Loader Hydraulics

[Marjorie Mason]

I have a ford 500 with a front loading bucket. I sometimes use the bucket at a tilted angle to grade stone or the driveway or push trees that have been cut down. My neighbor says this is hard on the hydraulics and it shouldn't be used that way. Can you be "hard on hydraulics"and what's the worst that could happen, a leak or a hose breaking?

 

[tessiers]

I you look at it that way, the loader is hard on the tractor. Tractor front ends and steering components are not designed for loader work, especially from that era. That being said there are thousands of them that have been used for years like that with no ill effects. I would not worry in the least. If you are doing heavy grading and such there are better tools but I assume you are only using it on occasion. No problems.

 

[Stonehaller]

You really need to be careful moving material with the bucket tilled. When tilted, the bucket is quite a lever arm on the curl cylinders and you can exceed the pressure rating of hoses, bend cylinder rods or bust the end caps off of the cylinders. Moving loose materials is ok. Use common sense. If what you are moving takes any effort from the tractor, then keep your bucket bottom closer to level.