Grading Front loader use questions.

[Cherokee140]

Most of you guys know I am new at this.....so forgive me if this is a silly or stupid question.

On the front loader on my machine you can make it push down hard enough to lift up the nose of the tractor. I just got this ratchet rake thingy (see day in the life thread, driveway maint. in general operating section) and I push down so hard it makes nose lift up....then I will drive forward or backward. Is this hard on the tractor itself...transmission? or the loader. I know you have no steering...no individual brakes on this machine. But is it hard on the machine. I also sometimes do this when using the backhoe.

We also have some VERY LARGE vines all in the trees....I can usually lift the loader up and hook the vine and pull down and backup....the tractor really works....is this hard on the machine.

thanks.

 

[k0ua]

Most of you guys know I am new at this.....so forgive me if this is a silly or stupid question.

On the front loader on my machine you can make it push down hard enough to lift up the nose of the tractor. I just got this ratchet rake thingy (see day in the life thread, driveway maint. in general operating section) and I push down so hard it makes nose lift up....then I will drive forward or backward. Is this hard on the tractor itself...transmission? or the loader. I know you have no steering...no individual brakes on this machine. But is it hard on the machine. I also sometimes do this when using the backhoe.

We also have some VERY LARGE vines all in the trees....I can usually lift the loader up and hook the vine and pull down and backup....the tractor really works....is this hard on the machine.

thanks.

Well, others may disagree, but in general no, not too much problem with your machine. It is possible to overpressure a hydraulic hose and rupture it, and it is possible to bend a hydraulic cylinder by backdragging, with the blade nearly vertical but I have done it, and broken nothing. Just use common sense and try not to overstress things. As for pulling the grape vines, you will probably just loose traction before anything breaks. If you had a bigger tractor you could pull the vine and your tractor would not even know it was hooked up to it Just had to throw that in, you know you deserved that All machines have limitations, and you can do what you can do. You are getting a lot of work done with the size of machine you have, it is just a bigger one would do more quicker.

 

[hhsco]

Do you have a "float" function on your loader? You can keep some weight on the front axle and off the loader arms using the flat while not digging in more than necessary. That said I've lifted myself off the ground many many times and although it just does "seem right" I've never had a stress problem from doing it. That's just my experience.

 

[kcender]

One thing I noticed in your introductory thread was a photo of you using the backhoe with bucket in full dump position.In my opinion this can lead to excessive forces on your loader and possibly lead to problems.When using the backhoe the FEL bucket should be placed flat on the ground to avoid unnecessary stress on your bucket cylinder.Just some friendly advice,I did the same thing with my first tractor.

 

[Baby Grand]

I try to avoid any heavy "pulling" loads when using the FEL and moving in reverse.
If backdragging, I do it in "float" position, so the bucket can move over obstacles.
If I have something that's really stubborn, I turn around and hitch to the drawbar.
By drawbar I mean that thing under the rear axle, not the one attached to the 3pt hitch.

 

[Cherokee140]

To answer a few questions....and try to clear some things up starting at the top and working my way down.

I scared the crap out of myself in trying to pull vines out of trees....I am just amazed how strong they are....I was doing it with the 8n and a pull rope for pulling cars. The tires on the 8n I think are as old as the machine and they just did not grip....I would get a little bit but then they would dig in and spin....hay I have that 70...lets hook it to that....the front end on that thing came up so fast....and it has a hand clutch that took me a minute to think about....never again....we started cutting them down as high as we could reach....but you can't lean a ladder to the three as you will climb into the thorns very fast. Going backward was the best way I found to keep all wheels on the ground. I need to post up pictures of those other two tractors. If you go in front ways...use the bucket to kinda clear the way....then you can drop the bucket and clear...get a little further in each time.

Manual says it has a float but that would seem to be against what I want to do...I want the pressure to push down and pull out that brush. Manual also says the loader bucket cutting edge should be lowered vertically into the ground surface. This will assist the stabilizers. Page 67 As I read it that mead the end of the bucket points down....am I wrong? I know I was lazy and did not do it every time....but I thought that is how it should be done.

I know many think I am....stubborn .... but I really don't mean to push call into question anyones advice here....I am just not really clear. I don't want to tear it up.

 

[murphy1244]

Give us a picture of what your doing?

 

[J F]

Post the video of what you're doing. (I'm not crazy, right? I'm pretty sure it was your (op) video of this stuff). It's been very interesting/informative watching what you're doing. :thumbsup:

 

[Cherokee140]

Post the video of what you're doing. (I'm not crazy, right? I'm pretty sure it was your (op) video of this stuff). It's been very interesting/informative watching what you're doing. :thumbsup:

You only have to watch the first 30sec of this video.

 

[motownbrowne]

If you haven't tried the float position, give it a shot. If you want it to dig more, tilt the bucket down, to float, tilt it up a little. It's amazing what a degree or two of tilt does with an implement like that. I don't think anything looked wrong with your video, float is just a good technique to use in some situations. Give it a try.