Mowing Mowing: With your loader on or off?

[5picker]

Have_Blue were you using a rotary cutter or a RFM? I've found that when using my TC33D/7308 FEL with my Woods 'hog,' that even though it has an articulating top link but being that it does not have the floating bottom links, that it still has a tendancy to lift over certain terrain and hence the front end becomes light. That's why I always leave the loader on to do the hogging.

I do not experience this condition with the Woods RFM because it has all the extra pivot points and find it much easier on the machine and myself to remove the loader so to not have all that bouncing that takes place when the loader is attached.

One other note...when I first started to use the RFM I did leave the loader on the first few times and found the bouncing of the empty bucket while traversing through a rough but very mowable field loosened up my front loader mounting bar bolts.

I did not notice they were loose until I went to use the loader and got a big ol' bucket of dirt and saw the front mount moving and trying to pull out of the hook area. Scary!

Tim

 

[hockeyhead]

My tc-30, 7308 is 14 months old and the loader has not been off yet and I'm now finish mowing with it. When I bought I never intended to take the loader off but, sooner or later I should pull it just to know how.

 

[johnday]

Fred, Just great, another guy from Monroe County. Welcome, and always remember, Michigan guys stick together. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[have_blue]

Hey Bob,

Those wheel weights sound tempting, because they do not add weight on the front end bearings like hang on weights.

My front wheels look like they would hold at least 100# of water each, so maybe that's an option. Loading the fronts don't seem to be common practice, but it's cheap to try! Any opinions on that?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

My EZ Weights have been on the fronts for just over a year, I've noticed no adverse affects and have not found any reason to take them off. Even the dealer was impressed with them. I know they give me better traction when the FEL is off and something heavy is on the back end. When the FEL is on, I've not found any reason to take them off, so they just stay on. I chose weight on the wheel to save space versus front bumper mounted weights (which MUST come off when the FEL is on) but I also reasoned that the ground was taking the stress of the added weight as opposed to the steering arms, axle, etc.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My front wheels look like they would hold at least 100# of water each, so maybe that's an option. Loading the fronts don't seem to be common practice, but it's cheap to try! Any opinions on that? )</font>

That sounds like a good plan to me. Being able to take off that long 16LA sure makes your tractor more maneuverable. Having an extra 150-200 lb up front in the tires is a good way to do it without loading the axle. ...except if you spend a lot of time with the front wheels in the air. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Having an extra 150-200 lb up front in the tires is a good way to do it without loading the axle. ...except if you spend a lot of time with the front wheels in the air. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )</font>

Weeeee he he he he!! Phhht! Woa boy! Down! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think I'll try it. I'm sure someone would have chimed in if it could hurt anything. I'm sure the steering will feel a bit heavier, but not a lot. Now to find a squirt gun to fill my tires. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Oh yea, there IS a hidden grease fitting under there! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

The first couple times I used my loader with the front wheel weights I noticed the steering being a bit heavy, but I no longer even notice it as the power steering takes up most of the work anyway. I think you'll be very happy with the fluid fill on your front tires.

There was a thread, several months back, possibly in the Kubota section, or maybe in the customization section, on front wheel weights and the load it puts on the tractor. The reason I think it might have been in the Kubota section is that the orange boys all brought out there owners manuals and repeated the mantra that they had to buy front end weight from their dealership to hold down the fronts of their machines. There was lots of talk about loads on the axle, linkages, etc. But I'm really happy with the front wheel weights and am glad I didn't opt for front suitcase weights. I think you'll like the weight in your wheels too.

 

[have_blue]

Well, IIRC, my FEL weighs over 1500#, and much of it hangs way over the front. Now THAT'S hard on the front end. The FEL bouncing along for hours while mowing can't be good for anything.

The worst thing I noticed about mowing without the FEL was a feeling of vulnerability when mowing close to brush and stumps. And that's another thing: I need to get a bumper guard if I'm going to mow without the FEL. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif