What Do I Do With the Bucket?

[Anonymous Poster]

Brought the new Bota home today and it's funny how excited a grown man can get about a tractor ..../w3tcompact/icons/love.gif

To get everything home, we loaded the box blade across the front of the trailer, then drove the tractor w/mower attached up on the trailer. Everything fit OK, but we had to raise the FEL so that it cleared the top of the boxblade.

I know this is a dumb question, but is it OK to leave the FEL in this raised position, or should I lower it so it's resting on the boxblade? I'll be moving everything around soon, but it will all have to sit on the trailer this way for the time being.

BTW - I wrestled a bit with getting a cheaper style utility trailer (lots of them around with used tires/no brakes), but after pulling this moderate load with my 1/2 ton truck, I was really glad I spent a few hundred bucks more for a good quality well made trailer with brakes. The whole load rode smooth and safe. This would have been the wrong place to scrimp.

 

[chim]

Throw some scrap wood or something on the BB if you're worried about scratches. Chances are the bucket will be down before morning on its own anyway. I never leave pressure on hydraulics. No point in keeping pressure against the seals. There's also a safety problem - someone can get pinched under the implement. Good luck with the new toys............chim

 

[GarageSmoker]

The manuals say (I think) to lower all implements when done so I woud rest it on box blade. Rest it mind you, not push it through the bottom of the trailer.

Good luck with the new tractor;

GS

 

[frank_f15]

lower it, gently!!!!it will probably go down anyhow but no sense in leaving in in the raised position.

 

[dgood1]

Using the scrap wood and lowering it is the best deal. If you lower it without the tractor running you don't have to worry about putting too much down pressure on the unit.

Don

 

[chim]

Good point about having the engine off. It reminded me of something else I normally do. After the tractor is shut down, I operate the joystick in different directions to ensure there is no stored pressure.....................chim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks - I'll go check it in the morning. If it's still in the air, I'll just stick a 2x4 on top of the box blade and wiggle the joystick a bit to let the bucket down. I had thought about messing with the joystick with the tractor off, but figured I'd better ask first.

I appreciate your help.

 

[JimMc]

One of the dangers of leaving FEL or implement raised is that some one admiring your new tractor will eventually move those attractive control levers for 3 point or FEL. This creates the potential for a bystander, also admiring your equipment to be hit by the dropping implement. Most of the time every one gets a good scare and learns a lesson, but some times people get hurt. Moral - always lower FEL and implements to the ground, even if you're taking a break.

 

[cmsedore]

I'd add to this that kids are probably the worst offenders here. Mine generally know and obey the rules, but when cousins or friends come, I want to be sure that nothing will move--key out, FEL down, 3 point down. It would be too easy to have a hand, foot, or worse crushed under a several hundred pound implement.

-Chris

 

[JimMc]

Exactly, Chris.