Float on 4010

[Anonymous Poster]

Spent the weekend getting the tractor ready for the MN winter. My owners manual refers to the float feature when using the fel. Based on what I have read, when in the float position, the bucket can "ride" along the ground. I noticed that the manual seems to be an "updated" version that was used for the 4100 tractor. Does the 4010 not have the float feature, or am I doing something wrong. When I put the bucket in what I think should be the float position, the bucket is down, but it still seems like there is downward pressure from the hydraulics.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[hazmat]

Keep in mind that when in float gravity is pulling the loader down (all 400-500# of it) so it will have some "downforce"

Drive backwards over some rough ground with it in float. You should see it move up & down. Then you'll know if float is working.

I'd think you guys in MN would be getting ready for winter in August!/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hazmat,

I'll give it a try--thanks.

We've got the cold in MN (already driving on some of the northern lakes), just no snow. It's been a relatively mild start to the winter.

 

[sleepyhollow]

Bob_In_MN,

I wondered about the exact same thing with my 4310 and 430 FEL. I ended up putting a couple gouges in my asphault driveway in float position because the bucket weighs so much.

With skid shoes or something equivalent to spread out contact surface area where the bucket touches the ground this problem could be mitigated.

I probably won't bother adding them this season because I use the snowblower attachment to clear snow. In the spring however I'd like to clear some remaining dirt from a dirtpile out of the driveway and you can bet I'll have something on by then. Happy tractoring!
Sleepyhollow

 

[Trev]

<font color=blue>When I put the bucket in what I think should be the float position, the bucket is down, but it still seems like there is downward pressure from the hydraulics.</font color=blue>

I don't know if this will help, but on my 4300 I just push the control all the way forward to engage float.

Try this on a surface you don't mind marking up.. just push the lever all the way forward and let go of it. Maybe you aren't pushing it hard enough? Give it a good shot, within reason. If you're in float, the bucket will just sit on the ground. If you're not, it will lift the front wheels of the tractor up off the ground.

Bob

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Bob,

My 4200 works like Trev's 4300. The one thing I'm not sure anyone has mentioned is that to get to the float position you need to push your SCV lever VERY QUICKLY forward with more than a little force. If you move it slowly it will lower the bucket as it should in the normal forward position. The 'trick' is to quickly force the lever past that point to engage the float position. It takes some practice to get the hang of it but it is a really neat feature. When you get it right you'll actually feel the lever going past a little 'snag' point to get to the float position.

Give it a few tries and you'll know what I mean. Just don't be afraid to hit that lever hard and fast. It's a Deere. You won't break it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gary and Trev,

Thanks for the advice. Sounds to me like I am not getting the control into the actual "float" postion. That's what I was referring to in my original post when I said it felt like the hydraulics were still working. I'll give it a try this weekend (never seem to get home from work early enough to do anything during the week.) They are predicting some snow and I want be ready when it comes.

Bob_In_MN

 

[jyoutz]

Bob, does your 4010 have the 410 loader? My 410 loader float operates exactly like Gary described it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

jyoutz

Yes, I have the 410 loader. I sure I'm just not getting it in the float position--I'm going to try it this weekend. I'll check in if I have any problems.

Thanks

 

[Hoeman00]

When it is in float position the bucket
will still dump.
I use float then roll bucket to get the proper
attack angle for cutting edge.
The loader arms should go up and down w/
bucket and front tires on ground.

 

[Woody1]

I would agree with Hoeman. One other post said something about putting skid-shoes on. No need! Curl your bucket to a position to where it just rides on the surface. the bucket will still tilt/curl in float and your could curl it from fully curled torwards you, or all the way in a dump position. The trick is to get it in "just the right place" and go slowly, cause if you do catch something you dont want to, then you will either gouge whatever you are on, or it will raise the front end of the tractor up. Again, no need for shoes. Kinda defeats the purpose of the floating on concrete or ashault to scrap with.

 

[Rus91]

Thanks for helping me find my float.

After reading the last series of posts I realized that I really was never using the float feature. It came in handy removing snow Christmas eve. It was only 4 inches worth but it gave me a chance to try out the FEL for snow removal.

Thanks for the help

Brent

 

[rmonio]

How quick does the FLOAT need to be engaged to get it to lock? I'll have to try it on some bare ground this weekend (we have no Snow in MN right now) - but it sure seems that you can't be gradual when you engage it. It just snaps back on the stick.

If that doesn't work then I'll have to have the dealer check it. This is on a 4600/460FEL.

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[rmonio]

wow - that is a quick action to lock it. I didn't try it when it was running but I can see that you have to pop it quick in order for it to lock. I'll have to see what happens when I have it out and running now.

Has anyone else noticed that Deere has removed the on-line versions of the 4000 series operations manuals? Now they only have the 4010 series manuals. I guess I'll have to order one from now on.

-Bob

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"Deere has removed the on-line versions of the 4000 series operations manuals"</font color=blue>

Apparently not all of them. The manual for my 4200 is still online. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks to Trev, Gary and the rest for the advice. I had a chance to work with it this weekend. As a fellow Minnesotan mentioned, we don't have snow yet, but this feature will work great when we finally get some. I wasn't pushing the control fast or hard enough to get into the float position. It was the TBN site (posts about using float) that got me to re-read my manual and figure out this feature was available on my tractor so thanks again.

Bob

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"It was the TBN site (posts about using float) that got me to re-read my manual and figure out this feature was available on my tractor"</font color=blue>

Bob,

That's exactly how I learned that there even was such a thing as "float" for my bucket, too. That's one of the many great things about TBN. A year ago I saw my tractor for the first time (I actually bought it sight unseen) and now I'm able to help someone else using theirs. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif