loader use

[debp]

We just bought a used L3400, and I am trying to learn how to use the front end loader. I am not clear what kind of force I can put on the loader to not harm it or the hydraulics. I am trying to dig up a layer of road base that is packed but still loose enough to shovel with a lot of effort. My neighbor showed me how to do this by putting the bucket bottom near vertical and pushing and pulling the gravel, but it involved going forward at quite a good speed and to the point the front tires came quite a ways off the ground each time he pushed the gravel forward or pulled it back. Is the loader and tractor made to handle that kind of use without hurting anything? He certainly was able to move dirt effectively and without any obvious issues.

 

[medic0648]

Do you have a bb with scarifiers or other attachment to break up the road base first? It would be easier on the fel and you. I'd be more worried about breaking welds or bending the fel over the hydraulics other than blowing a line.

 

[creekbend]

If possible, it would be in your best interest to obtain a Loader Manual for your make and model. I have a L4400 that I bought new. In addition to an Operator's Manual, there was a Loader Manual included. Perhaps, Your local Dealer might be able to supply you with one. Another source would be Kubota's web site. I know that the web site offers Manuals, but I'm uncertain if they sell Loader Manuals. BTW, adding a Toothbar would definitely help. Perhaps, you could go to the SEARCH section at the top of this page, and type in Toothbars? Best wishes.

 

[RaydaKub]

The bucket is dumped almost vertically and the tires raised off the ground, then you're scraping gravel? That's putting a tremendous amount of leverage on the bucket cylinders. At the very least, I'd get some kind of tooth bar on it and then only dump it about 10 degrees from level. But for that kind of work, a box blade would be a lot better.

 

[Turbys_1700]

FEL's are made for lifting...
Most of the time damage to them and the tractor comes from pushing...
That is what a bull dozer is for...
Get you a box blade with scarfers and loosen up the road bed first...
If not you can back drag with the FEL if you have a tooth bar...
Just don't put too much down pressure on the unit...
You will learn as you go to the limits of your tractor and FEL...

 

[crazyangel]

Some great advice mentioned here already. Here is my two cents... :2cents:

There is no doubt that you can move the material using the method your neighbor showed you, but as a general rule, I try to avoid using my loader in bulldozer type situations. It just isn't designed for it, and to me, there is just way too much risk of bending the loader arms/cylinders or blowing a seal. Most loaders are designed for light to moderate digging, lifting and carrying. So when ever I am dealing with packed material I try to first break it up with another implement to reduce the strain on the loader arms and cylinders. A box blade with scarfers is a fantastic tool for this. You might consider looking for a decent used one on craigslist. I am sure others have different experience that would indicate a more aggressive approach will be fine, but I really don't want to incur the expense of repair/replacement on my machine because I took that risk. That is just my perspective one it...

Good luck!

 

[nybirdman]

Keep that up and you'll break something for sure.Probably bend the cylinders.As stated buy a Box Blade with scarifiers that is the proper tool.This is why you never buy a "rental" machine",yahoos like that don't care,its not theirs.

 

[Grandad4]

Even with something as large as a tractor, having the right tool for a job is really important.

Think of the loader bucket as a big scoop shovel. You wouldn't take a shovel and scrape the road with it held vertically because your arms would tire quickly and while you might loosen a bit of gravel that way, it wouldn't be very effective. Same thing applies to the loader... as everyone else says, that's not what it is for and you'll eventually damage something. Again, just like the scoop shovel, you can dig some with it by pushing it almost flat along the surface, but it's still hard work. There is an attachment called a toothbar that goes on the lip of the bucket that helps dig in, but a blade on the back of the tractor that is pulled rather than pushed is truly the right tool for scraping driveways and such. Two kinds: box blade... better for road/driveway repair and moving dirt, and scraper blade... kind of a heavy-duty snowplow for the back of the tractor. It's not as good as the box blade for repair work , but would also be handy for snow in your Durango winters.

 

[rScotty]

Even with something as large as a tractor, having the right tool for a job is really important.

Debp, that's a real good question. And Grandad4 is right. Here we have 4 tractors with loaders. The oldest is 40+ years old and they are all in fine shape. A good rule of thumb for using a loader is that it will be just fine with any job that it can do at a very low speed. The heavier the work, the slower you should go. Sometimes you are barely creeping forward. Don't ever be tempted to use speed instead of loader force and tractor power to force a loader bucket. That's how you will bend and break things. It may not break today, but eventually that will damage it.
You won't hurt the machine by creeping slowly into the job to evaluate it. Everyone does that. Just go very, very slowly. That gives time to see if the bucket is going to do the work or that the loader is under too much strain....... then it is time to get another implement out and break the project into smaller pieces.
Using speed to try to force the tractor to do something beyond it's capability is NOT the way to do things.
Luck, rScotty

 

[jerrybob]

FEL's are made for lifting...
Most of the time damage to them and the tractor comes from pushing...
That is what a bull dozer is for...
Get you a box blade with scarfers and loosen up the road bed first...
If not you can back drag with the FEL if you have a tooth bar...
Just don't put too much down pressure on the unit...
You will learn as you go to the limits of your tractor and FEL...

Good advice here.......even with a tooth bar...be careful. I have a Piranha tooth bar and have loosened soil and rocks with it.......I find back blading with it is a good approach. Not to deep.....may take several passes. Good luck!:thumbsup: