FEL downforce

Freds · Jul 29, 2004

I went from a B7500 to an L3130. I could lower the bucket on the B7500 and lift the front end of the tractor right up in the air. The L3130 barely comes off the ground.
Is this due to the hydraulics or the travel of the bucket?

Thanks

5030 · Jul 29, 2004

It has to do with the dump angle. Try rolling the bucket forward, putting the cutting lip on the ground and lowering applying down pressure.

Freds · Jul 29, 2004

I should have added that the fluid levels are OK and I have tried it with the toothbar on, angled into the ground and it isn't digging in. The longer I hold the joystick with downforce... it barely creeps the front wheels off of the ground. Maybye 1/2" if that.

Dave___in___CT · Jul 29, 2004

Hi...

Try just "feathering" the joystick (light pressure)... sometimes if it's pressed too far... too fast... it won't lift the front up...

...also... if the joystick is pushed all the way forward... it's in the "float" position...

Dave...

opus · Jul 29, 2004

I have a 3130 and can easily lift the front end with the bucket.

JerryG · Jul 29, 2004

Is it in neutral and / or the brakes off?

Freds · Jul 30, 2004

I called the dealer on it yesterday. He said it is due to the extra weight of the tractor and while the FEL will lift more than my B7500 did, it isn't proportionate as far as weight of tractor vs. hydraulic strength.
I can lift the front end right up if the bucket is on the ground and I curl it under, but not by pushing the joystick forward (not in float). If it comes off the ground 1" I would be surprised and it easily takes 10 seconds to get that much lift.

Brakes off and in gear (HST, though). That never made a difference with the B7500.

botalvr · Jul 30, 2004

Can you put it in 2wd and gently roll the machine forward when trying to lift it with the bucket? I would think that with the correct angle, it would have no choice but to raise the tractor.
I may be wrong, it's happened before...

Freds · Jul 31, 2004

I possibly could...
It's notthat I need to lift the front end, just that I noticed that this tractor won't lift the front end, at least not by pushing the joystick forward.

Henro · Jul 31, 2004

Rear ballast makes a big difference. I mean having an implement on the back.

I really thought my loader would lift the front of my B2910 easily, but what I was remembering was how it worked with the backhoe on the back. With the backhoe off, and only an empty dirt scoop on it, it also hardly lifts the front wheels at all...curling the bucket helps a little.

Yesterday I turned the bucket teeth down and tried lifting the front wheels off the ground while the toothbar was pushing on the ground, and I don't think the wheels lifted at all...