RaydaKub
Veteran Member
If you can lift it, you're fine. If you can't lift it, it's too big.
General Operating Questions
- Thread starter extrakt0r
- Start date
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If you can lift it, you're fine. If you can't lift it, it's too big.
dex3361
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
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- N. of Charleston WV
- Tractor
- Kubota L4400-1 HST,FEL, 3x3 remotes, TNT. BX1500 54 mmm
Try to keep a ballast weight(heavier the better) on the 3 PH of the tractor when using the FEL.
As a new tractor operator always wear your seat belt with the ROPS up.
When moving a load with the FEL keep the load low to the ground raising the load high can turn you over even on a slight incline.
Check all the fluid levels of a new machine its common for the fluid to settle into low places so check it early and check it often.
Read your owners manual front to back.
Do not check for hydraulic leaks with your bare hands, use a piece of card board.
Enjoy your new tractor.:thumbsup:
As a new tractor operator always wear your seat belt with the ROPS up.
When moving a load with the FEL keep the load low to the ground raising the load high can turn you over even on a slight incline.
Check all the fluid levels of a new machine its common for the fluid to settle into low places so check it early and check it often.
Read your owners manual front to back.
Do not check for hydraulic leaks with your bare hands, use a piece of card board.
Enjoy your new tractor.:thumbsup:
beeforty
Silver Member
How do you know if you overload your FEL, other than the rear tires going up? I drove a fork lift back in the day and it would tell (approx) how much weight I am picking up.
Is it possible to attach a gauge to the FEL to get an idea of weight, or PSI to the hydro fluids to see how hard you are working them?
Something simple to see if you are overloading the FEL?[/QUOTE]
It is not always simple to tell if you have over loaded your FEL because that can depend a lot on ground conditions. Just like the cautions about soft spots and holes, soft mushy will force you to carry less weight. Now about the back coming up, I remember once running a CASE 855 loader moving material cause the truck couldn't get close to where I wanted it. I scooped up a bucket threw it in reverse next thing i was looking over hood at30+ deg on flat soft ground:ashamed: backed to firmer ground and then raised it up.
Is it possible to attach a gauge to the FEL to get an idea of weight, or PSI to the hydro fluids to see how hard you are working them?
Something simple to see if you are overloading the FEL?[/QUOTE]
It is not always simple to tell if you have over loaded your FEL because that can depend a lot on ground conditions. Just like the cautions about soft spots and holes, soft mushy will force you to carry less weight. Now about the back coming up, I remember once running a CASE 855 loader moving material cause the truck couldn't get close to where I wanted it. I scooped up a bucket threw it in reverse next thing i was looking over hood at30+ deg on flat soft ground:ashamed: backed to firmer ground and then raised it up.
dex3361
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,551
- Location
- N. of Charleston WV
- Tractor
- Kubota L4400-1 HST,FEL, 3x3 remotes, TNT. BX1500 54 mmm
FEL have pressure relief valves so if you exceed the lift capability of the loader it will bypass the hyd fluid and make a different sound.
Read your machine specs and see what the lift limit is for the FEL.
You could put a gauge on the hydraulic line a see if the pressure is approaching the limit.
Read your machine specs and see what the lift limit is for the FEL.
You could put a gauge on the hydraulic line a see if the pressure is approaching the limit.
IndyIan
Veteran Member
I seem to be very in tune with the slight change in pitch of the whole tractor. I guess with R1's on the front you can watch and feel them squish a bit when the loader is full. If you have a gravel pile around you can look up how much your bucket holds and then take a full scoop and have a good guess how much weight your lifting. I know a full bucket on my tractor does make the back feel lighter and without something on the 3ph its easy to spin the tires in 2wd. I started doing all my loader work in 2wd and then its really easy to know how much weight you've got up front as the rears will easily spin with a heavy load in the bucket. After a few hours of moving dirt I started using 4wd which makes the loader much more effective but does make it harder to feel when you've got the tractor loaded right up. Also sometimes I'll give the loader a little bounce if I'm not sure I have a full bucket or not.
dex3361
Elite Member
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- Aug 22, 2008
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- 3,551
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- N. of Charleston WV
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- Kubota L4400-1 HST,FEL, 3x3 remotes, TNT. BX1500 54 mmm
Do not go down a hill in 2WD with a load in the FEL bucket it may remove enough weight from the rear that the back tires break traction and take you for a ride.
If you are 4WD the front tires through the mechanical connection of the drive line will hold you back.
If you are 4WD the front tires through the mechanical connection of the drive line will hold you back.
flusher
Super Member
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- Sacramento
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- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
If that L3400 is 4WD, be careful when pushing the FEL bucket into a pile of whatever. If you're in 4WD when you do this, be sure you're on ground that will allow the front wheels to spin when your tractor's forward motion stops. If your wheels are on concrete, the front wheels may not spin and you could damage the transfer box and/or other parts for the front wheel drive train.
Also be careful when using your FEL to push down trees. If you line up the tree sufficiently off center on the bucket you can bend/twist the FEL arms and then you'll have a real headache getting back into alignment.
Some folks on TBN have had trouble shutting off the engine on their diesel tractors because the fuel shutoff solenoid valve malfunctions. The easiest way to stop the engine in this case is to cut off the air supply at the air filter with a towel or rag, being careful that it isn't sucked into the engine.
Also be careful when using your FEL to push down trees. If you line up the tree sufficiently off center on the bucket you can bend/twist the FEL arms and then you'll have a real headache getting back into alignment.
Some folks on TBN have had trouble shutting off the engine on their diesel tractors because the fuel shutoff solenoid valve malfunctions. The easiest way to stop the engine in this case is to cut off the air supply at the air filter with a towel or rag, being careful that it isn't sucked into the engine.
TripleR
Super Star Member
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- Mar 5, 2009
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- Missouri
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
Good advice on which I can't really improve. Practice is about the only way you are ever going to get good. Get familiar with your tractor even if you just have to move a pile of dirt from one place to another and back.
For "almost all" absolutes I can think of times I have had to "violate" the "never" or "always". However, until you get a lot of seat time, it is better to follow some of the universal admonitions.
Many of us are not particularly alarmed when our back tires come off the ground a bit, we pull with the 3PH from a horizontal draw bar and mow across slopes.
We may not recommend it and accept it increases the risk, but have learned to mitigate those risks to an acceptable level.
I have been driving tractors for over 50 years, but still take plenty of time to "get to know" a new tractor before using it to its full potential.
I don't know that I accept the universal admonition that "tractors are dangerous" and prefer "tractors can be dangerous".
As mentioned, think of a task and pose the question to the forum and you will get a lot of good advice to sift through. I also use the "search" button a lot and then bookmark a good thread when I find it for future reference.
I find that I still have lots to learn even after all these years.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is something a lot of new HST owners have trouble with and that is the further you press down on your HST pedal, the higher it will be geared, so for more pulling power use less pedal. Also keep your engine speed up enough to give you good power for the task at hand, you are not going to hurt the engine.
Enjoy your new tractor.:thumbsup:
For "almost all" absolutes I can think of times I have had to "violate" the "never" or "always". However, until you get a lot of seat time, it is better to follow some of the universal admonitions.
Many of us are not particularly alarmed when our back tires come off the ground a bit, we pull with the 3PH from a horizontal draw bar and mow across slopes.
We may not recommend it and accept it increases the risk, but have learned to mitigate those risks to an acceptable level.I have been driving tractors for over 50 years, but still take plenty of time to "get to know" a new tractor before using it to its full potential.
I don't know that I accept the universal admonition that "tractors are dangerous" and prefer "tractors can be dangerous".
As mentioned, think of a task and pose the question to the forum and you will get a lot of good advice to sift through. I also use the "search" button a lot and then bookmark a good thread when I find it for future reference.
I find that I still have lots to learn even after all these years.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is something a lot of new HST owners have trouble with and that is the further you press down on your HST pedal, the higher it will be geared, so for more pulling power use less pedal. Also keep your engine speed up enough to give you good power for the task at hand, you are not going to hurt the engine.
Enjoy your new tractor.:thumbsup:
jbrumberg
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- Cummington, MA
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- New Holland TC29DA, John Deere D130
I will admit that I have on ocassion dragged loads from my 3PH, but like mentionned previously the decision is based on the specifics of the task. I agree with all the previous posts. One thing about having gauges on your tractor is they can become a distraction during operation. I installed a Lev-O-Gauge years ago to assess tilt. My "seat" and "pucker power" are much more reliable and quicker than any gauge, but this comes with experience. I have used that gauge prior to pushing the FEL into heavy material to assess how low I will keep the bucket after retrieval.
JoeL4330
Platinum Member
overloading the FEL? As others stated, if the rear lifts, not enough rear ballast; if the front tires collapse, not enough air pressure; once those things are corrected, if you can lift it, you can lift it ...the FEL protected by a hydraulic pressure relief valve.
If you can lift it: not too high, especially when travelling; and, be wary of slopes.
If you can lift it: not too high, especially when travelling; and, be wary of slopes.
