FEL when using 3pt implements

[ovrszd]

In the 3 years I owned my L3200 I never took off the loader. It was a nice quick attach allegedly that could be mounted or dismounted in 5ish minutes. I could just never be bothered.
I expect my new L4060 will likely see minimal if any loader removal.

As is the case here on TBN, there's such a wide variety of uses. I remove my FEL 3-5 times a year.

 

[Fallon]

So you get better ballast with the FEL over the suitcase weights. It must be a big difference or you would just use the suitcase weights.

My JD weighs 1,973 lbs, My 3pt lifting capacity is 1,314 lbs and I am going to try to use my flail mower that weighs 860 lbs, I have a flat field with no trees, so using such a heavy implement with a small tractor do you think I should leave the FEL on for ballast or take it off.

The defining requirement for needing ballast is do your tires come off the ground. After that you check if steering still works well enough.

If it's putting a load on your weak expensive front axle 3pt ballast to unload the front onto the rear is more of an issue.

But you are looking at a heavy 3pt impliment. Just hitch it up & see how it runs. If you can keep your wheels on the ground & steer appropriately you are good to go. If not, add some ballast up front & try again.

 

[k0ua]

In the 3 years I owned my L3200 I never took off the loader. It was a nice quick attach allegedly that could be mounted or dismounted in 5ish minutes. I could just never be bothered.

I did a lot of mowing & a fair bit of lighter brush cutting. I'd use the bucket to make sure noting would stick up enough to catch my undercarriage.

Mowing grass I'd often dump the bucket for less weight & clearance. You do have to raise & lower the loader a fair bit for clearance when mowing near fence or obstacles. It was never a problem for me though. The bucket makes a decent sun visor on occasion too.

I expect my new L4060 will likely see minimal if any loader removal.

I can attest the L3200 does come on and off nicely IF you do it on firm level ground (preferably a nice concrete slab). My Brother In Law, managed to bend one of his parking stands, and break a hydraulic line the first day he took his off on soft uneven ground. Granted he was kinda impaired and hard headed to boot, but he managed to mangle it up. I was able straighten out the leg and all else was repaired. I took it off and back on in the shop on the concrete pretty easily. I didn't think it was quite as easy and straightforward as the L3400 I had owned previously as the loader is redesigned and hooks up a bit differently. But overall once you are used to it and have done it a couple of times, it is no big deal.

As others have pointed out if you have a SSQA bucket, you can gain most of the advantages of a shorter more maneuverable tractor by just dropping the bucket which you can do in a few seconds. And reinstalling the bucket is just a few seconds more. In my opinion ALL tractors, large and small should come with SSQA or some other size appropriate quick detachable bucket method.

 

[k0ua]

As is the case here on TBN, there's such a wide variety of uses. I remove my FEL 3-5 times a year.

I have removed mine twice now since 2012. But since I don't have fields to mow, and live in the woods, and 90 percent of everything I do is loader work.. well there you go... When I lived in Willard, and had open fields to mow, I removed the loader about every week when I mowed. You get real good at removing and reinstalling a loader if you do it all the time.

 

[Fallon]

I actually built a power SSQA setup with a linear actuator (search for my username & "linear actuator" if you want more info. I could grab or dump a bucket, forks or other implement without getting out of the seat. Still never took off the loader.

The L4060 is likely getting a hydraulic SSQA at some point as I already have a hydraulic 3rd function up there to run it.

 

[CADplans]

The loader is great for moving things,,,

but, the machine is so much shorter without the loader,
I always take the loader off when doing 3 point hitch only jobs,,,

Installation or removal only takes 5 minutes, or less,,,
the tractor does not seem to handle much different with the loader on or off.

 

[Catman8]

The defining requirement for needing ballast is do your tires come off the ground. After that you check if steering still works well enough.

If it's putting a load on your weak expensive front axle 3pt ballast to unload the front onto the rear is more of an issue.

But you are looking at a heavy 3pt impliment. Just hitch it up & see how it runs. If you can keep your wheels on the ground & steer appropriately you are good to go. If not, add some ballast up front & try again.

When you read your FEL manual they tell you what kind of ballast you need, 000# tire ballast and 000# 3pt ballast. But when you use a 3pt implement it does not tell you how much front ballast to use. I like you example, I am going to try the flail mower without the FEL and see how it steers and if I have front traction, and then I will try it with the FEL and compare the difference. I know operating is a feel thing from years of operating a 935 Track loader but I'm new to a tire machine. You sure can learn a lot from everyone's personal experiences . Thanks everyone, and keep on posting your experiences.

 

[ch1ch2]

Wow, I wish my 584 looked that good!

I see little reason to take off any of my FEL's. I have had them off to split the tractor and to see how the tractor performed without them. At this moment, I can not see any future reason for ME to remove any of my FEL's.
I have hay fields, heavily wooded areas and lightly wooded acres.

 

[drizler]

Having a slab is a big advantage. When my barn had a gravel floor I often found it difficult to reconnect the hoses because the loader had shifted after it was off and put pressure on one of the cylinders. I've not had that problem since I poured a slab floor.

Boy you said a mouthful there! Just once I dropped the whole loader AND backhoe on a sloped unpaved spot to go mow. What a major PITA that goat rodeo was and it will never happen again. Now I use at least a couple pallets topped with whatever 2x4's kicking around on LEVEL ground, big lesson learned.
Usually now I only drop the bucket via the SSQD to mow. Takes most of the weight off and provides lots of visibility and the thing just rides lighter. Putting a bucket on by myself is a lot easier than doing the loader arm thing especially since my remotes are sandwiched in by the the cat converter. The one time I like the bucket on there mowing is if I am doing the unknown places likely to encounter that random hidden stump. I like to leave mine way down with the back almost dragging but tipped up a bit going nice and slow just for those situations.

 

[Farmer495]

Loader stays on the tractor unless doing field work (tillage, haying etc) or a lot of haulage. Visibility so much better with it off.

Still have a "super slow attach" loader, you planned your use of loader around whether it was on the tractor or not. "quick attach" on the newer one can be on and off the tractor everyday and doesn't matter.

 

[ovrszd]

Loader stays on the tractor unless doing field work (tillage, haying etc) or a lot of haulage. Visibility so much better with it off.

Still have a "super slow attach" loader, you planned your use of loader around whether it was on the tractor or not. "quick attach" on the newer one can be on and off the tractor everyday and doesn't matter.

Friend of mine is shopping for a loader tractor. I said don't even consider a tractor that requires tools to remove the FEL. Also don't consider an FEL that doesn't have SSQA QA on the bucket. Unless a guy is rich and can buy a tractor for every task these issues are critically important.

 

[kebo]

Mowing real close I like to remove FEL other than that left on,handy if need something move quick or 1/2 load dirt in FEL for ballast.

This!! I used to mow the yard with the FEL on, mostly because I didn't want to fool with taking the loader off. Then one day I decided to take it off before mowing just to see.... man, what a difference it made with more maneuverability and less chance of hitting something So now I remove it everytime before I mow.

 

[ovrszd]

This!! I used to mow the yard with the FEL on, mostly because I didn't want to fool with taking the loader off. Then one day I decided to take it off before mowing just to see.... man, what a difference it made with more maneuverability and less chance of hitting something So now I remove it everytime before I mow.

I think sometimes the apprehension about FEL removal overshadows the benefits.

 

[k0ua]

I think sometimes the apprehension about FEL removal overshadows the benefits.

Well, they are heavy and bulky!:laughing:

But if you remove them on a solid level surface, they ain't no big deal. If the guy delivering the tractor would make the owner remove and put it back on twice, the whole issue would be a non- issue. :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Well, they are heavy and bulky!:laughing:

But if you remove them on a solid level surface, they ain't no big deal. If the guy delivering the tractor would make the owner remove and put it back on twice, the whole issue would be a non- issue. :laughing:

I agree. Took me 3 or 4 times to fully understand the requirements.

After 4 years I can remove in 2 minutes or less. If properly removed, can install in 5 minutes or less.

 

[k0ua]

I agree. Took me 3 or 4 times to fully understand the requirements.

After 4 years I can remove in 2 minutes or less. If properly removed, can install in 5 minutes or less.

Yep, that seems about right. The easiest loader I have owned to remove and put back on was a Westendorf TA-25. it had "flipper bars to lock it, and the foot came down hydraulically. You could operate the flipper bars by standing up and leaning over the steering wheel to flip them back and get the foot on the ground and shut of the tractor, equalize the pressure with the FEL valve, and you unhooked 4 QD's, and fire it up and back out. Pretty darn convenient.

 

[CADplans]

My neighbor mowed about 3 acres,,,
after wearing out a GT every 2-4 years (rough, sloping lawn) he purchased a Kubota BX2350 with MMM and loader.

He refused to remove the loader to mow, I even offered to do it for him.
Well, with the loader on,, he needed to keep 4WD engaged.

After 2 seasons, the rear axle started leaking, the dealer fixed it,
after two more mowing seasons, the engaged 4WD shook everything loose,,
LOTS of oil leaking out at the axle, he had a friend fix it.
One more season, it was leaking again.

I am convinced it was due to carrying the loader around, and mowing in 4WD.

My SIL purchased the place after the PO died.
He mows with a JD855 that I gave him,, the exact same lawn.
4WD is never needed, but, he drops the loader, which takes 3 minutes.

Oh, yea, the JD855 mows the lawn in 1/2 the time the Kubota took.
I think carrying the loader really slowed the mowing process.

 

[Stubee]

All I mow (with a bush hog) is very tough stuff in or near the woods so I leave the loader on. I carry my chainsaw in it pretty often + need the loader to push big downed trees outta the way, 'feel' boulders that have heaved, new ant hills (they get big, see pic) or logs bears have dragged outta the bush to tear apart. So it never comes off.

 

[Catman8]

All I mow (with a bush hog) is very tough stuff in or near the woods so I leave the loader on. I carry my chainsaw in it pretty often + need the loader to push big downed trees outta the way, 'feel' boulders that have heaved, new ant hills (they get big, see pic) or logs bears have dragged outta the bush to tear apart. So it never comes off.

View attachment 495874

Is that an Aunt hill or a ant hill. :laughing:

 

[Farmer495]

Friend of mine is shopping for a loader tractor. I said don't even consider a tractor that requires tools to remove the FEL. Also don't consider an FEL that doesn't have SSQA QA on the bucket. Unless a guy is rich and can buy a tractor for every task these issues are critically important.

Yes, takes about 20 minutes and a hoist, blocking, wrenches, rope, chain etc in a building space previously prepared to remove the "super slow attach" and 30 minutes to put it back on. Loader isn't ancient by any means, but wasn't sold as a QA loader.

2 minutes on and off for the LA1153, no tools and can set it off anywhere that is flat and hard.

I skipped SSQA and go right to Euro. Stronger and you don't have to get off the tractor to latch attachments. Pick up and go.