bucket position when parking

[beenthere]

Park my bucket off the FEL, and then have room to put the tractor in the shed. Bucket sits on a slight slope so the water runs out. Usually a toss-up to which will be the next attachment, forks or bucket, in use.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I park it pointed down with the back level.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I accidently found a 4x6 on its side near the back of the gives enogh pitch to drain the bucket.

Mystik JT-6 Multi-Purpose Grease, 14 oz - 8004147 | Tractor Supply Company

This grease clings better than any that i have used. While it is not cheap it is the only 3 or 14 oz tubes that I buy any more. I get it at TSC and WM.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I park mine it is under a shed so I just boom it down, what ever position the bucket is in is where it stays. IF I am parking it temporarily outside especially if on a slope, I tilt it to place the toothbar into the ground and put slight pressure on it to slightly raise the front of the tractor. This assures it doesnt run off on me. On some of my slope, if it is flat the tractor will still roll back.
I have never had a hydraulic cylinder rust on anything. We (and almost every other farmer around) didnt have sheds to store all the disks and stuff with cylinders on them back in the 60's and left them set all fall and winter till spring when we started again. I never saw any pitting or rust form on the chrome plating on the rods on any of our hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders we use today may or may not be as well plated. I never worry about them on my FEL now and they stay super shiny. Use your own discretion, oil or grease or leave them as is, I think you will have the same results. Folding them in would prevent accidently dropping something on them and chipping the chrome plating. I wouldnt keep my exposed cylinders anywhere close to welding or grinding operations either.

 

[E/S]

I park mine flat, with the tractor pointed slightly down hill.
One problem you will have in the winter is the bucket freezing down. To avoid this I use a couple of 4x4's under the bucket.

E/S

 

[Caseih728]

Always when I park outside I leave the bucket level and put it to the ground. I've found now on my Kubuta that if I happen to be parking up hill and it rains it fills with water.
On my JD it had holes in the bottom so this didn't happen.

I've noticed a few people park them with the buckets almost in the full tilted position. I don't know why but I always thought this would put more stress on something because the entire weight of the FEL would be on the edge of the box rather than the entire bottom surface.

Is it okay to park it with them pointed down?

I never lower the bucket to the ground. i used to lower it but after one time of the tractor not starting and having to pull start i stopped that. I do always leave te loader in full tilt just not touching the ground.

 

[willfick]

When I put mine away in the shed I always turn the bucket to dump. That puts the loader arms higher and it's a lot easier to reach the dipstick to check the oil before the next use.
the backhoe I also point the teeth into the (dirt) floor. If we get a blowing rain I wouldn't want water ponding in the bucket. You see forty year old backhoes like mine you can tell which ones were left with water in the bucket.
Wm

 

[sweettractors]

I never lower the bucket to the ground. i used to lower it but after one time of the tractor not starting and having to pull start i stopped that. I do always leave te loader in full tilt just not touching the ground.

From a safety standpoint, If you have kids around or people unfamiliar with tractor, It would be very easy for someone to accidentally hit the control lever and drop the bucket on someones foot or worse. Ken Sweet

 

[RoyJackson]

One problem you will have in the winter is the bucket freezing down. To avoid this I use a couple of 4x4's under the bucket.

E/S

I keep the tractor in a garage, but I do leave the bucket outside sometimes. I'll put wood (whatever I have handy, which is normally a landscaping tie) down to keep the bucket on enough angle to ensure water drains.
Haven't had the bucket freeze to the ground yet, but E/S makes a good point.

 

[Chilly807]

MIne goes with the bottom of the bucket flat to the ground. If I leave the cutting edge up at all it's real ankle-biter. Mine lives in the garage, so I'm more likely to bark some part of me on the bucket edge if it's left up at all.

Sean