How can you tell if your FEL is up to par?

[Chuck K.]

My FEL seems a little anemic, I tried to lift a ~20" dia. pine tree stump out of the hole and it would not do it. I made sure the tap root was severed, the stump was flopping around in the hole so I know it was freed from all the roots. Even rolling the bucket would not lift it and the motor never seemed to strain. Later I tried to pull out some chain link fence posts that where set in concrete and had to roll the bucket just to get them out... How can I determine if the relief valve is improperly set? Thanks for any help. Chuck.

 

[bigdad]

How's your hydraulic fluid level? Had any leaks?

 

[3RRL]

Chuck,
Since your tractor's hydraulics are probably open center, you can add a 3000psi pressure gage to your system and test each valve on your system by operating that valve only. The pressure gage will tell you what the psi of the bypass valve is and you can adjust each one accordingly. Do not exceed the recommended range for each valve. I have mine installed between the hydraulic pump and the first valve in line.
Surplus Center has a good selection of gages.

 

[AndyMA]

A 20" green stump is heavy. It may just be beyound the capacity of your loader. Try making a ramp and sliding the stump up that. I've dug out oak stumps smaller than that that even my Tn with over 3000 lbs of lift capacity can't lift.

Andy

 

[Z-Michigan]

Can you hear whether a bypass valve is opening? The noise is noticeable on my setup and that tells me when I'm overloaded. The engine doesn't work much when the bypass valve is open.

 

[n8wrl]

A 20" green stump is heavy. It may just be beyound the capacity of your loader. Try making a ramp and sliding the stump up that. I've dug out oak stumps smaller than that that even my Tn with over 3000 lbs of lift capacity can't lift.

Andy

This would be my approach - get a chain and drag it out. That last bit of something might be just enough given the weight...

-Brian

 

[daTeacha]

I agree with Andy. Stumps and the attached dirt are pretty heavy. Not quite as dense as rock, but heavier than you might think. A 20" diameter stump will have a ball of dirt on that it is probably heavier than a full bucket. Depending on your rig, a densely filled and heaped bucket of wet dirt is probably going to be about a maximum lift. Add in the stump and you have an overload. Did you feel the rear end getting light or anything to indicate that the tractor was simply being asked to lift more than it was intended to?

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Have you checked all the quick connects? Sometimes the slightest misalignment can cause a lot of problems. I would try disconnecting and cleaning, then reconnect.

Brad

 

[wushaw]

Also try to pick something up that is a known weight.

 

[Casco1]

Also try to pick something up that is a known weight.

I have an LA682 which has a lift weight of 1499 lbs. What I do is raise the bucket to a height of 18 inches, then have my mother- in-law sit in it ( this takes a little coaxing and a bowl of ice cream since I installed the toothbar ) if I can raise it to 24" I know I'm all set.