2WD vs. 4WD

[crb478]

If the land you will be using the tractor on is relatively flat I would just put a loader on the 2010 and add weight as needed. The only time I really need 4wd is on hills, and would need it less there if I did not have turf tires. Steering is easier with 4wd if the loader is full, but you can steer the tractor with the rear brakes and do fine. Just get a for how they work before you commit to using them with a load. I believe that if the tractor is doing the work you need it to do now without 4wd than it will do it with the loader.

 

[mbrule]

I have a YM135 (small 2wd) that I built a loader for. The bucket is about 34 inches wide, I added a home-made toothbar and about 300lbs on the 3 point. It works great, just finished excavating about 20 yards of rocky gravel to put in a patio, including breaking up old asphaut on top. Entirely with the loader! If my little guy works, I bet your machine will be fine with 2wd.

 

[EdKing]

While 4wd is nice to have, and will get more work out of the available horse power, it is not absolutly required for FEL work. Just make sure your rear tires are loaded, and attach a heavy 3ph implement for traction and counter weight, and you should do fine with 2wd.

 

[Buck]

quailman115,

Sometimes, my FWD plain doesn't work. That's when I use my FEL to get me out.

See the photo in the post:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=photos&Number=103809&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=Buck&Match=Username&Searchpage=7&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=103809>Why FEL</A>

Buck

P.S. I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[kbarrett]

Snooks,

I may have overlooked it if you've mentioned it before, but do you have powersteering? If not, do you have difficulty steering with a load in the bucket?

 

[snooks]

I do not have power steering and had some pretty good loads in the bucket today. Sure, it was a little harder to steer but nothing I can't live with. I use to work at a place that had a front loader on an old Ford. With a load in the bucket, you had to stand up and use both hands to turn. So with that experience, I was surprised that I could remain seated and make the turn just fine. I think alot of this has to do with the condition of your front end and how much air is in the tires. I am perfectly happy with mine.

 

[roger_scotty]

My experience without power steering is that narrow tires with lots of pressure are steerable while moving, though with some effort.. With turfs on the front and lower pressures a full bucket requires more force through the steering box than I want to put there - even if I could. With a full bucket and not moving then most tractors can't turn the front wheels. The trick then is to lighten the front end by pressing the bucket on the ground and quickly turn the wheel. You'll get real good at that. In fact, you'll get so good that you will begin to talk wistfully about add-on power steering kits.

 

[snooks]

Good point regarding tire type. I would also think that the more weight you have on the rear will leasen the downward preasure on the front tires. Kinda a lever and fulcrum effect. I guess we keep coming back to the same issue, proper weighting of the tractor for the task at hand.

To sum up what I have learned about FEL: With a two wheel drive and no power steering, weight on the rear is critical. Turf tires are not desirable when doing this type of work. Narrow front tires and proper bucket size is very important as well. Tires need to be properly inflated. Of coarse keep loaded bucket low when moving and be very careful on unlevel ground. Weight can be added to the rear by filling the tires with fluid, wheel weights, hanging a heavy implement on the 3pt hitch or making a 3pt weight box of some kind. I opt not to fill the tires with fluid as I don't want the weight when I mow. Bottom line, a 2wd tractor with FEL is a very useful tool. Sometimes a larger 2wd tractor will out work a smaller 4wd unit simply because of the weight factor.

If I had the 2010, I wouldn't hesitate putting the FEL on it.

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen tons of ford 2 and 3000's, and 8n's with loaders.. ( 8n had no down pressure of the bucket either! )

Just had to know your limitations. Anyone remember the farmall ( 49 h era ) that had a chain drive bucket?

Soundguy

 

[jimstractors]

How about the old D8-D9 Cats with the cable blade? Talk about down pressure...Don't drop that sucker on your toe!