CUT downpressure

[bglombowski]

Can someone tell me if compact utility tractors (CUT's and subCUT's) have 3PH downpressure? Do they just have hydraulic up and gravity down? What does "float" mean? What mechanism keeps the 3PH at a particular height setting? Any other comments regarding CUT 3PH usage would be appreciated, too.
Thanks,
Brian

 

[MossRoad]

Most don't have power down on the 3PT. It relies on gravity. So, if you have something like a post hole digger, you have to hope it will cut the soil, or get a power down kit, which puts a hydraulic cylinder on the unit that then supplies down pressure.

Float means float. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif For example, if the implement is on wheels, it will follow the contour of the ground and the arms will just float up and down as the implement follows the ground.

As for the height setting, I'm not sure what holds it there, but it basically limits how far down the implement will go to a pre-set stopping point that is set by the operator.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Adding to what Mossroad said, it seems to me ag tractors do not have down pressure but construction tractors do.
Float, from my limited experience, usually refers to a FEL not a 3PH and it is a special functin of the FEL. On a 3PH, one might consider "draft control" as a type of float in that the 3PH system, with draft control, allows a ground engaging implement to engage the ground only up to a certain amount of drag, i.e. the implement may go 4" deep or 12" deep depending on the resistance offered by the soil.
The height thing is "position control", which I like to call repeatable position control. Everything will lift or drop to a certain height but only some will allow you to repeat a precise setting via a scale near the 3PH lever. I'm not lucky enough to have either but can make up for draft control by yanking the lever if the implement gets too deep and I use chains hung from the fender area down to the lower lift arms to limit the downward travel to control implement height.
Hope that help ... also hope I got it right /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BadDog]

Never seen a CUT w/ down pressure on a 3PH, only gravity. Hydraulics hold the thing in position... usually the hydraulics are of high quality (double the lift capacity of your FEL, for example, and they don't have any leak-down).

Some will let you adjust the rate at which gravity makes them fall (useful for mowing at high speeds). Some have a set screw or other locking mechanism that lets you preset a position so you can always drop the implement in the same place after you lift it up (useful for grading).

Float means it doesn't apply any downpressure (can't anyway) or lifting pressure... it just hangs there loosey-goosey. Never seen a 3PH w/ a float control on a CUT. Draft yes, float no...

Draft is useful for plowing or grading, when you don't want the plow or grader blade to dig in too much... adding draft will cause the implement to lift when it encounters enough horizontal force, and fall back to the set position when the horizontal force lessens.

 

[beenthere]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Can someone tell me if compact utility tractors (CUT's and subCUT's) have 3PH downpressure? )</font>

For most, no they do not have down pressure.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do they just have hydraulic up and gravity down? )</font>
For most, that is true. Also many have a 'hold' position, depending on the position of the control lever, as mentioned.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What does "float" mean? )</font>
To me, just that it isn't holding anything at a fixed position, and allows 'whatever' to 'float' at whatever height it rides at. As mentioned, usually applies only to the FEL.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What mechanism keeps the 3PH at a particular height setting? )</font>
There are internal connecting linkages that 'position' the rocker arms at a fixed height (not lower than) relative to the control lever position.