FEL question

[Hinomotoman]

Why do people drive their tractors around with the front loader way up in the air? Am I missing something?

Eugene

 

[PHPaul]

Because they're idiots. It's unsafe on a couple of levels: The CG of the tractor is moved up considerably and the chance of hitting something overhead is at least as great as the chance of hitting something in front of you.

And that's with the bucket empty. With a load in it, the stupid factor goes off the scale.

Someone will be along and say it's for increased visibility. Maybe, but in my less-than-humble opinion the risks outweigh the perceived benefits.

 

[davesl708]

As PHPaul said, It is for visibility. You would not want to miss seeing the stupid accident waiting to happen

 

[RedNeckRacin]

NOOBS! :thumbsup:

 

[Zebrafive]

Too lazy to remove the loader. Mine really sticks out in front and cuts maneuverability, so when not needed I remove it.

 

[gwdixon]

Yeah, lets pile on all those people...well, no. There is really no reason to call people idiots, lazy, and/or stupid just because you don't agree with their actions...justified or not.

When I disc a fenced field, it is necessary to lift the FEL in the corners to avoid clipping the fence. Otherwise a fairly large un-disced area is left in each corner. I don't have a spare two hours to patch a fence.

A short run in a property that I disc is bordered on one end by a fenced yard with the fence 6' high. The other end is field fencing with two strands of barb on top. It is a 50 yard trip and back about a dozen times. The bucket is left lifted when working that area.

When discing, rolling, or dragging new orchards the FEL is lifted to avoid hitting the little trees...especially in turns.

The bucket is much closer to the front plane of the tractor when it is lifted to its full height. There are times when this is needed.

Rather than continually cycling the FEL up and down, it is often left up.

I don't think I've ever lifted the bucket for increased visibility.

 

[GManBart]

Many of these are the same folks that ride around with the ROPS folded down....because it's too much trouble to put up when they pull it out of the garage. They think being on flat ground will keep them safe, but they're wrong...a rock hitting the bead of the tire at just the wrong time can lead to a rollover, regardless of terrain.

The same sort of folks don't take the FEL off when it's going to be in the way. Luckily they get away with it most of the time.

 

[Sysop]

To each their own... Do what ya do and be prepared to deal with whatever choices ya make.

I raise my loader up and down as needed, and have had it off at least once to make things easier. Sometimes for visibility, sometimes for clearance, sometimes just cause I want to cycle it through the full range of motion to keep the pins well lubed (I hardly use the full range of motion even when working with it, I just raise it and lower it enough to do what needs done)... I generally don't just drive around with it up, unless I have a reason to drive someplace with it up. Only time I can think of doing that was when moving a large bundle of brush I'd rolled up on some straps I used to strap it all to the front (way more than a grapple could hold ) and couldn't see over it, around it, or through it, and it was all really light weight stuff so I lifted it to see under it and carried it away.

 

[SweBota]

Why do people drive their tractors around with the front loader way up in the air? Am I missing something?

Because we have a snow plow, snow blower, winch or other implement on the front hitch/front 3pt ? With the bucket off, implement on the front and counter weight on the back, it really makes very little difference to stability where the loader arms are. But I totally agree that driving with a raised FEL with the bucket on, maybe even with load, without any reason, is not a good idea, absolutely.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Yeah, lets pile on all those people...well, no. There is really no reason to call people idiots, lazy, and/or stupid just because you don't agree with their actions...justified or not.

When I disc a fenced field, it is necessary to lift the FEL in the corners to avoid clipping the fence. Otherwise a fairly large un-disced area is left in each corner. I don't have a spare two hours to patch a fence.

A short run in a property that I disc is bordered on one end by a fenced yard with the fence 6' high. The other end is field fencing with two strands of barb on top. It is a 50 yard trip and back about a dozen times. The bucket is left lifted when working that area.

When discing, rolling, or dragging new orchards the FEL is lifted to avoid hitting the little trees...especially in turns.

The bucket is much closer to the front plane of the tractor when it is lifted to its full height. There are times when this is needed.

Rather than continually cycling the FEL up and down, it is often left up.

I don't think I've ever lifted the bucket for increased visibility.

Running through a rough field at a speed that is fast enough to make a disc work properly is hard on your loader pins. Its your machine you can do as you wish, but that's pretty foolish in my mind. It takes maybe 10 min to drop it off.