Pop Goes The Kubota!!

[Casimir]

RFischer --

Still doesn't look like you got an answer so I will throw in my 2 cents worth. A single spill, especially if the excess is wiped up with rags or paper towels shouldn't have any long term affect, except to attract dust.

However, on the Ford 1520 I bought, the previous owner had neglected a hydraulic leak that dripped onto the right floor mat (a rubber-like substance/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif). It leaked so long without being fixed that the mat formed a bubble, and then a cup, which caught more leaked fluid. The damage is purely cosmetic, since it is just a floor mat and the metal deck wouldn't be damaged, but long-term or repeated exposure of belts or rubber/plastic parts not designed to be in contact with hydraulic fluid could cause damage or failure.

Congrats on the new machine. I was ready to order one just like it, and then my friendly blue salesman located this used Ford. Since I could pay outright for the Ford and not have payments, and since it only had 700 hours on it and came with a 4 in 1 bucket and pallet forks, brush cutter and rear blade, I decided I could live with "old" blue, but the "new" blue and orange and green are really nice. Enjoy. I am sure the first problem is not indicative of things to come.

 

[RFischer]

Casimir--

Thanks for putting your 2 cents in. I really appreciate it. You're right on about causing dust collection. Being a 1st time tractor owner causes a lot of concern especially when something happens like it did in the first hours of operation. I'm going out today and buy small bottles of Castrol and Purple Power and see which works best.

 

[BeeBop]

Hey Chim, I know when doing a lot of FEL work that a loaded bucket has been known to break the bead on the front tires if the pressures were too low while articulating corners. Do you think yours are too low w/that much sidewall flex?

 

[chim]

BeeBop, it certainly is a concern. I wasn't real worried because cornering fast is something I avoid with a load in the FEL. The picture I had posted was with the loader as full of topsoil as I could get it.

Breaking the bead is something that does happen. A friend of mine wrecked a Suburban a number of years ago, and it appeared the cause was an underinflated front tire breaking the bead when he was in a fairly hard turn. This wasn't a current-generation 'Burban, and it didn't have IFS. It was one of the older models with the straight axle. Kinda like my B7500 come to think of it...........................chim

 

[Boone]

If you are going to do any dirt digging with the FEL buy yourself a toothbar. I love the bar. For smoothing out soil, I just drop to float and drag backwards.

 

[RFischer]

I did some work with the FEL yesterday. I can see where a tooth bar would be very useful. How are they to put on?

Richard

 

[MikePA]

Richard,

<font color=blue>How are they to put on?</font color=blue>

Drill two holes, one in each side of the bucket, slide the toothbar on, insert two bolts w/ washers, tighten and you're done.

 

[Boone]

Very easy install. I positioned the bar on the bucket edge, then center puched where I wanted the holes from the inside, drilled a small pilot hole from the inside. Then I went to the outside with the 1/2 drill motor and went up progresively in size drills. Get a couple extra washers for spacers before starting. I had read the thread about exact fit and a little slop and decided I wanted to be able to remove it easiliy so I went with the Carver bar and the extra space. No disappointment and not really that much gap space.

The bar changes the little Bota into a real agressive digger.

 

[RFischer]

Sounds fairly simple to attach. I did a search on price and couldn't find anything. What's a fair price for a toothbar and are there different kinds? Is one better than the other?