FEL install woes

[milkman]

Milkman's idea would probably work...intriguing...but if not...

Just disconnect the hydraulic lines at some convenient fittings (with the thing disconnected from your tractor). You'll spill some fluid, but there isn't all that much in the lines and then you can move the cylinders and straighten your bucket out. Once you've done that it should go back on the tractor much more easily.

Reconnect your fittings, hook the bucket up to the tractor and excersize all the cylinders. Add hydro fluid to the tractor.

But the other folks are also right. While they are not light, FELs are not as substantial as they look and can be moved around by various means (other than the tractor they are meant to be attached to

I think this is the best idea especially since it is inside, as noted above, just loosen the line on center bucket cylinder and you can probably roll it back over without a lot of help and you'll just lose the fluid from the one cylinder. Brilliant idea there.

 

[nessmuk53]

I am wondering, If I loosen the fitting to the bucket and tilt it I am pulling the cylinder out and losing fluid. I am a complete novice on this end of mechanics. Will the air be displaced by Hydraulic fluid with a bit of back and forth in the controls once all is hooked back up?

Bob
(with the disabled FEL)

 

[kwolfe]

I am wondering, If I loosen the fitting to the bucket and tilt it I am pulling the cylinder out and losing fluid. I am a complete novice on this end of mechanics. Will the air be displaced by Hydraulic fluid with a bit of back and forth in the controls once all is hooked back up?

Bob
(with the disabled FEL)

Bob,
I have a bx1500 with and FEL. Not quite sure how you got it to that. However, that loader is not that heavy (I know, I installed my from the crate). When you are looking at the loader now, I am assuming that the support arms that support the loader when it is off the tractor are not touching the gound, correct? I don't believe the LA181 loader is designed to turn all the way over like some other TLB buckets. If you get another friend or two, you should be able to tip the loader back on to the support arms.

Almost sounds like you pushed it over when installing. Let me know what you think.

 

[milkman]

Will the air be displaced by Hydraulic fluid with a bit of back and forth in the controls once all is hooked back up?

Bob
(with the disabled FEL)

Yes, if you get air into the cylinder, after a few cycles, the air will work its way out, be sure and check the fluid level on the tractor if you lose any fluid. Let us know how it works out, we're all holding our breath.

 

[nessmuk53]

Well, here is a picture of what not to do when trying to attach your FEL. Submitted for the entertainment of one and all

 

[N80]

You and a couple of other guys should be able to lift it up and put it on the tractor by hand. Even the LA703 on my L4400 can be shifted around by one person.

 

[chrisjbell]

Brilliant idea there.

Why, thank you sir! I'm not sure if it deserves "brilliant" but seemed like a simple solution...

Saw the picture, Bob. Fear not - I think we have all done something like that at one time or another (sometimes two or three times or another...). You'll get it dealt with!

 

[simonmeridew]

how about a come a long hooked somehow over a rafter overhead, lift the whole FEL up and reposition it for hookup.
simonmeridew

 

[nessmuk53]

As a last resort I would try that. I was looking at it today though and it does seem that looseing one connector to a metal line will release the pressure on the bucket piston and let me push the piston in and curl the bucket back. Once that is done the battle is over.

 

[tommu56]

nessmuk53
what about coupling the 2 lines to bucket together and fluid should loop around and roll bucket back to normal position.

no fluid loss if careful

tommu56