My latest GC "invention"!

[irvingj]

When I use my GC to attack the ever-encroaching woods around here, I have a trailer hooked up to the back (for brush, firewood chunks & such) and the FEL on the front which I use mostly for holding my chainsaw, pruning clippers, pulling chain, etc.

I realize that most hydraulics will bleed down by themselves after a while, but the TILT function on the FEL seems to be a bit faster at bleeding down, especially when it's carrying some weight (my tools). Seemed every time I started the tractor, I needed to pull the tilt back up so my tools wouldn't spill out on the ground.

Now, it's not a real fast thing, but sometimes I park the tractor overnight with my tools in the FEL; next morning, my chainsaw & other stuff is pretty close to being dumped out of the bucket.

Solution: Had a piece of re-bar kicking around, so heated the thing up with a torch and made some bends. "Hook" end hooks onto to the top bar of the grille guard and the roughly 90 degree bend just drops over the upper lip of the FEL. Within a few minutes of sitting idle, that bucket has tilted enough to make the re-bar tight, but I know it won't go any farther so I feel safe parking it for a length of time. To remove, it only takes a quick tweak "upward" on the tilt to release the re-bar.

Problem solved!

 

[Pixguy]

Good ol' Yankee ingenuity. Nice.

I see you put your front "number" back on after the winter? I haven't bothered since taking it off to attach my QA.

 

[irvingj]

We have another expression equivalent to "Yankee ingenuity": "Crude, but effective!" :laughing:

What did you mean by "front number"?

 

[Pixguy]

We have another expression equivalent to "Yankee ingenuity": "Crude, but effective!" :laughing: What did you mean by "front number"?

I meant to say bumper. Not sure if I spelled it that way or auto correct did it.

 

[ray66v]

You don't have your tractor trained very well. I just tell mine to "stay!"

I like the rustic feel of your rebar stop.

An alternate way to do this, would be to lay a piece of horizontally split plastic pipe, on top of the extended portion of the ram.

One side should do it.

 

[4570Man]

You don't have your tractor trained very well. I just tell mine to "stay!" I like the rustic feel of your rebar stop. An alternate way to do this, would be to lay a piece of horizontally split plastic pipe, on top of the extended portion of the ram. One side should do it.

Except it's the curl that leaks, and those cylinders have to extend to leak down.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Leak down is through the valve, it's easier to put a shut off on the hose right at the valve, to stop the leak down...

It's very easy to install, it's always with you and it works...

SR

 

[ray66v]

Except it's the curl that leaks, and those cylinders have to extend to leak down.

I see now, that I did not read his post carefully enough.

I have the opposite problem. When I park my tractor, the bucket goes from being flat on the floor, to curled, as the cylinders on the frame leak down.

Parking the tractor with weight raised in the bucket, as well as driving fast over rough terrain, with a loaded bucket, will encourage leaks.

Replacing the seals, is not a big deal. Make sure you have no rust, or damage in the bore, when you get it apart. And, make sure you don't nick the new seals installing them. Lube the new seals up good with oil, before re-assembly.

 

[irvingj]

Yes, I really should fix the seals, but this was easier! :laughing:

On another note- still swear by those 24" hydraulic hose extensions I put on the BH! In my attacking the brush pile(s), new growth, and some old log pieces that are no good for firewood, I'm attaching and removing the backhoe a LOT.

Of course the practice is helping, but those extensions make it so much easier I've now got the hook-up down to about 5 minutes. The extensions allow me to back the tractor up near the BH, but still far enough away from it to be able to walk behind it and get at the hoses. Once hooked up, I can then use hydraulics to raise the BH for attachment, back the tractor up to "touch," drop the BH into the pockets, roll it forward, insert the pins. I just loop the excess hose into the space near the base of the BH so they're safely tucked away. Highly recommend them!

Little by little, I'me getting some of the local jungle cleared. Might even be able to see Moose Mtn again some day! :roll eyes: