chopped
Veteran Member
Sixdogs ,the answer is yes. (at least some are). Like tractors, some people arent really trained to use toothpaste..I wonder if there was ever some sort of injury from swallowing the paste?
Loader Using loader with chains, etc
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TripleR
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I have yet to see anything unique to the L3400 model and what works on one will generally work on another.
I can pretty much guarantee, I do stuff my manual recommends against.
I am inclined to believe those posts which differentiate using a chain with hooks as opposed to "around" the bucket. I honestly do it both ways.
I should have been more clear with what the manual actually says. It says, "Never lift or pull a load from any point on the loader with a chain, rope or cable. Doing so could cause a rollover or serious damage to the loader."
So you can see where my question(s) come from. What the manual says and what you guys are doing are 2 different things, welded hooks or not.
My question was actually pretty dumb...I mean, the bucket doesn't have hooks on it from the factory, and the manual says not to do it, so that answered my question right there. Those of you that get away with doing it might be super-skilled, or just plain lucky. Occasionally I see super-skilled and lucky guys in the obituary so I think I'll go with the extra wheel/chain/drawbar suggestion.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go eat a tube of Crest and drive my tractor on the side of a hill at top speed with the rops down and my seatbelt on with the bucket as high as it will go....
Seriously though, thanks for the tips and sorry I ruffled the feathers of a couple of you guys. No harm intended...
So you can see where my question(s) come from. What the manual says and what you guys are doing are 2 different things, welded hooks or not.
My question was actually pretty dumb...I mean, the bucket doesn't have hooks on it from the factory, and the manual says not to do it, so that answered my question right there. Those of you that get away with doing it might be super-skilled, or just plain lucky. Occasionally I see super-skilled and lucky guys in the obituary so I think I'll go with the extra wheel/chain/drawbar suggestion.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go eat a tube of Crest and drive my tractor on the side of a hill at top speed with the rops down and my seatbelt on with the bucket as high as it will go....
Seriously though, thanks for the tips and sorry I ruffled the feathers of a couple of you guys. No harm intended...
TripleR
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I live in the heart of farm country and the dealers will put hooks on prior to delivery; most tractors I see have hooks. The use of chains or straps by people who use tractors daily or occasionally is accepted practice.
I am no dare devil and am not particularly skilled or lucky.
That being said, I am not sure there is anything as being too careful. As your experience and confidence build you will probably find yourself doing things you once would not have considered. Happy tractoring.
dex3361
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Ted
What you read (out of the manual)is a liability statement. if the FEL was sold with hooks on the bucket it would classify it as a lifting device or crane and that is a whole different set of rules. I use my hooks and chains and straps on a regular basis and I imagine you will do the same at some point in the future. Its a learning experience. Dont be shy around here there is a lot of good advice and some seasoned people here, post the question because there is probably somebody on here that has tried and succeded or failed. We can all learn from the cumulative experiences. :thumbsup:
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madrone
Member
Sorry if i'm beatin the dead horse but to me, a FEL without hooks is naked.
If anyone here is really nervous about lifting heavy objects with the FEL then they should take it slowly and get used to the limits of the tractor/operator.
When I bought my Kubota I was super careful and paranoid about tipping forward when lifting with a chain. After I learned to feel where the balance point is, it got much easier.
In very little time I was pulling T-posts from the ground, falling medium trees with their root balls intact, and even using the FEL to bang in 8" fence posts 2 ft. in the (soft) ground. That plus many, many things I won't mention for fear of waking the safety trolls.
None of these things would be recommended or condoned by Kubota (or OSHA) but like any tool, the more you use it, the more you learn how to use it.
-Mark
If anyone here is really nervous about lifting heavy objects with the FEL then they should take it slowly and get used to the limits of the tractor/operator.
When I bought my Kubota I was super careful and paranoid about tipping forward when lifting with a chain. After I learned to feel where the balance point is, it got much easier.
In very little time I was pulling T-posts from the ground, falling medium trees with their root balls intact, and even using the FEL to bang in 8" fence posts 2 ft. in the (soft) ground. That plus many, many things I won't mention for fear of waking the safety trolls.
None of these things would be recommended or condoned by Kubota (or OSHA) but like any tool, the more you use it, the more you learn how to use it.
-Mark
Chilly807
Elite Member
We do that as well, particularly if it's difficult to get under the bucket to the heel hook. I've had no problems using this set-up. The main thing is to keep the strain between the loader arms, never outside them.
To be honest, my hooks ARE outside the arms, but only by about 5 inches. The bucket on the LA463 loader is narrow compared to the arm width. I've thought about moving them to line up with the arms, but they aren't out there far enough to make a huge difference as far as I'm concerned.
Common sense is the best tool in the box.
Sean
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For taking out fence posts the 3ph is a better option anyway.
You might change your mind about hooking things to the bucket as soon as you run into something that does not fit into it and is just 20lbs too heavy for you to pick up by hand. You will be standing there thinking only if I could move this thing 100ft it would great. It's common sense and being careful that's all.
That makes sense to me. And what easygo said about having things weigh 20lbs more than I can lift...just about everything around here fits that description. I just have a lot of work to do and seemingly no time to do it all. I've seen hooks on buckets before, and even my dealer said he could do it so I know it's not totally taboo or anything. I just want to get my facts straight before I do anything.
I've had the L3400 for almost a year and have done a lot with it. I have had a couple of experiences where I swear I pinched a hole in the seat, if you know what I mean. I don't like the feeling of any of the wheels not being on the ground, so I ask questions when I'm in doubt. It's just that I was seeing one thing in the manual and another on here and elsewhere, that's all.
I have a tree or two in the river on my property that I need to pull out, but the bank is vertical and about 6 feet high. I'll start a new thread on that one (with pictures) and see what ideas you guys have for that project... should be interesting!
That would be an interesting thread with pictures. That said - in my opinion - using the loader would be a particularly bad idea in that case. May be a pulley chained up into a stout tree and a strong rope or cable connected to the draw bar.