Detaching FEL on non-concrete surface

Mosey · Sep 3, 2003

I got tired of the FEL taking up room in the garage, so I decided to detach it under the carport, which is a limestone gravel surface. Unfortunately, it's not perfectly level and the legs on the FEL stand dug in and I almost had a mess on my hands. The FEL got cocked with respect to the tractor and I had a hard time getting it back on (I had to use a come-along and pull it back in place).

So, I went to the recycle place and checked prices on some plate steel. A 5'x7' piece of 1/8" diamond plate (boiler plate) runs about $100. I'm thinking I could lay that down on the gravel and level it up to make a firm level surface. I'm also thinking I could weld a piece of angle iron on the end to give the FEL bucket something to bump up against to keep it from sliding when I attach the FEL. Has anyone done anything similar? Will this work?

755inNY · Sep 3, 2003

Mosey,

I have always parked my loader on the ground. The bucket rests flat on the ground and I place a 2x8 (x whatever length of scrap is available) piece of wood under each leg. My 52 loader has removeable legs so my set up may be different than yours. The ground is level enough not to get the loader legs too far out of kilter but certainly not as level as a concrete floor.

Jeff

cowboydoc · Sep 3, 2003

I always take mine off on the ground too and never had any problems. I'm not sure how the FEL works on the NH. I assume it's similiar to the John Deere. Why wouldn't it work just to lay down either a couple boards or the 14" concrete pads under the stands?

RoyJackson · Sep 3, 2003

Just out of curiousity, why don't you pour a small area...say 4'x 6' concrete pad, under the carport to leave your Loader?
That small an area would be big enough, I think, and could be leveled enough using a board (with a level) to get it fairly smooth?

MossRoad · Sep 3, 2003

I use a piece of 2X12 under the tongue jack of my trailer because it tends to sink in the gravel after a few months of non use. I bet this would work for your FEL legs.

Ledgemere Farm · Sep 3, 2003

It can be a pain sometimes if you aren't on a level, or near level surface. Same thing happens with a snowplow on pickups. I use a piece of wood now.

Mosey · Sep 4, 2003

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll try putting something under the legs. Do you have trouble with the FEL sliding when you attach it? I had a lot of trouble with that on the smooth concrete floor of the garage. 500 lbs of sandbags wouldn't help (the garage floor is very smooth). I had to let it slide up to the wall and then it wouldn't move. I think my Bush Hog FEL is not as easy as other brands, since it seems to fit really tight. Maybe I'll try a sheet of plywood with a 4x4 nailed to the end of it to keep the FEL from sliding?

herbenus · Sep 4, 2003

I also store mine on ground. I don't like it, but don't have a good pad free. I've used 1x6 under the front support that swings down. Right now those have disintegrated and I'm back to having the front dig into the dirt. I can always get it back on, but am concerned about corrosion having this part down in dirt/mud. I'm going to do something, but don't know what. I've thought about some pallets but that will probably put it too high. The little concrete blocks would just break and slide around.

thcri · Sep 4, 2003

My 7308 has a bar that goes across to each arm. I let mine on the ground all the time with no sinkage. It has been there now for a month and I see no signs of sinkage. What frustrates me is after it sits a long time the bucket tends to roll back and then I have major pressure on my hydrualic lines. But I think I figured that one out too. Someone posted a picture that he rolls his bucket way forward and sets it down and removes that way. So in essence the bucket faces the ground with all four sides touching the ground. Next time I take it off I am going to do that and then you will also eliminate sliding when putting back on.

See this link Loader

murph

GRUB · Sep 4, 2003

Cover your limestone gravel surface with a couple pick-up loads of limestone sand, pack down with tractor. That is how they do all the rails-to-trails conversions here. Its a really nice smooth, firm surface. That is how I am eventually going to do my whole 700 ft drive way. Of course I will probably rent a steamroller for that project. Almost as good as asphault at a fraction of the price.