Parking Raised Loader

[Robert_in_NY]

Where I keep my tractor I have renters. The six year old climbs up and sits on my tractor seat when I am in the barn working. He is a nice young man and asks if he can sit on the tractor.
I would bet $20 that he sits on it when I am not there and that he pulls the levers. How can you be a six year old boy and not.
I do not have a way to lock the barn, so I am careful what I leave out.
I do always leave my bucket on the ground or resting on my boxblade and whatever I have on the back I also always sit on the ground too.

Does your loader joystick have a lockout? On the TN65 the lockout is part of the shroud, you just pull up on it and it locks the joystick so it can't be moved. Most people won't know how to unlock it so its an added feature for safety and security as I doubt the thieves will know how to unlock it as well and with the bucket on the ground it will make it hard to load or move the tractor even if they did have a key.

 

[treman]

I have to agree with the angle iron/c channel. It is quick and it is safe. you can also cut it to the length you need to hold the loader just over the beam but not all the way raised. At work we use 2 pieces of stout angle iron bolted together to box out the cylinder and bolt the pieces together. A piece of C channel would be the best solution. This would essentially be the same method used to lockout the arms on many industrial loaders and skid steers. Good luck.

 

[Short Game]

For that matter, you could make up a wooden channel, and that would have no chance of scarring the chrome. It wouldn't have to be heavy to do the job. It would only have to not compress or deform while holding that little bit of weight.

 

[JoeL4330]

I'd stay away from wood, which might split if end-on or crack if otherwise ...if one is concerned about scarring, then a piece of bicycle tube slipped on, or a dozen other kinds of (slim) pads ...but, from experience, I've never seen scarring.

Of course you could powder coat or vinyl coat it to match your machine, or day-glow to ensure it is easily located.

 

[grsthegreat]

The ram is hardened, so it really shouldnt scar. I had a set of these for a leased backhoe, and they never scarred the rams.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Why has no one mentioned the easiest fix of all. Stiffen up the beam with permanent support so that it will hold the bucket load. Then he just has to pull in and lower the bucket to the beam, no attachments to put on/take off and likely just as cheap or cheaper to put in some 4x4 wood stiffeners.

 

[alchemysa]

Why has no one mentioned the easiest fix of all. Stiffen up the beam with permanent support so that it will hold the bucket load. Then he just has to pull in and lower the bucket to the beam, no attachments to put on/take off and likely just as cheap or cheaper to put in some 4x4 wood stiffeners.

Just remember that the bucket will also rotate as pressure is lost. So don't simply support the front edge of the bucket, or you could return a few days later and find the that the bucket has slid off the perch, so to speak. Something like that happened to me. I discovered it just in time. The bucket slowly curled, the loader dropped another 12 inches, and a hose snagged on a rear mower that I stored under the loader when not in use. I caught it just in time before it ripped the hose out. So, when storing the tractor, depressurise the loader AND the bucket so you can see what's going to happen over time.

 

[Mace Canute]

You might cut to length a piece of appropriately stout angle iron...place it over/against one of the extended hydraulic cylinders (maybe with a bungee around it) ...and AFTER you shut off the engine, you can gently lower/float the loader onto it, but be sure you don't lower the loader with down pressure or you may pretzel the angle.

The equivalent of a jack stand

they also sell c channel steel pieces that you can insert over the cyllinder ram then lower the bucket. This prevents the loader from dropping period. you have to raise the bucket to remove the thing. Its also great for working on the tractor with the loader instaled.

That's the best solution by far. Not only does it solve the OP's problem but it also gives him the ability to have a SAFETY BLOCK on the loader whenever he has to have it raised to access anything on the tractor...ie for maintenance. Every loader should have one.

It's rare for a hose or cylinder seal to fail catastrophically and injure of kill someone but it HAS happened.

 

[JB4310]

Hey thanks everybody for the quick responses. I believe the beam is sturdy enough to handle supporting the bucket, and I would rather not remove it because the barn is OLD and needs all the support it can get. I might just rig up some supports for under the loader's arms to help hold it up when I park it. A "belt and suspenders" approach, so to speak.

Thanks for your help. If what I plan to do raises any concerns, please let me know. The forums here have been a wealth of information and I appreciate the warm welcome to the site. Cheers!

Why has no one mentioned the easiest fix of all. Stiffen up the beam with permanent support so that it will hold the bucket load. Then he just has to pull in and lower the bucket to the beam, no attachments to put on/take off and likely just as cheap or cheaper to put in some 4x4 wood stiffeners.

I would of liked to see a pic of the situation.

We are knocking ourselves out, but OP said the beam is strong enough to support the loader now, that was my recomendation as well.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

I would of liked to see a pic of the situation.

We are knocking ourselves out, but OP said the beam is strong enough to support the loader now, that was my recomendation as well.

JB

well not to be a trouble maker, but I'm not sure is OP is in snow country. If he is the beam may hold loader now, but will it with tons of snow on roof? or is he just going to cause a roof failure . Now if he has NO snow...then disregard this post