Front-End Loader Worst things to do to a FEL

[Green Acres Homestead]

I do landscaping so I back drag. I try to keep the buck flat and if I tilt the bucket I put it on float so the loader will rise before damage is done to the cylinders. Surely it will take that much stress.

 

[moored4]

My bigest suggestion would be to pay attention to what you are doing and listen to your tractor. If it starts to sound angry... STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!

It's similar to having your wife help you with a project. If you keep her happy, she'll keep working. If you push her to far, Your on your own!

Oh! so true! The tractor as well as the wife! :thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

In reality, what we ALL should do is just take the loaders off of our tractors and let them sit in the garage. That way we are absolutely SURE we dont do anything wrong with them:laughing::laughing:

I do everything wrong with mine. But Im going to leave it on to help discover new things.
larry

 

[Travelover]

I say do what ever you want to your FEL. Push down trees, ram stuff, back drag with the bucket curled. It keeps the mechanics employed and the economy humming. Go for it! :laughing:

Oh, and race around with a load high in the air. The hospitals and mortuaries can use the business, too.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

If you're not supposed to use a FEL as a bulldozer, does that mean that I can't use it to scrape 8 inches of mud out of the horse paddock, or muck out the pig pen?

Serious question. I'm planning the purchase of a tractor, and that's one of the jobs that I need to accomplish.

Maybe a Deere 310 backhoe is a better choice?

Thanks

Not sure if a JD 310 would be a better choice for you are not?

I accidently wound up with an old worn out (starts and runs fine but every pin has double slop in it ) 1983 JD 310 B a couple years ago when looking for a FEL for the 1976 265 MF that was owned by the FIL and still has under 1300 hours on it.

The 310 B cost me $1200 ($7200 and may have over paid) more than the only real option I could find for a 60 HP tractor. For my use I did NOT want a FEL even without the bucket installed when bushhogging or using the box blade.

The 310 BH takes 40 acres to turn it around compared to the naked 265 MF but at 7.5 ton it will push over a lot of tall trees in 1st gear at 950 RPM. While the ground is still kind of soft the hoe will flip out 3"-6" trees with little effort.

If you have to go though a 6' gate to dig a sewer line in a 15'x20' back yard FORGET it. :laughing: CUT's can NOT be replaced in some cases with a heavy duty BH.

For farm/open land use I would not want less than the brute force of our our old 310. For a two wheel drive it gets around on soft gound (not knee deep mud) much better than I expected.

Using even an old very heavy duty backhoe like the JD 310 clearing ground is hard on them so be willing to replace some lines and such. Ours cab is not enclosed but seems strong enough to keep a heavy tree from crushing it. The key is to becareful and not let the cage make you feel like you are driving a tank.:thumbsup:

One plus of a true Backhoe model is you do not have to be concerned with sub frame issues because they are designed 10x stronger (my guess) than a typical CUT or farm tractor. When you have a BH down on the ground stuck and have the hoe tied to a tree and pushing backwards with FEL bucket curling there is some real stresses involve.

They are not cheap but the JD 110 would be smallest that I would buy for my use.

I have a hill I want to move up to the house to make a fill to build a shop some day. That should be about 200 loads of dirt on our 16' flat dump 1989 F700. Having a BH that can dig and with a 7.5' FEL will help speed up that job that we may take a year to complete because I plan to get the kids involved since it can be done without getting on any public roads in dry weather.

IF one is reading this thread out of true concern I would suggest getting a backhoe/FEL that is stonger than the tractor can tear up even with some abuse. If you have a 30 HP tractor get a FEL rated for a 40+ HP tractor if you can find on that will fit your bolt pattern.

Some one posted never to spin the back wheels when using a FEL. It is my guess they do not own a FEL or bought it to impress some lady.

 

[Ford tractor]

So....


How many people (besides me) have done more of the "don't" items than the "do" ?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

So....


How many people (besides me) have done more of the "don't" items than the "do" ?

Only if the FEL use police turns their heads. :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

So....


How many people (besides me) have done more of the "don't" items than the "do" ?

I have done a bunch of the dont's. No damage so far.. I am not stupid enough to run around with a bucket up high, but I have pushed on a lot of things and done a lot of backdragging.. A good heaping helping of common sense comes into play here. I don't need rules of thumb to keep from damaging the equipment, I just need to watch what I am doing..Sure you can tear up loader equipment. Just don't do it. Oh by the way I have been doing all these don't things thru 4 tractors and 20 years.
No broken ones yet.. knock knock knock.

James K0UA

 

[dstig1]

Worst thing I did was push debris into a burning inferno of a brush burn. The Kubota was bran new, maybe 3 hours on the clock. I drove it in a little deeper each time till the heat made me back off. The last time in the tractor stalled ON THE BURNING PILE.

I had one shot to restart it or jump off before I and the tractor caught fire. I hit the key and she fired right up and I flew out of the burning pile.

That was the last time I will ever do that. The tires got a little hot & smokey and the hood got scorched pretty good. Huge pucker factor in that one.

You need the Pokey Stick (tm)! When burning brush I grab an 8-10' smaller log in the grapple sticking straight out on the end and use that to push the pile around and get stuff on the edges into the fire. You don't want to drive on hot coals either as that can ruin your tires. The Pokey Stick (tm) keeps you far enough back to avoid trouble.

Use a chainsaw or axe to cut a couple notches in the Pokey Stick (tm) so the grapple gets a solid hold on it in the jaws, and wedge it in between tines solidly. Something in the 6" dia range is perfect, especially if it is a junk wood that is light. Basswood or poplar are my common junk woods for this.

Of course this won't work if you don't have a grapple, but then everyone is required to have a grapple, right?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have done a bunch of the dont's. No damage so far.. I am not stupid enough to run around with a bucket up high, but I have pushed on a lot of things and done a lot of backdragging..James K0UA

My greatest worry is backing up while lifting. Looking back and forgetting to stop lifting. ... Done it several times, getting to full height. Havnt been in a situation to pay the price yet.
larry