Keep front wheels straight when filling bucket!

[IndyIan]

Must have a weak loader structurally. I always 'walk' my bucket into hard packed material with the front wheels in 4wd.

That's pretty much SOP around here.

Like saw the steering wheel back and forth as you drive in?
For real firm stuff I drive in and curl and drop the lift arm so I'm prying off the back of the bucket so I don't pick up the back of the tractor...

 

[DennisFolsom]

Here's an update on my tire situation.

This morning, the tire was flat. I blew it up to about 30 psi, and went about doing some other work while the tractor sat. When I was finally ready to use the tractor, at about 1 PM, the tire was flat again. I blew it up to 30 again, and used the tractor through the rest of the afternoon. When I put the tractor away, at about 5:45 PM, there was 24 psi left. I checked again, at about 8:15 PM and there was 21 psi left. It is still leaking, but at a slower rate.

Yesterday, after reseating the tire, I only carried two buckets of gravel a short distance, then put the tractor away. This afternoon, I didn't use the tractor hard, and didn't carry any gravel. I am in the process of moving my 8' x 16' shed, and there's jacking and blocking, etc. to do. I moved my skids with the tractor, and tugged the building part of the way. Darkness set in, so I will have to finish in another session (or two).

My theory (and hope) is that, with use, the beads will seat and seal better. If not, I may have to put a tube in it.

I have another thought, and wonder if any of you have tried something similar. What if I dismounted the tire again (taking it off the tractor this time), cleaned up the tire beads and the rim well, then used silicone caulking as a lubricant and sealer for reseating the beads once more. That stuff is quite slippery when wet, and should help the seal when it cures.

Before moving, I gave away a tire changer, and my old shop compressor to my son's father in law. He said I could come use them any time. I will likely take him up on that if I wrestle with this tire again. It's a bit of a trip, but worth it. Besides, the guy was a friend of mine long before my son married his daughter. It would be a good excuse to visit with him.

 

[texasjohn]

with wheel rim problems I use wheel bearing grease
not elegance but may solve the problem

 

[jenkinsph]

I was under the impression that tire shops used soapy water when seating the beads on tires.


About the compressors I felt Roy was correct in his second post, my compressor is an IR with 19 cfm @ 175 psi. Thats about what it takes to run a heavy impact or couple of air sanders when doing body work. I had this mounted on my service truck and it is commonly used by tire shops.

 

[Jay4200]

By my thread title, many of you can probably guess what happened to me today.

The first time I did a lot of loader work with my L4200, I was blowing my front (turf) tires off the rims at least 2-3 times a day. Drove me absolutely nuts. Eventually, I put tubes in the fronts, and haven't had a rim blowout since.

JayC

 

[Jay4200]

This morning, the tire was flat. I blew it up to about 30 psi, and went about doing some other work while the tractor sat. When I was finally ready to use the tractor, at about 1 PM, the tire was flat again. I blew it up to 30 again, and used the tractor through the rest of the afternoon. When I put the tractor away, at about 5:45 PM, there was 24 psi left. I checked again, at about 8:15 PM and there was 21 psi left. It is still leaking, but at a slower rate.

My L4200 did that too, but completely intermittently. It would be fine for a week, then I'd go out in the morning and it was flat. Pump right up, then I'd blow it off the rim. GAAAAA!!!

Again, a couple of $7 tubes solved the front tire problems permanently.

I ran over a nail and got a flat in one of my rears this past summer. Luckily, I have a tube in that rear (none in the other - first excuse and I'm tubing it). I lifted the tractor rear with my backhoe, popped off the tire, popped the bead and pulled out the damaged section of tube. Stuck on a patch from a bicycle patch kit, then threw it back together and was back digging in a total of 15 minutes.

I'll never run a tractor tire again without tubes. It's just crazy not to have them in there.

JayC

 

[RoyJackson]

I was under the impression that tire shops used soapy water when seating the beads on tires.


About the compressors I felt Roy was correct in his second post, my compressor is an IR with 19 cfm @ 175 psi. Thats about what it takes to run a heavy impact or couple of air sanders when doing body work. I had this mounted on my service truck and it is commonly used by tire shops.

Shop units might well be that high (especially if there's more then one mechanic)...I know I wanted something with enough oomph and volume to drive an impact wrench and a few other air tools but not spend too much money.
But the specs for my compressor state 6 SCFM (here's a link to a comparable compressor:Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more).

Another thing to watch is horsepower ratings. Mine is rated 6.0 HP/2.0 HP...no explanation in the manual about why it's rated like that (and, as long as it did the job, I didn't care).
But for those of you who do care...an interesting link:
http://www.kevinsbrady.net/motors.pdf

 

[Egon]

Look at the 12 volt compressors. Inexpensive and you could carry it with you.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Some even will have a rechargeable battery.

 

[TripleR]

Isn't that a no no in terms of tweaking your loader? same as turning while back dragging? I think that what it says in my manual anyways.

That might very well be, but I buy tractors to do tractor stuff, not carry potted plants around my white fenced estate wearing khakis and docksiders from LL Bean. If I had a tractor that wouldn't stand up to the way I use one, I would get rid of it and buy one that will.

I have been operating tractors for over fifty years and tractors with loaders for twenty-six years and have yet to tweak a loader. I do accept that I use them hard and might break one tomorrow. If I do, I will suck it up, fix and reinforce or sell it and keep going.

Now I am not saying anyone else should operate this way, it's just how I do.

 

[k0ua]

That might very well be, but I buy tractors to do tractor stuff, not carry potted plants around my white fenced estate wearing khakis and docksiders from LL Bean. If I had a tractor that wouldn't stand up to the way I use one, I would get rid of it and buy one that will.

I have been operating tractors for over fifty years and tractors with loaders for twenty-six years and have yet to tweak a loader. I do accept that I use them hard and might break one tomorrow. If I do, I will suck it up, fix and reinforce or sell it and keep going.

Now I am not saying anyone else should operate this way, it's just how I do.

Same here, If I could not backdrag while turning I would get a bigger stronger one that could Seriously I have done some things to my 2 Kubota Loaders, that some would consider abuse and haven't broken anything yet. I am not saying you have to do stupid things that might break something, but like Triple R says, I don't just carry a hay bale in the loader like the brochures show either! I think a lot of new guys are so afraid of breaking their shiny new toy the never get the full potential out of it. Let me have it for an hour and I will show them what a loader can do.

James K0UA