Practice Removing Your FEL

Squeak n Itch · Jun 14, 2010

I am just now getting to the dangerous stage. Thinking that I have enough seat time to be good at it. Then along comes a post and I realize that I've never taken off the FEL. First impression - my tractor looked naked!!
Putting the FEL back on was a little bit more of a challenge but probably the third or fourth time I'll get the hang of just how to hit the sweet spot. Thanks to all for both the encouragement and tips.

BXRICK · Jun 14, 2010

I've had my tractor (BX1500) for over 6 years now. I leave the FEL on in the winter for snow/firewood duty. In the summe,r the tractor mainly mows, but does other things too, often using the FEL.
So, each spring, I am "reminded" to take the FEL off when mowing. It seems that each spring I say I'll just be careful and mow with the FEL still on.
This year I was reminded by the dog fence. Last year it was a rock wall.

Anyway, I have now started taking it off to mow, and putting it right back on when I'm done mowing. This way, it's always ready to go if I need it when doing a non-mowing chore. I keep in practice taking it off and putting it back on. The FEL doesn't have a chance to settle over a few weeks of non-use, which can make it hard er to put back on.
It adds to the mowing time a small amount, but seems to work.
We'll see what I do next spring.

buckeyefarmer · Jun 15, 2010

That's one thing I like about the Kubota, the loaders are so easy to take off and put on. Just do it on a flat area and put a board under the stands.

Squeak n Itch · Jun 19, 2010

OK, once past the first time I found that the technique I missed was getting the tractor lined up with both sides before performing any further steps. Now, thanks to the prompting of this group it is a good, efficient and straightforward (less intimidating) process.
Thanks again for the encouragement!

montyhp · Jun 19, 2010

Squeak n Itch said:
... my tractor looked naked!!...

LOL! I will say that when I went from a sears riding mower to a Mahindra 3316, my wife thought the tractor was way too big. If I take the FEL off, it looks a whole lot smaller.

Montyhp

deepNdirt · Jun 27, 2010

I had a bit of practice trying to re-connect the FEL on Saturday
man! what a pain, I removed the FEL on Tuesday to re-paint it to match the tractor,was very easy to remove, simply let the bucket down flat, drop and pinup the stand/legs remove 4-bolts loosen the saddle bolts and back out from it, took approx 10 minutes,
Although yesterday while attempting to hook it back up was not so easy of a task, it took me all of 2 hours, first of all the hydraulics had extend causing the rear of the loader arms to drop 6" to low to pull under, so I had to jack it back up, Only it wouldn't hold on its own, once I let the jack back down, and you cannot simply scotch up on the loader because it has to be completely cantilevered over in order to drive the tractor back under, so then I go for the cherry picker to try and lift from the tops side, Only now I have the legs of the Cherry picker to have to drive the front tires over and still causing a problem for hooking it up, I finally had to use a scaffold built over the top with a I-beam and cable it up with a com-a-long so's could drive under,and even then if I would had need to crank the com-a-long 1 more click it would not have went high enough for the tractor to clear, :confused2:
Back when I first bought this used FEL the person had it wenched to the trunk of a tree and at that time I kinda wondered about why was that? Ha! now I know why

and that will be the way i remove it next time, so much for the ingenious factor idea of having built in stands for the FEL , they not worth a Hoot!

RobertN · Jun 27, 2010

The Bushhog loader on my old Kubota went on/off pretty easy. Usually left it on though; needed the weight to counterbalance the mower. Otherwise, I had to remove part of the tractor mount loader frame, and hang a couple suitcase weights.

My new-to-me NH TC40D, is too big for my existing trailer; I can barely fit the tractor minus loader, while the rotary mower is attached. The TC40 is no problem for weight, but is just long compared to the old smaller B series Kubota.

The 17LA QA loader popped off very easily, easier than the aftermarket Bushhog on the Kubota(which was real easy too). Biggest thing I found, is to start on a flat, level work area.

The thing when I leave the loader on the NH that is odd, is with Supersteer(front axle pivots for a super tight turning radius), the bucket moves at a diferent angle when the axle starts to move. Wierd to get used to...

Generally I leave the loader on, to push stuff, carry tools ect. There are a couple trees with bucket marks on the property though...

General Lee · Jun 27, 2010

I would like to try and mow without the FEL on but the trails I use to access the fields I mow are steep. I would be fine wihout the FEL on most with the exception of one. I need the weight of the FEL on the front to prevent flipping over end while coming up that hill, especially with the RFM on.
I use the FEL more often than none so its not worth taking it off and adding front weights to compensate.

TripleR · Jun 27, 2010

General Lee said:
I would like to try and mow without the FEL on but the trails I use to access the fields I mow are steep. I would be fine wihout the FEL on most with the exception of one. I need the weight of the FEL on the front to prevent flipping over end while coming up that hill, especially with the RFM on.
I use the FEL more often than none so its not worth taking it off and adding front weights to compensate.

I have a similar situation on one of the sections of my property. I was able to go up by putting the 3-point equipment on the ground and the raising it on the way down for added traction. I haven't tried it yet with my new tractor.

Of course all tractors are different, but I have backed up hills with FWD if the front was a little lite.

It seems like I am always pushing something out of the way, so I usually keep my FEL on; gonna try it without it the next time though as I am still getting acclimated. I am used to my other geared tractor and its controls.