung on two other trees (widowmaker!) So I took my brand new (less than 5 hrs) tractor with the bucket fresh from the welder getting hooks put on. I hooked a chain around the trunk of the hung tree twice and to both hooks. The tractor did a great job of pulling the tree down, but I didn't leave enough slack in the chains, so the tree dropped, the end of the trunk closest to the tractor pushed up on the bottom of the bucket and actually bent it up.:ashamed: Anybody got a hydraulic ram I can use to bend it back?

montyhp (feeling like quite a maroon).

South TX

rekees4300 · May 29, 2010

Consider yourself lucky ... could have been much worse. I personally don't use a tractor on trees until AFTER they are on the ground.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/169618-another-man-dies-tractor-accident.html

Gale Hawkins · May 29, 2010

rekees4300 said:
Consider yourself lucky ... could have been much worse. I personally don't use a tractor on trees until AFTER they are on the ground.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/169618-another-man-dies-tractor-accident.html

Especially if it is tied to you.

deere5105 · May 30, 2010

Have run tractors w/o FEL for over 20 years. This is my first one with FEL. Yesterday while mowing came into contact with trees on several occasions. I leave bucket on so I can push limbs that have fallen out of the way. Every time I think I can take it off I wind up finding something I should have left it on for. I kept thinking I had allowed enough distance to not contact the trees, but the sudden stop assured me I hadn't. Looked the FEL over good and didn't see any signs of damage. Recommend going slow when working in tight quarters no matter what you are doing.

ShenandoahJoe · May 31, 2010

deere5105 said:
Every time I think I can take it off I wind up finding something I should have left it on for.

Amen. I leave mine on all the time, and tell myself it's counterweight.

RadarTech · May 31, 2010

Be careful dumping stuff over banks.. watch the front tires and then keep your foot on the brake...

Dropped a front tire over a bank once, and the wife, step daughter and her boyfriend were all nearby.. Actually had to enlist the boyfriend to drive my truck to help me pull the tractor off the edge.

Embarrassing to the extreme... Wife was actually laughing at me on this one.. being as I am normally so careful with the tractor she could not get over me screwing up here.....

kinda irked me that she was laughing, as I was only an few inches from flipping over that bank....

anyway---

be careful out there....

J

RoyJackson · May 31, 2010

deere5105 said:
Have run tractors w/o FEL for over 20 years. This is my first one with FEL. Yesterday while mowing came into contact with trees on several occasions. I leave bucket on so I can push limbs that have fallen out of the way. Every time I think I can take it off I wind up finding something I should have left it on for. I kept thinking I had allowed enough distance to not contact the trees, but the sudden stop assured me I hadn't. Looked the FEL over good and didn't see any signs of damage. Recommend going slow when working in tight quarters no matter what you are doing.

If your FEL has a quick attach bucket, drop it off while you're mowing. It only takes a minute or two.
It's easier on the front axle, more visibility to see how close you are to the trees (they sure to stop you fast, don't they?) and the machine's overall length is about 3 feet shorter for better maneuvering.

rekees4300 · May 31, 2010

RadarTech said:
Be careful dumping stuff over banks.. watch the front tires and then keep your foot on the brake...

Dropped a front tire over a bank once, and the wife, step daughter and her boyfriend were all nearby.. Actually had to enlist the boyfriend to drive my truck to help me pull the tractor off the edge.

Embarrassing to the extreme... Wife was actually laughing at me on this one.. being as I am normally so careful with the tractor she could not get over me screwing up here.....

kinda irked me that she was laughing, as I was only an few inches from flipping over that bank....

anyway---

be careful out there....

J

Been there done that. Dumping rocks on the inside of the pond dam for erosion control. I was aware of the danger. Nevertheless, got one front wheel over the dam lip and that's all it took. 3 seconds later the tractor was in the pond! Using 4WD, rear ballast box and slammed on the brakes but those weren't enough to offset the weight of a bucket full of rocks, steep slope, and gravity. Had to call a wrecker to pull it out. Cost $70 and considerable embarrassment.:ashamed: