Farmerboy
Bronze Member
I've got about an hour of operation on my new 511 Backhoe - the first thing that stood out (almost immediately), was that there isn't a float position on this unit. Am I missing something?
511 Backhoe - No Float Position?
- Thread starter Farmerboy
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ENG18LT
Platinum Member
I can't think of any backhoe that I have ever used having a "float" position.
MarkV
Super Member
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- Cedartown, Ga and N. Ga mountains
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- 1998 Kubota B21, 2005 Kubota L39
What would you use a float position for on a backhoe?
MarkV
MarkV
JerryK
Elite Member
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- Feb 21, 2004
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- Vanderbilt, Michigan, USeh?
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- Mahindra (2011)5035 HST TLB & (2016)2555 HST Cab & (2017)1526 HST(2018)Cub Cadet Pro Z 154L (1991) Caterpillar E70B
Your 511, like most Mahindra [ Bradco ] ho's ... has 'float' on the boom/swing lever. The decal for that lever should say 'FLOAT' at the top.. Pushing that lever all the way forward will put the boom into float condition. Your detent could be a little on the tight side, and since it is shiny new, needs to be used a little to make it easier to pop into detent position. You should spend some time reading the operators manual too... not trying to be a smart arse.. but these things are mighty powerful ways to quickly hurt someone or something. Enjoy your spring, Jerry 
OP
Farmerboy
Bronze Member
Your 511, like most Mahindra [ Bradco ] ho's ... has 'float' on the boom/swing lever. The decal for that lever should say 'FLOAT' at the top.. Pushing that lever all the way forward will put the boom into float condition. Your detent could be a little on the tight side, and since it is shiny new, needs to be used a little to make it easier to pop into detent position. You should spend some time reading the operators manual too... not trying to be a smart arse.. but these things are mighty powerful ways to quickly hurt someone or something. Enjoy your spring, Jerry
Well....I found it. On the decal, there isn't a float position indicated. However, if you hold the lever in the full foward position, it will "float". It takes a little getting used to. Without the detent, it's a little clumsy, but will work.
JerryK
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
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- 3,240
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- Vanderbilt, Michigan, USeh?
- Tractor
- Mahindra (2011)5035 HST TLB & (2016)2555 HST Cab & (2017)1526 HST(2018)Cub Cadet Pro Z 154L (1991) Caterpillar E70B
If you wanted to see clumsy.... you should have seen me operating my ho the first few times...
OP
Farmerboy
Bronze Member
How true! I remember the first time I ran a hoe, it was a completely foreign experience. Had the same experience when I drove a zero-turn for the first time.
That's what made the first hour of running my new 511 so weird - you get so used to having the controls in a specific location with a specific feel. Before I realized that it was there, just no detent, I literally thought, "This sucks - you've got to be kidding me - I never thought to check it on the dealer's lot to make sure it had a float - spent all this money and it doesn't even have a float - I'm taking this back."
And let me tell you, the 30 minutes of seat time today were much better now that I know how to float the dipper.
That's what made the first hour of running my new 511 so weird - you get so used to having the controls in a specific location with a specific feel. Before I realized that it was there, just no detent, I literally thought, "This sucks - you've got to be kidding me - I never thought to check it on the dealer's lot to make sure it had a float - spent all this money and it doesn't even have a float - I'm taking this back."
And let me tell you, the 30 minutes of seat time today were much better now that I know how to float the dipper.
