Lifting front of tractor with FEL

[Piney Woods Rooter]

I was watching a guy “test drive” a tractor at a dealer when he tried to lift the front end with the FEL. When the dealer asked him not to do it the guy replied “that’s how everybody always tests the hydraulics – my daddy’s been doing it for years” The dealer then (politely) explained to him that the FEL wasn’t designed to apply that much force in the down direction and that it’s probably not a good idea.

That explanation makes sense to me, what do you guys think? Should the FEL of a modern tractor be able to safely lift the front end? (The guy doing the test driving was being a real pain and the dealer may have just said that to get him off the tractor.)

What about forcing the FEL bucket down to anchor the tractor, say when using the backhoe?

Should the stabilizer legs of the backhoe be able to lift the backend?

Thanks,

PWR

 

[johnk]

I don't see the problem with lifting the tractor with the FEL. I do it all the time. When trying to strip sod etc. You have to curl the bucket, take a bite, and level out as you get going. Just a normal function I would think..

 

[Charlesaf3]

I thought being able to lift the tractor with the FEL was standard - maybe it was a small tractor with a weak FEL?

But it seems to be how many people get their mmm on and off, and many other things.

In my experience rear backhoe stabilizers will lift the rear of the tractor.

 

[NoMo]

Using the bucket to lift the front of the tractor is actually required in order to install or remove the loader from my tractor.

 

[DK35vince]

I agree with the others. I don't see a problem with lifting the front of the tractor with the loader. I do it all the time..

 

[johnk]

Pineywoodsrooter,

What kind of tractor was the guy testing out? Maybe that will give us better insight.

 

[PAexcavator]

If the FEL hurts itself doing this it's got to be the worst engineered design out there. Assuming that it's built too weak to deal with the forces of the cylinders on it, the relief valve should be set low enough to prevent damage to itself, which begs the question, what moron engineer would waste money on cylinders too big for the structure. Somebody in this scenario doesn't know what they are doing and shouldn't be trusted around equipment.

 

[Thomas]

Morning PWR.
I for one seen orange dealer demo such action to customers,plus show the art of back draging in there sand box....if one has front flat tire what would be a better way to get the tire off the ground until they get some sort of blocking.

 

[Partsman2]

Either the dealer doesn't know what he's talking about or like you said he was trying to get that guy off the tractor.

If that dealer thinks that then he would die if he saw some of the things I do with my FEL.

 

[jinman]

I think you may have hit on the "issue" when you said the guy was being a real pain and the dealer wanted him off the tractor. If the dealer thought the guy was apt to be reckless, he may have said that just to be dropping a hint that he was not happy with the guy's actions. I would have had to have been there to judge the dealer's motives, but my front wheels are in the air a lot when I'm using my loader. I do try to lift the bucket fairly slowly so the weight of the tractor doesn't come slamming down on the front axle like a jackhammer.