Float position?

[texasjohn]

My LA853 loader will slam down harder than I want if I have it off the ground any appreciable distance... I have gotten into the habit of lowering to about 1 inch off the ground then slamming it into FLOAT....

True, if I am REAL slow, then I do a wheelie because the FEL lifts the front off of the ground.

 

[RonMar]

Mine comes down at about the same rate in float as it does using pressure to lower it with the engine idling. Slamming to the ground would be a little inconvenient I use mine all the time to lower the bucket while I am shifting gears or something else. It frees up my hand for a few seconds to "multitask".

 

[john_bud]

NOTE OF CAUTION !

If you "float" down with a full load, you MUST continue until it hits the ground. Must. If you don't and flip it out of float, it will cause a dramatic pressure spike as the valve slams shut. Lines can burst and cylinder packings / seals can also fail. Think Hydraulic shower.

The pressure relief is on the OTHER SIDE of the valve.

jb

 

[Megado]

Thanks everyone for the explanation. I now have something new to tryout the next time I'm up at my property. Can't wait to smooth out the mess I made last weekend trying to back-drag without using the float technique.

Unfortunately I don't have my manual with me to read up on the specific details for NH but will take a look before hopping in the seat.

Jim H.

 

[kennyd]

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

 

[tlbuser]

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

I use this method so I don't have to remove the toothbar. Back dragging with the front edge down (toothbar on) doesn't leave a very smooth surface

 

[JB4310]

I personally prefer to use down pressure when back leveling with the front bucket, I do it with the heel up a little, for me that leaves the smoothest finish, of course that wouldn't work with a tooth bar.

As far as bjcsc's bucket slamming down, he says it weighs 730 #'s so that could be it, like I noticed when I'm in wheelie mode and hit float, the extra weight of the tractor will slam down pretty quickly.

 

[RonMar]

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

I find when I keep the bucket curled all the way, the heel digs in and I pickup too much material behind the bucket. I usually put the front edge down a bit. By going from bucket slightly dumped up to about 45 degrees, I can control how much material is drug along, or for how long while backing. The flatter the bucket is(without the heel digging in), the less dirt is drug along. Float is great, lately I have used mine a lot to cleanup after digging out stumps with the backhoe.

 

[bialecki]

Thanks everyone for the explanation. I now have something new to tryout the next time I'm up at my property. Can't wait to smooth out the mess I made last weekend trying to back-drag without using the float technique.

Unfortunately I don't have my manual with me to read up on the specific details for NH but will take a look before hopping in the seat.

Jim H.

Megado, when you back blade in the float position, a filled FEL creates a nice packed surface. Try filling the FEL with soil, rock or what ever. I find the more I fill my 60" bucket the nicer the compressed smoothed soil becomes. You may already be doing this but I figured I would add to this thread with my two cents.

 

[RonMar]

NOTE OF CAUTION !

If you "float" down with a full load, you MUST continue until it hits the ground. Must. If you don't and flip it out of float, it will cause a dramatic pressure spike as the valve slams shut. Lines can burst and cylinder packings / seals can also fail. Think Hydraulic shower.

The pressure relief is on the OTHER SIDE of the valve.

jb

This same warning applies when lowering a full/heavy bucket without float and closing the valve(handle back to center) since the valve spool must pass thru the lowering position when being moved from the float position to the center position...

 

[DreaminGreen]

Another hint when back-dragging is to scoop a load of material in the bucket and keep it curled when going backwards, this uses the heel of the bucket to smooth the area, and the extra weight helps smooth and pack down the material.

Something to put in my notebook of things I learned on TBN... thanks.

 

[Redbug]

Sparkle...In addition, you should also have a detent to the right for the controlled dump position. Just like pushing the joystick all the way forward for the bucket float...just push your joystick all the way to the right for a slow controlled dump.

 

[Kendrick]

mine is a 45 so it is not a small beast with filled fronts. I just got float to work wed just after a storm. if i try to go in to float with the bucket 3" off the ground it picks the nose up b4 i get it in to float. if i let it float from a foot or so it gently lowers standard down pressure. same for when im doing wheelies b4 float kicks in. the only slaming i get is inital contact which now that i think about it might be a tad more forcefull then with float engaged.

It was mighty handy to have the blower and fel in float wile cleaning the drive up. I had tried about 8 times the prevous storm to get it engaged and never hit it hard enough. this last time, I was getting in and knocked the lever in to float. looking at it you get that fealing like looking at a broken legg.. its just bent to far forward and is nicely stuck. i tried it again while the tractor was moving and was happily suprised. I played with trying to engage it and many times did wheelies then it would kick in and lower the nose

 

[Megado]

Just got back from a visit to our property and had an opportunity to test out the float function on my FEL. Wow...what a difference! Was able to smooth out the mess I had made the last time we were there by using the different techniques suggested by everyone here. It's amazing how much you can learn on this site!!!

 

[kennyd]

Just got back from a visit to our property and had an opportunity to test out the float function on my FEL. Wow...what a difference! Was able to smooth out the mess I had made the last time we were there by using the different techniques suggested by everyone here. It's amazing how much you can learn on this site!!!

Glad to hear you were successful

 

[bjcsc]

Well, now you guys have me interested in retesting it. If it wasn't dark and about to rain...

The bucket was empty. What is "snow"?...

I checked in my manual to see if I could find any reference to it and it states:

"Caution: Do not move the loader multi-function control lever to "FLOAT" to lower the loader. Loss of control results and the loader will fall to the ground due to its own weight."

Next time I'm out there I'll try it out from a little higher up and see what happens...

I was using my bucket yesterday and had it ~2' from the ground empty. I put it in float and it fell to the ground hard, just as if I had detached it. I guess mine works differently than most...

 

[Bill Barrett]

Just a thought, you could try to engage float with the tractor off, kinda get a feel for the float position. Good for a new operator.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

BJ,

What happens in float is both ends of boom cylinder are hooked together - there is no pressurized oil at either end.

The boom then "floats" or follows the ground contours.