Float Position on LA243 FEL

[Donkey Shade Farm]

I've had a month to play around with my new Kubota. Getting pretty good with the FEL but I've yet to figure out the float position. I have a 4 way control stick. Whenever I try to reach the float position as described in the manual it lifts the front tires off the ground. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Stradbash]

Not pushing the lever far enough!

There is a fairly strong detent that you have to overcome before you get into float position. I know it felt wrong to me the first few times I did it.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

If you have the FEL down low before you try to float it, it may make ground contact first and start raising the front end. Start with the FEL up a bit higher until you get the hang of it.

 

[TripleR]

Don't you have to have the bucket fully "rolled back" to engages "float"?

 

[kevinj]

Don't you have to have the bucket fully "rolled back" to engages "float"?

Negative, float can had from any position of boom or bucket.

 

[kennyd]

If you have the FEL down low before you try to float it, it may make ground contact first and start raising the front end. Start with the FEL up a bit higher until you get the hang of it.

Agree 110%. Start with the loader about 3 feet off the ground to avoid doing wheelies until you get the feel for it. It will settled down gently, and not slam down so no harm will be done.

 

[Donkey Shade Farm]

Ran out to the barn and tried it. Had to push hard, but it does indeed go up another notch. Thanks for the tips on engaging it off the ground until getting the hang of it.

Now that I know I have it, when/how would I use it (grading driveway, dirt, snow, etc)? For you big tractor owner, remember I have a fairly small and light machine.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

I use it mostly with my front snowblower so I can lower it to the pavement easily without lifting the tires. Sometimes I don't use it if I need down pressure to scrape.

 

[rexcramer]

Ran out to the barn and tried it. Had to push hard, but it does indeed go up another notch. Thanks for the tips on engaging it off the ground until getting the hang of it.

Now that I know I have it, when/how would I use it (grading driveway, dirt, snow, etc)? For you big tractor owner, remember I have a fairly small and light machine.

You can use it when backblading light fluffy material that does not require downpressure, or when going forward and trying to keep the bucket level and just scraping the ground.

Its a feature I never use but should probably mess with more often

 

[BigD23]

I've used the float position quite a bit in the past few weeks...Moved a lot of soft dirt from a pile I made with my BH while trenching...When I spread the dirt out with my FEL I smoothe it down with the bucket in its normal position using the "float" feature as I back up and it follows/shapes it very well. Have done it with 3/4 minus rock too...Good luck.

Don

 

[TripleR]

Negative, float can had from any position of boom or bucket.

Thanks, I have never used it on any of my tractors.

 

[dodge man]

For me float seems to work best when back dragging. I usually get better results not using it and just controlling the down pressure myself.

 

[dillo99]

Ran out to the barn and tried it. Had to push hard, but it does indeed go up another notch. Thanks for the tips on engaging it off the ground until getting the hang of it.

Almost everyone seems to have trouble figuring out their float for the first time. I think it took me a year - tried if a few times...didn't think it worked. When I finally really needed it I figured it out. The dealers need to explain this better to new owners.

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

When you get skilled with float you can use it to scoop up material for example a dile of dirt, stone or gravel that you need to move from on area to another.

1) As you drop the bucket down engage float just prior to the bucket hitting the ground [MAKE SURE THE BUCKET IS EITHER LEVEL OR CURLED UP A BIT. IF you engage float with the bucket curled down you will dig in and things can get nasty]

2) once the bucket is on the ground and level now you can pop the joystick back [disengaging float] and you have now quickily and accurately set your bucket level to the ground.

3) As the bucket enters into the pile of material you can now gradually raise the bucket.

If you do not use float in this process you risk pushing the bucket too far down and potentially taking presure off your front wheels

 

[TripleR]

When you get skilled with float you can use it to scoop up material for example a dile of dirt, stone or gravel that you need to move from on area to another.

1) As you drop the bucket down engage float just prior to the bucket hitting the ground [MAKE SURE THE BUCKET IS EITHER LEVEL OR CURLED UP A BIT. IF you engage float with the bucket curled down you will dig in and things can get nasty]

2) once the bucket is on the ground and level now you can pop the joystick back [disengaging float] and you have now quickily and accurately set your bucket level to the ground.

3) As the bucket enters into the pile of material you can now gradually raise the bucket.

If you do not use float in this process you risk pushing the bucket too far down and potentially taking presure off your front wheels

I have used six tractors over the years from 22 to 80 hp as well as a backhoe and never felt I needed to use "float", but will give it a try, thanks.

 

[johnk]

I have used six tractors over the years from 22 to 80 hp as well as a backhoe and never felt I needed to use "float", but will give it a try, thanks.

I think you are in for a welcome suprise...

 

[Donkey Shade Farm]

Thanks for all the tips/advice. Tried some of these already and I see the value of float now.