FEL Project

[IH Steve]

Hello all,

Thought you all would like to see the project I've been working on. With considerable modifications, I have mounted a FEL that came off of a Ford 1310 onto my IH 300 Utility. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project and have spent a tremendous amount of time reading your posts trying to learn about FEL's and hydraulics. I still have much more to learn!

To make this work I had to modify the lower bracket that goes under the tractor and bolts to the sides of the clutch housing. To try to maintain the same loader height (the 300 is taller than the 1310), I had to cut out the old plates off and made them longer. In addition, the width of the clutch housing on the 1310 was 13" and 18" the 300. Once I was able to mount the vertical posts to the bracket, I realized that the horizontal arms that extend from the vertical posts to the front of the tractor would be too low and would interfere with the steering arms at the front axle. Luckily I had plenty of length on these horizontal arms, so I cut them and rewelded the front half of the arms on top of the back half. I then made brackets that bolt to the front of the tractor and using 90 degree pipe fittings have them bolted to the horizontal arms. As for the hydraulics, to pinch pennys I was hoping to be able to use the same gear driven pump that actuates the rear lift to operate the FEL. After doing some pressure checks of some ports on the lift valve, I was able to get about 900 psi., but only when I actuated the rear lift. So I decided to give this a try. This actually worked, however, probably due to a worn pump, the hydraulics for the FEL begin to slow after the oil heats up. I believe also that considerable heat is also being generated because the pump is having to work against the relief valve. I do have a PTO driven pump on a flail mower that I may try to use for the FEL. (Low budget project) Anyway, just thought I'd share all of this with you.

 

[8934]

Looks like a lot of work, and a good job.

 

[David Devuono]

I have a 40 year old massey 135 for which I build a backhoe. I also tapped into the tractors internal pump and it is marginal and gets slower as the oil heats up. I would like to see a closeup of how you tapped into your tractors 3PH hydraulic supply. While in my limited experience, you do have to operate the tractor controls as if you were going to raise the 3PH, there is an aux switch on my tractor which diverts all the pressure to the aux port. What I am trying to say is, it should take more then tapping into a port on the 3ph lift valve, you should have a hydraulic selector valve that redirects the flow from the 3PH to the loader, ie only one can be operated at a time.

So on my Massey I operate the 3ph with the lift control, if I want to use aux hydraulic device, I throw a selector valve, front and right of the driver seat, then operate the lift control as if to lift the 3PH. Now I can use the aux hydraulic device (loader, backhoe). This is the same for my newer Kubota so if you are not using a similar setup you might not be getting all the flow your tractor has to offer.

 

[IH Steve]

I have a 40 year old massey 135 for which I build a backhoe. I also tapped into the tractors internal pump and it is marginal and gets slower as the oil heats up. I would like to see a closeup of how you tapped into your tractors 3PH hydraulic supply. While in my limited experience, you do have to operate the tractor controls as if you were going to raise the 3PH, there is an aux switch on my tractor which diverts all the pressure to the aux port. What I am trying to say is, it should take more then tapping into a port on the 3ph lift valve, you should have a hydraulic selector valve that redirects the flow from the 3PH to the loader, ie only one can be operated at a time.

So on my Massey I operate the 3ph with the lift control, if I want to use aux hydraulic device, I throw a selector valve, front and right of the driver seat, then operate the lift control as if to lift the 3PH. Now I can use the aux hydraulic device (loader, backhoe). This is the same for my newer Kubota so if you are not using a similar setup you might not be getting all the flow your tractor has to offer.

Unimogdave,
Yes Sir, there may be some sort of switch but heck if I can find it. I know that its possible to add additional (stock) valves, mainly due to the way the tractor was made. I dont have a good close up picture of the front of the valve. But in the photo I do have, if you look in the upper left hand corner, you can see the front of the valve bolted to the cover of the hydraulic tank that is under the seat. If you look at the tank cover in front of the lift valve, there is a place that additional valves can be installed. There are 3 ports in this area that are plugged, I checked to see if I had any pressure at any of these ports and there was only one that I could get any pressure from, and only when I actuated the rear lift.

As far as not getting all the flow my tractor has offer, could it be possible that the flow is by passing inside the cylinder of the rear lift? The FEL doesnt do anything until the lift cyl. is at the end of its stroke and the relief kicks in. I'm confident that the way I have the FEL plumbed right now is definately wrong. I dont even have to operate the FEL, just holding the 3PH lever in the up position, you can feel the heat being generated in the fittings. I obviously have much to learn and appreciate your input.

8934,
Yes it has been alot work, but fun work. I appreciate the compliment.

Thanks, Steve