Front-End Loader Loaders

[klm]

I can't believe all the people that never remove their loader, I love my loader and use it a lot, but when I'm doing anything else especially brush-hogging I remove it.
Am I the only one that does this?

 

[kevinj]

I can't believe all the people that never remove their loader, I love my loader and use it a lot, but when I'm doing anything else especially brush-hogging I remove it.
Am I the only one that does this?

Nope........mine comes off for field work and hoggin also. Come to think of it I remove it for snow removal also

 

[Altex]

I can't believe all the people that never remove their loader, I love my loader and use it a lot, but when I'm doing anything else especially brush-hogging I remove it.
Am I the only one that does this?

klm and kevinj, I'm curious. Why do you remove your loader when brush-hoggin'? I just raise my Loader up so I can get a better view. I think is also helps to counter balance the back end. Anyway, lifting it up is faster than removing it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

klm and kevinj, I'm curious. Why do you remove your loader when brush-hoggin'? I just raise my Loader up so I can get a better view. I think is also helps to counter balance the back end. Anyway, lifting it up is faster than removing it.

Altex, you should try it sometime. You may never mow with the loader on again. I prefer to mow and disk with the loader off also. The tractor feels much nicer with the loader off and you don't have all the loader stuff bouncing and rattling around. If you only do a small area, than I guess why bother, but if you are out for hours at a time, it is much nicer to have the loader off in my opinion.

 

[clenhart]

Altex, you should try it sometime. You may never mow with the loader on again. I prefer to mow and disk with the loader off also. The tractor feels much nicer with the loader off and you don't have all the loader stuff bouncing and rattling around. If you only do a small area, than I guess why bother, but if you are out for hours at a time, it is much nicer to have the loader off in my opinion.

I second (or third) this statement. I remove my loader while bushogging, finish mowing and plowing/discing the garden. I will even remove the loader when boxblading sometimes if I am not going to be moving materials around.

I was reluctant to do so at first until I got a dedicated LEVEL spot for removing and storing the loader and became proficient at removing it which I can do now in less than half the time it takes to swap 3pt. implements. The increased visibility and manueverability are well worth the 3min. it takes to remove the loader IMO. I would also think that over the long haul it may lenghthen the life of the seals and bearings in the front axle...

 

[rbargeron]

I'll 3rd or 4th the motion to remove the FEL - especially for mowing. I use a Woods 990 rfm. Without the loader, the tractor is more maneuverable - feels quicker, more nimble. As MtnViewRanch says - try it, you'll like it.

 

[Gizmo36]

On the big tractor I leave the bucket off all the time . on the little one when I get done with the fence the loader will come off.

 

[kevinj]

klm and kevinj, I'm curious. Why do you remove your loader when brush-hoggin'? I just raise my Loader up so I can get a better view. I think is also helps to counter balance the back end. Anyway, lifting it up is faster than removing it.

Lifting the loader just raises the center of gravity which I do not need mowing around the ditches. Also you are just wearing pins needlessly by bouncing the loader around when it is not needed.

 

[RWolf]

For me it's more trouble than what it's worth. I may be mowing in the morning and moving hay in the afternoon with only brief stops. As far as wearing pins???? don't see that. If the noise of the bucket banging then I might use a cargo strap to limit movement. But I generally don't mow so fast that the bucket is bouncing around that much.

 

[Altex]

On the big tractor I leave the bucket off all the time . on the little one when I get done with the fence the loader will come off.

When you say "bucket", do you mean the whole FEL (disconnecting from the mainframe) or just the bucket?

For those that have the Quick Attach (skid steer type) with the different attachments for the front end, do you guys take the FEL off or just the attachment when brush hoggin/mowin? Just trying to get different persectives.

Anyway, I will certainly try it with the FEL off. Thanks!

 

[Deaf]

My little 1215 Ford with out power steering acts like its has power steering with the loader off and hogg on! Seems like much less wear and tear on the tractor or at least the sterring parts...

 

[kevinj]

For me it's more trouble than what it's worth. I may be mowing in the morning and moving hay in the afternoon with only brief stops. As far as wearing pins???? don't see that. If the noise of the bucket banging then I might use a cargo strap to limit movement. But I generally don't mow so fast that the bucket is bouncing around that much.

Watch your loader while moving about. The main lift arms are sliding around on the pins a bit. Anyway I prefer mine off.

 

[dangerdoc]

"Watch your loader while moving about. The main lift arms are sliding around on the pins a bit. Anyway I prefer mine off."

Pins are replaceable. Time is precious. If I'm doing tight work, I may remove the bucket but the loader has never been off.

 

[kevinj]

"Watch your loader while moving about. The main lift arms are sliding around on the pins a bit. Anyway I prefer mine off."

Pins are replaceable. Time is precious. If I'm doing tight work, I may remove the bucket but the loader has never been off.

Yep, the pins are replaceable but the bushings are not Time is precious and I do not remove mine for short tasks either, but do if the job is measured in hours.

 

[RWolf]

Interesting as I've watch my loader and the only thing I've noticed is the bucket rocking back and forth abit in full curl but my loader arms seem to be solid. I'll take a closer look next time. Maybe it's just that I'm only past my first 100 hours

 

[Diamondpilot]

Took mine off once back in 2003 when I got tractor but have not since. I BH, mow with a 6 rear finish mower, plow, ect. Really does not cause me any issues.

Chris

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I have never took mine off when mowing or plowing.

 

[Gizmo36]

Altex Just the Bucket on the Bushhog it has a quick attach on it. Now on the Koyker loader I will have to take the arms off too.

 

[chh]

All my loaders are quick attach and can be off in 2-3 minutes easily. I won't take them off for quick jobs, but if I'm not going to be using them and doing hay, weed spraying, or brushhogging they come off. Saves wear and tear and improves visibility and handling.

My Sis and her Hubby have had a tractor now for about 5 years(their first). The loader has never been off since the day it was put on and they confessed they are scared to even try.

For you all that just "lift it up" remember not to lift it too high. I see people mowing with the loader all the way up every now and again. At that height it really alters a tractors center of gravity and stablility.

 

[wedge40]

I haven't had mine off since putting it on either. For two reasons, one fear of the unknown, two and here's the biggie, I dont have a solid place to put it. I've read how to take it off many times, even though I've never done it, I'm pretty sure I could manage. But coming back in a couple of days or even weeks and having to put a shifted loader back on just doesn't sound like fun. Once I get some cement somewhere that I can leave the loader on, then I'll try and remove it every now and then.

Wedge