Loader position

[corey9212]

Hello, I've been seeing this more and more and am trying to figure out why people are doing this and what the advantages and disadvantages are to doing this.

Putting the loader all the way up in the air while working in the field or traveling on the road.

I was always taught that you keep the loader low for stability and safety but I have been seeing more and more people driving around with them fully raised up. What is the reason behind this practice and is it really that safe? What's the advantages vs disadvantages to having it up in the air vs low to the ground?

 

[GManBart]

You were taught the correct way! I think this is one of those things that people do without really thinking through...like driving around with the ROPS folded down just because they're on level ground, or aren't doing anything "dangerous"....just a bad idea.

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

You were taught the correct way! I think this is one of those things that people do without really thinking through...like driving around with the ROPS folded down just because they're on level ground, or aren't doing anything "dangerous"....just a bad idea.

X2 for me
I always keep it as low as possible.
Black

 

[Gary Fowler]

I raise mine up high when approaching a fence when mowing so I can get closer without hitting the fence but it goes back to about waist high when I clear the fence line. I also go high when going thru some narrow gates since the FEL is a bit wider than the tractor just to be on the safe side.
Some folks run the FEL almost on the ground when mowing an unknown parcel so that the FEL hits object first rather than a radiator or tires. I don't think I have seen anyone around here running their FEL all the time in highest position, but then here is all hills so it isn't a good idea to do that at any time.

 

[corey9212]

You were taught the correct way! I think this is one of those things that people do without really thinking through...like driving around with the ROPS folded down just because they're on level ground, or aren't doing anything "dangerous"....just a bad idea.

That's what I thought and it makes sense to me for stability and safety.

I raise mine up high when approaching a fence when mowing so I can get closer without hitting the fence but it goes back to about waist high when I clear the fence line. I also go high when going thru some narrow gates since the FEL is a bit wider than the tractor just to be on the safe side. Some folks run the FEL almost on the ground when mowing an unknown parcel so that the FEL hits object first rather than a radiator or tires. I don't think I have seen anyone around here running their FEL all the time in highest position, but then here is all hills so it isn't a good idea to do that at any time.

I understand raising it to clear obstacles and dropping it back down when clear but these guys are traveling and working their fields with them fully raised in the air and the roads traveled and fields being worked are not the smoothest or flattest by any means. One guy on the road even had a set of pallet forks on his loader.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I just like to work with no loader on at all. The tractor feels so much freer and more maneuverable. Newer tractors let you drop the loader in about a minute and reattach in about 1.5 minutes. There's no excuse for working with a loader when you don't need it.

 

[JD5210]

I as well keep my loader low to the ground.

I as well see this often around me, but for the most part it is on a JD cab 6000 tractor with loaded rear tires and there is an empty hay spear on the end of the loader and not a bucket. I am amazed how stable these tractors.

A little off subject, but I would like to share this. A 10 acre property that a friend rents not far from me is shape like a funnel. He asked me to rotary cut it for him with my 5210 I said NO, I do not have enough pucker power. He laughed at me and drove his JD cab 6300 over with loaded rear tires an a 15 foot batwing on the back and gave me the keys and said try this tractor. I cut the whole 10 acres and in some case I had to go across the property as I could not go up and down and NOT once did I feel as if I would roll over. I had the seat belt on the whole time and ready to act if needed.

 

[hhsco]

Depending on the bucket/loader perhaps they can see a lot better with it in the air? That's all I've got other than what has already been said. Seems like a good way to really throw off the balance of the tractor.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I always keep my loader down. I'll raise it a tad if I'm going down the road at cruising speed just to keep it from hitting when I go over a bump, but that's not what the heck up in the air.

 

[corey9212]

I just like to work with no loader on at all. The tractor feels so much freer and more maneuverable. Newer tractors let you drop the loader in about a minute and reattach in about 1.5 minutes. There's no excuse for working with a loader when you don't need it.

That's my theory, take the loader off when not in use, the ones in the field are pulling equipment so no need for the loader to be on (it is newer equipment so the loader should come off) but the ones on the road I can understand maybe they used it for something but to travel full speed with it way up in the air to me seems to be just asking for trouble.

 

[corey9212]

Depending on the bucket/loader perhaps they can see a lot better with it in the air? That's all I've got other than what has already been said. Seems like a good way to really throw off the balance of the tractor.

That was what I thought but it seems awfully risky just to get a better view.

 

[Tx Jim]

You were taught the correct way! I think this is one of those things that people do without really thinking through...like driving around with the ROPS folded down just because they're on level ground, or aren't doing anything "dangerous"....just a bad idea.

IMHO it get back to the old saying: "monkey see-monkey do" for those operators that drive around with loader in the AIR!!!

 

[Zebrafive]

I have a neighbor that mows (15' bat wing) with a JD2550 MFWD and JD245 loader. He mows with the loader raised. Not as high as it will go, but high enough he is looking under it. I am thinking why doesn't he just remove loader when he mows?

 

[corey9212]

I have a neighbor that mows (15' bat wing) with a JD2550 MFWD and JD245 loader. He mows with the loader raised. Not as high as it will go, but high enough he is looking under it. I am thinking why doesn't he just remove loader when he mows?

You should pop over and ask his theory behind operating that way vs removing or lowering the loader.

 

[JD5210]

The gentleman with the 2550 may not take it off, because he may be missing the park stands or have taken them off as they rattle some. The 245 loader looks a lot like my 540 loader. To take the loader of my 5210, you need to be on level ground (as the loader pushes the tractor off it) and not on wet ground (so the parking stands do not sink into the ground). It is a 16 step process to get it off and then you get to wrestle the 4 hoses, since they go from the loader to the back of the tractor. Then there is 13 steps to put it back on, starting with wrestling the hoses, than the masts do not always extend evenly so there is some playing around, to get them into the mounting frame.

If anyone is interested here is a link to the 540 operator manual.

http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMW44993_19/

Went to take the loader off of my friends 6300 and not only is he missing the parking stands, the hoses or not quick disconnect and even if they were I think they would be too short.

A neighbor waits until the weeds get real high before using his bush hog and leaves the hay spear and at about 2 feet off the ground to knock the weeds over with the loader instead of with the tractor, which he has no grill guard on. I would also think this helps to keep the weeds from catching on things under the tractor.

 

[RDrancher]

You mean like this?


Ah grasshopper...all isn't as it first seems. When fine grading or material spreading, the bucket lifted above the center point of the loader arm radius increases the ability to feel the "bubble in the butt." Really.

 

[jimpen]

My farmer neighbor has a 70 HP IH. He never takes off the FEL. He mounts the bush hog and then runs with the FEL up just because he wants the visibility. He also let me use it to do some of my property. It was like rock.

I, on the other hand, have tried running my MMM on my Mahindra Max25 with the FEL up and I didn't trust the stability. So I only raise my when I am getting near an obstruction.

As for dropping the FEL -- I have too much crap on the property, so if I find something I need to move I can use the FEL as a "garbage bucket".

 

[k0ua]

You mean like this?
View attachment 369750

Ah grasshopper...all isn't as it first seems. When fine grading or material spreading, the bucket lifted above the center point of the loader arm radius increases the ability to feel the "bubble in the butt." Really.

RD, sometimes when you feel the "bubble in the butt" it isn't really a bubble.. It is something else, and you need to be careful.

 

[RDrancher]

RD, sometimes when you feel the "bubble in the butt" it isn't really a bubble.. It is something else, and you need to be careful.

Not quite sure what you mean...but I bet its not good! :laughing:

 

[RG1]

RD, sometimes when you feel the "bubble in the butt" it isn't really a bubble.. It is something else, and you need to be careful.

Pretty darn sure what you mean, and I know it's not good.:yuck::laughing: