CLUB "25"

xlr82v2 · Feb 18, 2008

Midsouth,

Just noticed something... where are the stands for your FEL? Normally they're stored in the torque tube between the loader arms... but I noticed that yours is empty.

Also, did you get the big red wrench?

Midsouth · Feb 18, 2008

The weight box is a storage box off of one of my old semi trucks. I have about 800lbs. of concrete in it. The loader stands are on pins under the arms. It looks like all you have to do is pull a pin out and they will swing down. and yes i got the big red wrench it is in the shed. didn't want to loose it when working in the brush.

Midsouth · Feb 18, 2008

Brian
Going to post the only other picture i have of loader right now Will get another picture when i can and show the stands. I went and looked at your picture and i see what ur talking about. My loader was made by buhler so that could be the difference

warcat · Feb 18, 2008

Well...I DID IT, I DID IT. I'm a proud new member of the "25" Club. Today around 1:00 pm I took delivery on a brand spanking new 5525 w/FEL. I think I finished the day off with around 3 hours. I actually made the entire deal (and my research) via email/online. So, I had never really even seen/sat on a Mahindra until I sat on MY seat. I thought the 5525 was bigger (sizewise) than it really is. For a while I was debating between the 3525 and the 5525, and honestly I'm glad I went with the bigger tractor. It will serve me better in the long run. All I need to do now is LEARN how to make effective use of the FEL. Anyone have any tips on earthmoving/smoothing out deep ruts/bumps caused by hogs?

Etch · Feb 18, 2008

warcat said:
Well...I DID IT, I DID IT. I'm a proud new member of the "25" Club. Today around 1:00 pm I took delivery on a brand spanking new 5525 w/FEL. I think I finished the day off with around 3 hours. I actually made the entire deal (and my research) via email/online. So, I had never really even seen/sat on a Mahindra until I sat on MY seat. I thought the 5525 was bigger (sizewise) than it really is. For a while I was debating between the 3525 and the 5525, and honestly I'm glad I went with the bigger tractor. It will serve me better in the long run. All I need to do now is LEARN how to make effective use of the FEL. Anyone have any tips on earthmoving/smoothing out deep ruts/bumps caused by hogs?

Congrats! That's a nice tractor you got. I have the 3525 and it does well around here, but the 5525 would come in handy for some heavier tasks.

As for smoothing out bumps and ruts, a box blade would be most beneficial, but if you don't have one, you can use your bucket to fill the holes and then turn the bucket completely upward and push the hydraulic lever forward fully. Once the FEL arms are fully down, you will feel it click into the floating position. Back the bucket over any raised ground or fill and it will smooth it off.

Some people tilt the bucket down to smooth high spots, but I heard that's not very good for FEL. Anyone have opinions on this?

AchingBack · Feb 18, 2008

Etch said:
Congrats! That's a nice tractor you got. I have the 3525 and it does well around here, but the 5525 would come in handy for some heavier tasks.

As for smoothing out bumps and ruts, a box blade would be most beneficial, but if you don't have one, you can use your bucket to fill the holes and then turn the bucket completely upward and push the hydraulic lever forward fully. Once the FEL arms are fully down, you will feel it click into the floating position. Back the bucket over any raised ground or fill and it will smooth it off.

Some people tilt the bucket down to smooth high spots, but I heard that's not very good for FEL. Anyone have opinions on this?

Positively do not tilt your bucket more than about 15 degrees in the dump position when back blading. To do so puts undue stress on the loader arms, and leads to bending, or breakage. Neither of which is covered under warranty, as it is considered abuse. Read the loader manual for operating instructions.

xlr82v2 · Feb 19, 2008

The problems you may encounter when back blading with the FEL bucket dumped happen when you have down force on the bucket and the dump cylinders 1/2 to fully extended.

You're not going to harm the loader arms, as they are more than up to that task... what you could do though is possibly buckle the lift cylinders.

I think you'd have a really hard time hurting anything as long as you're not putting down force on the bucket (ie. have it in "float"), especially if you keep the bucket rolled back to 45 degrees or less. The problem is, we all learn that it works SOOOO much better with down force...

I think the greatest chance of damaging the dump cylinders occurs when you have the bucket fully dumped or nearly so, and are back dragging with downforce on the bucket... that's asking for trouble. If you dump the bucket no more than 15-20 degrees from level, you'd probably really have to try to damage anything like that.

xlr82v2 · Feb 19, 2008

Warcat,

Congrats on your 5525 and welcome to the "club"!! Let's see some pictures!!

The best way to learn to use your loader is to go out and play in the dirt with it. Go slow, like 1300-1400 rpm and 1st or 2nd gear Low range, and just practice digging and leveling. Shallow angles work much better for digging than do steep angles. Your FEL is not a battering ram, and the easiest way to damage something it to use it like one. Let the power of the tractor do the work, not the momentum that you can build up in the higher gears.

And when bushhogging in the woods, watch out for trees that have a tendency to jump out in front of your FEL... they can move pretty quickly, don't ask how I know

xlr82v2 · Feb 19, 2008

Midsouth said:
Brian
Going to post the only other picture i have of loader right now Will get another picture when i can and show the stands. I went and looked at your picture and i see what ur talking about. My loader was made by buhler so that could be the difference

Midsouth,

I can see your stands in that picture... My loader is a Buhler also. Different method of storing them.

Is your tractor/loader a 2007/08 model, or is it an earlier year?

Midsouth · Feb 19, 2008

Morning Brian both tractor and loader are 08 models. Hoping to get some more done on the yard today while the dw and i are waiting on dispatch. We team drive for a small company here in MS with runs to the west coast and back. That lets us get home every week for a day or two. I'm going to wait till we get home next week to try out my weight box i want to make sure the concrete is set up good. I have braces in side that the lift hooks to so when i pick it up i'm picking up with the concrete not the box.