BX2200 FEL level indicator

[upgw]

Just had the BX2200 returned with a new FEL on it. Aside from a hydraulic fluid leak at the valve (which it will have to go back for), I'm wondering how to use the 'level' indicator on the bucket. Nothing is mentioned in the manual, or I missed it. It's an 'L' shaped bracket on the top right of the bucket, with a piece of bright tape on it that says Level indicator or something like that. Is there some way to eyeball this and know when the bucket is level?

I'm a little disappointed that I can't rollback and lift at the same time (per the manual and practice). Not enough pressure or something like that.

Thanks,
- Patrick W.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>Is there some way to eyeball this and know when the bucket is level?</font color=blue>

I think you just answered your own question. That hunk o' metal with the bright tape is parallel to the bottom of your bucket, so when your eyeball says the tape is level, then so is your bucket.

I was pretty disappointed with this not-so-hight-tech indicator at first, but with just a little practice I realized it's pretty much all you need.

What took me a little longer to figure out was how to determine when the level bucket is just skimming the ground. My current technique for that is to level the bucket, pop the FEL into "float" mode just until it settles on the ground, and then back to "normal" mode before engaging the pile or whatever I'm working on. On my uneven turf, I sometimes raise it an inch or so after floating it, but the float gives you a good starting point.

Let us know what techniques you come up with. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[woodstock]

Dude, you said, <font color=blue>I'm a little disappointed that I can't rollback and lift at the same time (per the manual and practice). Not enough pressure or something like that. </font color=blue>
There is something wrong with your setup.
Half the fun in using an FEL is on the run, dumping, raising lower etc. Sounds like they have the lines hooked up wrong. Check your FEL manual.
I just spread 26 yds of crushed stone.
Pickup a bucket load, back up while raising the bucket two feet. drive like hell to dumping site last few feet raise bucket to just above the hood. Stop and start backing up while tilting the bucket. This lays out a nice layer of stone. You tilt at a constant speed. You use the tractor back up speed to control the thickness of the gravel dump.
Send it back and get this fixed. With it setup properly you'll have more fun than a kid in a sand box. Just don't let your wife catch you smiling too much.

<font color=red>Winnipeg, Manitoba</font color=red>

<font color=blue> Rest in Peace Pamela 2</font color=blue><font color=purple>
2001 BX2200 (68 hrs)

 

[Bird]

Sorry, Woodstock, ain't nothin' wrong with his loader that can be fixed. On some of the loaders (including the LA401 on my B2710) the manual shows to NOT roll back and lift simultaneously. You won't hurt anything by doing that; it just doesn't work very well for a very simple reason: Both of those functions require considerable hydraulic pressure and you have the valve open sending pressure to both places simultaneously (and from the same source). That results in the one that requires the least amount of pressure to "work" and the other doesn't until the first one reaches the limits of its travel. Now, theoretically at least, if you should have exactly the right amount of load in the bucket so that exactly the same amount of pressure is needed to roll the bucket back as is needed to lift the bucket, they'll work simultaneously just fine./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I wasn't too happy about that when I first saw it either, but you get used to it.

 

[huckflynn]

Bird,

You are so correct when you say "You get used to it." I envisioned myself using the loader as Woodstock describes -- like an extension of me --- and lifting and rolling back was a part of that vision.

Upon closer reflection, the "lift and curl" vision was actually move forward and curl -- moving the bucket from an almost perpendicular position to a level position as the tractor moved forward into the material to be handled.

Now, down and dump -- I know I wasn't imagining that!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[upgw]

Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology. I didn't mean driving backwards while lifting the bucket, I meant rotating the bucket backwards (from the top) while lifting at the same time. The lower left position on the valve. The manual has an 'X' there.

I think the better approach was indicated a little further down this thread, to drive forward while rolling the bucket back. I'll try that.

- Patrick W.