Front-End Loader coldwater FEL

[letsmowone]

Hello all, I am new to TBN and have found alot of good information on the Forums. I am getting ready to purchase a FEL for my Ford 1210 from Coldwater Tractors. So far I have only been able to find positive feedback about them. Can anyone give me some input on these loaders. The guy that I talked to on the phone was really helpful and the price is right. I know that you can get other loaders with bells and whistles but I think this will work for me.

 

[rmorey]

:welcome: to TBN!

 

[kingq]

Hello all, I am new to TBN and have found alot of good information on the Forums. I am getting ready to purchase a FEL for my Ford 1210 from Coldwater Tractors. So far I have only been able to find positive feedback about them. Can anyone give me some input on these loaders. The guy that I talked to on the phone was really helpful and the price is right. I know that you can get other loaders with bells and whistles but I think this will work for me.

letsmowone,

I live in Thailand and just received my Coldwater Tractors FEL today. I hope to get it installed over the weekend and then post some photos. I dealt with Kris at Coldwater and the experience was great. The FEL was extremely well packed and survived the 40 some day sea shipment in excellent shape. Only nitpick I have and others have mentioned it, is that it would be terrific if Coldwater sent along some detailed instructions. Kris has sent me a lot of photos to assist me in the installation but I think instructions would be very helpful.

 

[letsmowone]

kingq,

I have sent my check to Coldwater this week so I hope to have mine in about 2 weeks. I have seen the replies about the lack of instructions and it seems that should be an easy fix for Coldwater to do. I too will post pics and progress as soon as I get mine.....

 

[jerrybob]

Coldwater is about 40 miles from me......been to their site. Their FEL is a good product for the price. They sell quite a few FEL's......seen several in use in our area. They recondition Yanmar tractors....a lot of the tractors are sold with their FEL's installed. People I have talked to like their product.

 

[letsmowone]

Estes Truck Lines delivered my FEL that I got from Coldwater Tractors Wednesday, I was like my 4 year old son on Christmas morning. I got it unpacked and the loader faired well on the Coast to Coast trip, all together and nothing broken. All the hardware was included so my son and I jumped in about 3 pm and by 5 pm we were moving dirt with it, he has already mastered the hydros. I could not be more pleased with the craftsmanship and the service that I have received from Coldwater. If anyone is in the market for a FEL I would recommend Coldwater Tractors. Thanks to Chris and the crew for the loader and the conversation over the phone.....

 

[kingq]

Don't want to steal the thread but got my loader from Coldwater Tractors some time ago. I live in Thailand. Took a while to get it fitted up as Coldwater had not made a loader for a Kubota B2420 before so I had to find a welder and a mechanic to help me with the bottom brackets and hooking up the hydraulics. Kubota in Thailand is useless. No help whatsoever. I had to order parts from Keller Kubota in the USA to get the hydraulics to work. Simple kit and the part numbers are Kubota global part numbers but the dealerships here have no clue.

Kris from Coldwater was very helpful although a 1 or 2 page list of instructions would be beneficial. Below are some photos.

 

[CliffordK]

Nice looking setup. I hope it treats you well. I'm surprised your Asian support is poor, although I imagine each country is different.

I think the Kubotas may be made in Japan, but it would depend a bit on the language and access.

 

[kingq]

Nice looking setup. I hope it treats you well. I'm surprised your Asian support is poor, although I imagine each country is different.

I think the Kubotas may be made in Japan, but it would depend a bit on the language and access.

I would not call the support poor in Thailand. I would call it non-existent. There is a small Auxiliary Hydraulic Block on my Kubota to the left and up from the fuel filter. It has a cover on it with two bolts.



You remove the cover and two bolts, attach an adapter block with two o-rings and adapter bolts for the hydraulic fluid to flow through to the FEL control and presto, shazzaam, it works. I showed pictures and owners manual to the Kubota dealers here, even gave them the part numbers and no dice. They told me that there was a place in Bangkok that could manufacture and attach a loader for me at a cost of $6,550. With the cost of the Coldwater FEL - $1,800, Shipping - $500, Customs duties - $150, Parts from Keller Kubota - $31.75 and the mechanic and welder time - $140, it cost me $2,621.75.

 

[muzzy123]

i just installed my coldwater FEL. i have been able to use it some in the past week and am very pleased so far.

 

[kingq]

i just installed my coldwater FEL. i have been able to use it some in the past week and am very pleased so far.

muzzy123,

Just out of curiosity, I noticed from your photos that it does not appear that the side cylinders have been "flipped" so that the hydraulic connections are pointing outwards and not inwards. Part of the instructions I received from Coldwater was to flip the cylinders so the hydraulic connections were pointing out.

 

[muzzy123]

muzzy123,

Just out of curiosity, I noticed from your photos that it does not appear that the side cylinders have been "flipped" so that the hydraulic connections are pointing outwards and not inwards. Part of the instructions I received from Coldwater was to flip the cylinders so the hydraulic connections were pointing out.

I was not aware of that. Mine came fully assembled with no instructions. The first thing i did was take it apart amd paint it and i guess i didnt pay attention to how the cylinders were installed. I will get them turned around. Do you know what the difference is?

 

[letsmowone]

Yeah Muzz123, I had to flip my cylinders when my loader got here too. I think they turn them inside due to the way that they package them for transport, to protect the fittings. I didn't figure that out until I tried to raise the loader and the fittings hit the frame supports coming up from the front bumper. Im liking the blue paint too, its just enough for me to take mine off and paint it. Good looking tractor

 

[kingq]

Same reason as letsmowone. I thought the fittings would be better protected being on the inside but I had tags on mine saying to flip them so the fittings were out. Maybe on yours you have enough clearance with the fittings pointed in.

 

[randy41]

was this difficult to install yourself? how long did it take?

 

[muzzy123]

I havent had an issue with them being inside and they did not have any tags on them sayingng to flip them either. I will flip them around though, thanks for letting me know.

 

[letsmowone]

Randy41, Coldwater sends all that you need down to the nuts and bolts. It took me about an hour or so with the help of my 4 year old son. The guys are just a phone call away if there are any questions and are glad to talk to you. They do not send alot of instruction however its self explanatory. I had a tag on mine that said flip the cylinders and that was so the fittings didn't hit the frame of the loader and that's about all you get. They labled the hydraulic hoses in and out. Not much to figure out because the bucket goes to the front and mine only had 3 brackets to bolt up before putting on the arms. I loaded an empty 500 gallon oil tank with mine today and when we weighed it at the scrap yard I was supprised it weighed almost 900 lbs. I have pictures but don't know how to post them

 

[letsmowone]

this is a picture of the (empty) oil tank that me and my 1210 worked on to get loaded Monday. My trailer is 20 feet long if that gives any perspective of the size of the tank. The loader could handle the tank however I needed some more counterweight on the back because the box blade just wasn't enough. Hope the picture loaded.
thanks.

 

[reelnative]

do they have a web site and if so what is it thanks, do you all know of any other good fel s besides koyker and this coldwater one thanks again

 

[letsmowone]

Reelnative they do have a website.....coldwatertractors.com ...... I found that Woods also makes them too. I have had mine for a bit and have used it a lot, I can't figure out how I ever got anything done before without one. If you visit their site get their phone number and give them a call, they are super sharp on compact tractors and FEL. I have read some others comments about the "look" of the Coldwater loader being cheap but I'm not sure if those people actually own one or base that on a picture. I have only good things to say about the one that I purchased, it will outwork my little tractor. The other thing that I like is they use all generic fittings and sizes which can be replaced from your local Tractor Supply store and not a high price name brand dealer only store. Give them a call you will be glad that you did... Hope this helps for you.