How often do you take off your FEL?

txdon · Dec 12, 2004

I was running a hydraulic hose from the front of the loader to the rear hydraulics. When I was attaching the lines and got to the joy stick I thought "Dummy, why didn't I get another disconnect here"! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I have had the tractor a year and have not removed the loader. Then I was thinking How many times will I remove the loader? I have a quick hitch on the bucket, I need the weight when mowing with the 6' mower.

So the question is: How many times and for what reasons are your loaders removed? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

BigAl · Dec 12, 2004

Only time I ever removed my Loader was the time I rebuilt my old tractor motor ! I just can't imagine why someone would take theirs off unless they were fighting a weight or movability problem .
Big Al

johndeere2210 · Dec 12, 2004

I remove and reinstall the FEL at least twice a week in the summer. I don't mow with it on but when ever a scoop shovel is needed, I use the one with power steering and seat. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dbelisle · Dec 12, 2004

I remove it about once a week in the summer. I also like to mow with the FEL off.

Dave in NH

PineRidge · Dec 12, 2004

We dump the FEL on a regular basis in the summer for mowing duties. Whether we are pulling the brush hog or the RFM the FEL seems to always get in the way. Besides with SuperSteer when you are doing a lot of fast maneuvering the FEL bucket has a tendency to go the opposite direction in a turn because of the axle geometry. It's really a piece of cake to remove. Do it a couple of times and it gets to be second nature real quick.

cisco · Dec 12, 2004

Per prior posts, when the grass/weeds need mowing, I remove the FEL - say, every 2-3 weeks in the spring/summer/early fall. Otherwise, it's hard to manuver around wax myrtles, trees and the like, and I've, more than once, dinged a tree when I was too lazy to remove the FEL. The first time I removed/replaced the FEL, it was a major pain and I used some colorful language (the errors were all my fault, of course). Now, it takes a few minutes.

RoyJackson · Dec 12, 2004

Mine's off most of the summer unless I have a specific task or I'm going to use the rotary cutter. Then I install it as needed.
I very rarely mow with it on...

Winter..it goes on and stays on.

Tdog · Dec 12, 2004

I remove the FEL & BH every time I mow. As others have posted, they are a piece of cake, once you get the hang of it. Part of my getting that hang was getting a cement floor to work on. Prior to my workshop being built, I only had a gravel surface, & that did present some problems. It is a much easier task now.
The implement that I put off removing was the MMM. I was reluctant to try it without a smooth floor to work on. So, I took it off for the first time [325 hours of operation] this week. Now that was a chore. I had to get a local kid with arms like trees to release the collar - - dust & crud had all but frozen it in place. Sure hope that task gets easier.

DK35vince · Dec 12, 2004

I've had my loader off only 1 time in 3 years.
For mowing I just kick the bucket off. (quick attach)

Deerlope · Dec 12, 2004

I have had my off & on as many as 5 times in one day. Its off now cause the SB is on. When we get enough snow and I start cutting logs off comes the blower and on goes the FEL and skidding winch. when we get snow again off comes the FEL. When mowing with the RFM its nice not haveing the FEL bouncing along.