removal of 70 loader on JD 955

[stargazers]

Could someone give me the procedure to remove the model 70 loader off of my 955? The guy we bought it from quickly showed us before we loaded it on the trailer but I soon forgot. I know you must pull the two levers at the top on either side but it gets a little fuzzy after that /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. My husband, who also forgot /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, notified me no grass cutting with the loader on. (My manuals are on the way, but I need to cut the grass now before we are overgrown).

Thanks for your help. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DaveNay]

I have a different model FEL, so I can't help with the procedure, but just curious....why not mow with the FEL on? I mowed all last year with it on with no problems. My land is _FLAT_ though, so maybe that is the difference?

Dave

 

[Whiskey]

Stargazers:

I have to agree with Davenay....I mow all the time with my loader on...just lift it high enuff to clear the fencing on the first pass by. Once the first pass is done I lower it back down to about a foot or two above the ground.....but like he said...my land is flat.

Whiskey

 

[RoyJackson]

Find a level area, preferably on a concrete surface. Better if it's in the shaded area (more on that later)

There are two bolts at the bottom of the loader masts (where it mounts to the tractor frame). Loosen, but don't remove those bolts. That's the "wedge" locations.

Unhook the Latches (the levers you refer to) by raising them up, pulling toward you, then locking them down in the unlatched position. You'll see the two narrower sections of the latch rods. If fact, before you unlatch, note how they are located in a key shaped hole in the loader frame.

Once unlatched, pull your joystick back. The loader will rise out of the frame. DO THIS SLOWLY AT LOW RPM!!! You want to just clear the height of the front tires.

Once the loader frame is clear, back out SLOWLY! Just enough to disconnect the four hydraulic connections.

Stop the tractor and turn the engine OFF. Jiggle the joystick sideways to relieve the hydraulic pressure. Get off the tractor and disconnect the hoses by sliding the FEMALE quick disconnect fitting away from the male fitting. BEFORE YOU DO THIS, make sure the color coded plastic rings are on both the tractor side of the hose AND the loader side. That's the only way to identify which hose goes where. Your loader manual will also describe this. If those color coded rings are not there, use those multi-colored wire ties or something of that nature.

Once everything is disconnected, back the tractor away from the loader and operate as you need to.

The first time you do this, it'll take 10-15 minutes because you're nervous. After a few times, it's be a 2 minute operation.

IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS, LEAVE THE LOADER ON UNTIL YOU GET THOSE MANUALS. Operating the tractor while mowing isn't that difficult...just must watch where the loader front end is.

I normally remove my loader for mowing, but I have mowed with it installed.

Now, about the shade... If the (uninstalled) loader is setting in the sun, the heat (from the sun) may cause the hydraulic fluid to expand. This can make it a bit more difficult to reconnect those quick disconnect hoses.

Hope this helps you...

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( BEFORE YOU DO THIS, make sure the color coded plastic rings are on both the tractor side of the hose AND the loader side. That's the only way to identify which hose goes where. Your loader manual will also describe this. If those color coded rings are not there, use those multi-colored wire ties or something of that nature.)</font>

My color codings are missing from the hoses, but the sticker on the floor pan is still there. I used plain old zip ties to mark the hoses. One zip tie on hose #1, two zip ties on hose #2, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dave

 

[stargazers]

Thanks so much for the info., I didn't know about the sun part. My hubby doesn't like me to mow with it on, I think he thinks it will ruin it - we have very bumpy fields, they broke an axle on our Scotts(John Deere) 2554 and he probably feels the bumping and bouncing will cause something to break on the loader system. This is our first real tractor, as you can see the other is an "imitation" tractor(Scotts) and he wants to take good care of this one. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I love driving it around /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It is soooo much fun and I am always looking for an excuse to use it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Again thanks for the info.

 

[RoyJackson]

"My hubby doesn't like me to mow with it on, I think he thinks it will ruin it - we have very bumpy fields, they broke an axle on our Scotts(John Deere) 2554 and he probably feels the bumping and bouncing will cause something to break on the loader system. "

As long as you go slow, I don't think you'd have a problem.
There have been posts concerning more wear on the front axle if one leaves the loader on all the time.
I guess that's possible, but I've never heard of any complaints like that on TBN (the posts didn't give examples, just vague anecdotes). I suppose operating the machine across a bumpy surface with a full load in the bucket could cause breakage or excess wear...to me, that's not the fault of the tractor, but operator abuse.
I take my loader off because I mow closer to the house and fence. Also, that extra weight high up (you can lower the bucket, but most of the weight is still above the axles) makes my 670 a bit more tippy on the slopes I mow.

 

[stargazers]

We live almost at the top of a Chester County, PA hill so all my pastures are on the side of a hill, some are steeper then others. For the really steep part I use our Scotts(John Deere in disguise) because we have 75lb weights on each tire so it won't tip - works great I can go anywhere on the slopes with it. The 955 is for the large pasture, not too steep, and plowing the 1/3 mile drive that is steep and twisty /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
My hubby doesn't like the thought of the loader on while cutting a not so flat pasture, along with the bumping and bouncing - (he gets to take the loader off, he likes doing that stuff.) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I didn't realize how much fun driving/playing with this tractor would be. : /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It was used in Lancaster PA by a Mennonite family for everything so it has 2300 hours on it, am awaiting our repair guy to take it away for a much needed check up, to be sure no big problems, and to change all fluids and fix the small problems. Soooo I will miss it, he promises it will only be away for 1 week /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So I will be going through 955 withdrawal) Our Scotts just isn't the same thing /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[BigEddy]

I've never loosened the wedge bolts on my 855 to remove the loader. I follow all the other steps.

If you do loosen the wedge bolts - remember to adjust and retighten them when you put it back on - seems obvious - but I would forget!

 

[Currmudgeon]

I don't have the manual in front of me, but IIRC, you don't need to loosten the wedge bolts, except to adjust the wedges.

I will be pulling the FEL off to mow, but that's so I have better maneiverability and don't break trees with the loader while trying to miss something else with the mower deck.