Lifting front of tractor with FEL

Piney Woods Rooter · Oct 24, 2006

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 · Oct 24, 2006

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 · Oct 24, 2006

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 · Oct 24, 2006

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 · Oct 24, 2006

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 · Oct 24, 2006

Pineywoodsrooter,

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

PAexcavator · Oct 25, 2006

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 · Oct 25, 2006

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 · Oct 25, 2006

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 · Oct 25, 2006

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.

PineRidge · Oct 25, 2006

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

Our loader requires the same procedure.

Our BH stabilizers will raise the rear of the tractor although the correct use of the BH requires the rear wheels stay on the ground.

MikeD74T · Oct 25, 2006

The normal use of a FEL places enormous strain on the front end of the tractor. With the front end off the ground wear is easier to detect, loose bushings, etc. Maybe the dealer didn't want to repair or disclose normal or excessive wear. More likely the buyer was just being a PIA. Either way I'd walk away from a tractor if the seller would not let me lift the front with the FEL. MikeD74T

Piney Woods Rooter · Oct 25, 2006

johnk said:
Pineywoodsrooter,

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

We looked at a lot of tractors that day. I thought it was a medium size (35-45 hp) John Deere. My son said it was a 75hp model (he's probably correct as he was paying more attention to the bigger tractor$)

Regardless; after reading all the replies saying it's OK, I believe the dealer was trying to get the guy (who was reckless and very obnoxious) off the tractor.

PWR

N80 · Oct 25, 2006

My FEL lifts the front of the tractor effortlessly. Almost before you know it in some cases. And like others have mentioned, lifting the weight off the front of the tractor by using the dump cycle for the bucket is part of the procedure to remove the FEL.

jimmy1 · Oct 25, 2006

I thought downward pressure is standard on FELs in this day and age

BTI · Oct 25, 2006

I don't believe that lifting the front wheels off of the ground will hurt a unit.
BUT, I don't like customers doing it with my equipment unless they are very serious about purchase.
Why? Because if you just go straight down thats fine, if you push the bucket to dump then you drag the cutting edge accrossed the paved lot, then when you either set it down or curl the bucket it digs into the pavement usually makes some nasty looking scrapes into the bucket cutting edge.
If the guy on the unit was being a jerk , as stated by original poster, then I can see why the dealer didn't want the customer doing it.
He may have sensed the customer wasn't serious and was just playing.
I've been there on various occasions.
If you are serious about the unit and are really wanting to "test" something I doubt the dealer would have a problem.

BTI

john_bud · Oct 25, 2006

Piney Woods Rooter said:
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

PWR,

One of the many ways to lift the front with an FEL is to set the bucket down flat on the ground and then use the bucket cylinders to "uncurl" the bucket, rotating it downward away from the tractor.

When you do that, the bucket cylinders are extending. They have the most force possible applied. They will easily lift the relatively light front end of the tractor and will not harm anything as the maximum force is the weight of the machine's front. Unless you have chained the machine down to the ground!

jb

RedRocker · Oct 26, 2006

My dealer demo'd my tractor by lifting the front end off the ground.

fishpick · Oct 26, 2006

I wonder if the next thing out of the dealers mouth would have been - don't start the tractor it shortens the engine life...
Not lifting the front with a FEL - that's just crazy talk... if you were not supposed to do that - there would not be a FLOAT valve...