Damage from back-dragging FEL?

[DanielTerence]

I was browsing the posts looking for info on manure forks and toothbars and read the following post from a few years ago. I used the FEL on my L2800 all winter to backdrag the snow off the driveway - will buy a blade for next winter. I tipped the bucket at a pretty good angle to scrape the driveway (1300 ft).
Do you think I may have done damage to the hydraulics? Everything seems OK.

Thanks.

Re: Using tooth bar for tilling?
Unless Kubota is using some type of valve design that I not aware of, the relief is non-accessible to the cylinder unless the valve is open. The valve isn't open unless the handle is pulled. The reason that the cylinder is stressed is because of that as well as the cylinder is being forced by the pull of the tractor which puts shock stress on the cylinder. That is the reason that several loader manufactures say to not back drag at less than a 45* angle of the bucket. They know that there is a much higher likelihood of the cylinder rod being bent the closer the bottom of the bucket is to vertical.
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[slowzuki]

Also the first thing to fail on an extended cylinder when overloaded is buckling of the chromed rod. The shorter the rod the less likely to buckle, so keeping the bucket less than 45 retracts a bunch of the rod in.

They know that there is a much higher likelihood of the cylinder rod being bent the closer the bottom of the bucket is to vertical.
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[RobJ]

If everything works...you are ok.

 

[FullBucket]

the FEL manual for my 2350 suggests backdragging with the heel of the buckey rather than the toe. This should greatly reduce stress on hydraulics. Hope this is of some use to you.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I have used my FEL every which way with no ill effect whatsoever.

The only "bad" think I know of is pointing the wear-edge straight down, moving forward, and using the bucket like a plow. That's a no-no.

But I've back-drug with the bucket pointed down at a 45 degree angle and the front wheels 6 inches in the air. No biggie. Wouldn't think that would change much for larger machines since EVERYTHING gets larger and heavier along with the machine.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

For 3 years I did a bunch of back dragging at every angle and as others often times with front wheels off the ground and with no problems with my B7800. Course I guess that's the way it is when you suddenly go "Oh crap" as you feel that sickening sensation of something breaking or the blue light behind you. Haven't done as much with my L3240 but only have 19 hours on it.

 

[have_blue]

When back dragging with the hydraulics active, it's a good idea to always keep the FEL bucket level.

Back dragging with the FEL in the "float" position should prevent damage in almost any position. If you snag a root or rock, it will simply jump over it.

 

[RonMar]

When back dragging with the hydraulics active, it's a good idea to always keep the FEL bucket level.

Back dragging with the FEL in the "float" position should prevent damage in almost any position. If you snag a root or rock, it will simply jump over it.

Not if the bucket is in full dump/bottom is vertical or beyond. What happens when you go forward with the busket edge down? It digs in... The bucket with blade beyond vertical during back drag will also want to dig in and might not be able to get up and over the obstruction fast enough to avoid damaging the cylinders while at their weakest(fully extended and compression loaded) Dump cylinders have been damaged this way as a result. If you search your manual, or ask your dealer, you will probably find a reccomendation not to exceed 45 degrees down on the bucket when back draging. If you search this site, you will find this subject already beat to death, with if I recall links to some online manuals covering the subject and cautions.

Have I done it? Of course I have..., but only when necessary such as when backing over an edge, to keep the bucket moving material where the heel won't reach that low. I pretty much always use th heel to move material, or various stages of shallow dump to spread material out...

 

[N80]

I do not push forward with the bucket in dump. But I back drag that way all the time when I need the finer control that the bucket edge gives over the bucket heel, but not full dump because as you mention, it can dig in that way.

Another trick you can do which is basically safe is to fill the bucket with something and then back drag using the heel of the bucket while in float position. The weight of the 'stuff' in the bucket makes it engage the ground better and having it in float pretty much isolates the hydraulics.