FEL question

[Hinomotoman]

Why do people drive their tractors around with the front loader way up in the air? Am I missing something?

Eugene

 

[PHPaul]

Because they're idiots. It's unsafe on a couple of levels: The CG of the tractor is moved up considerably and the chance of hitting something overhead is at least as great as the chance of hitting something in front of you.

And that's with the bucket empty. With a load in it, the stupid factor goes off the scale.

Someone will be along and say it's for increased visibility. Maybe, but in my less-than-humble opinion the risks outweigh the perceived benefits.

 

[davesl708]

As PHPaul said, It is for visibility. You would not want to miss seeing the stupid accident waiting to happen

 

[RedNeckRacin]

NOOBS! :thumbsup:

 

[Zebrafive]

Too lazy to remove the loader. Mine really sticks out in front and cuts maneuverability, so when not needed I remove it.

 

[gwdixon]

Yeah, lets pile on all those people...well, no. There is really no reason to call people idiots, lazy, and/or stupid just because you don't agree with their actions...justified or not.

When I disc a fenced field, it is necessary to lift the FEL in the corners to avoid clipping the fence. Otherwise a fairly large un-disced area is left in each corner. I don't have a spare two hours to patch a fence.

A short run in a property that I disc is bordered on one end by a fenced yard with the fence 6' high. The other end is field fencing with two strands of barb on top. It is a 50 yard trip and back about a dozen times. The bucket is left lifted when working that area.

When discing, rolling, or dragging new orchards the FEL is lifted to avoid hitting the little trees...especially in turns.

The bucket is much closer to the front plane of the tractor when it is lifted to its full height. There are times when this is needed.

Rather than continually cycling the FEL up and down, it is often left up.

I don't think I've ever lifted the bucket for increased visibility.

 

[GManBart]

Many of these are the same folks that ride around with the ROPS folded down....because it's too much trouble to put up when they pull it out of the garage. They think being on flat ground will keep them safe, but they're wrong...a rock hitting the bead of the tire at just the wrong time can lead to a rollover, regardless of terrain.

The same sort of folks don't take the FEL off when it's going to be in the way. Luckily they get away with it most of the time.

 

[Sysop]

To each their own... Do what ya do and be prepared to deal with whatever choices ya make.

I raise my loader up and down as needed, and have had it off at least once to make things easier. Sometimes for visibility, sometimes for clearance, sometimes just cause I want to cycle it through the full range of motion to keep the pins well lubed (I hardly use the full range of motion even when working with it, I just raise it and lower it enough to do what needs done)... I generally don't just drive around with it up, unless I have a reason to drive someplace with it up. Only time I can think of doing that was when moving a large bundle of brush I'd rolled up on some straps I used to strap it all to the front (way more than a grapple could hold ) and couldn't see over it, around it, or through it, and it was all really light weight stuff so I lifted it to see under it and carried it away.

 

[SweBota]

Why do people drive their tractors around with the front loader way up in the air? Am I missing something?

Because we have a snow plow, snow blower, winch or other implement on the front hitch/front 3pt ? With the bucket off, implement on the front and counter weight on the back, it really makes very little difference to stability where the loader arms are. But I totally agree that driving with a raised FEL with the bucket on, maybe even with load, without any reason, is not a good idea, absolutely.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Yeah, lets pile on all those people...well, no. There is really no reason to call people idiots, lazy, and/or stupid just because you don't agree with their actions...justified or not.

When I disc a fenced field, it is necessary to lift the FEL in the corners to avoid clipping the fence. Otherwise a fairly large un-disced area is left in each corner. I don't have a spare two hours to patch a fence.

A short run in a property that I disc is bordered on one end by a fenced yard with the fence 6' high. The other end is field fencing with two strands of barb on top. It is a 50 yard trip and back about a dozen times. The bucket is left lifted when working that area.

When discing, rolling, or dragging new orchards the FEL is lifted to avoid hitting the little trees...especially in turns.

The bucket is much closer to the front plane of the tractor when it is lifted to its full height. There are times when this is needed.

Rather than continually cycling the FEL up and down, it is often left up.

I don't think I've ever lifted the bucket for increased visibility.

Running through a rough field at a speed that is fast enough to make a disc work properly is hard on your loader pins. Its your machine you can do as you wish, but that's pretty foolish in my mind. It takes maybe 10 min to drop it off.

 

[Thomas]

Each there own as they say,sure hope they don't forget to lower when on slope.

 

[RaydaKub]

The first day I had my BX, I mowed the lawn with the FEL on. I had to raise it several places to get close enough to the edge of the lawn and avoid the deck, but lower it to get under all the trees. That was also the only time I've mowed with the FEL on. Pain in the rear.

 

[gwdixon]

Running through a rough field at a speed that is fast enough to make a disc work properly is hard on your loader pins. Its your machine you can do as you wish, but that's pretty foolish in my mind. It takes maybe 10 min to drop it off.

Ah, I knew someone would come up with something additional about removing the loader.

First, some loaders are VERY difficult to remove.

Secondly, the FEL makes a very convienient front counterweight on these light modern tractors.

Thirdly, when there is a field full of trash, concrete chunks, wooden posts, (some buried) and the field has been used as a dumping ground for years and one gets hired to clean it up and reduce fire danger, a FEL is necessary. Once the surface is cleaned and the discing begins there continues to be junk turned to the surface. That has to be cleaned up... preferably on the next pass.

Oh, and now I get to add "foolish" to the obnoxious vocabulary of the know-it-alls that like to call others names while being closed-mindedly ignorant of the circumstance some of us encounter while trying to be productive.

I'm done with this thread. It does not reflect the helpful and understanding message that TBN usually embraces.

 

[PHPaul]

I lift mine up when mowing to get into corners and snuggle up to trees, fences and buildings.

However, AS SOON AS I'VE CLEARED THE OBSTACLE, it comes back down.

As far as the name calling, I call's 'em like I see's 'em.

And I know this isn't the place, so with that, I'll just shut up on the subject.

 

[PHPaul]

Too lazy to remove the loader. Mine really sticks out in front and cuts maneuverability, so when not needed I remove it.

Well, yes, but...

On my JD750, removing the loader was difficult at best, and putting it back on was a HUGE PITA. The only time I took it off in 27 years was to replace a leaking trans gasket and once to scrape, prime and paint the battery area.

Now on the new Cab-ota, it's a 2 minute job and if/when I get into a situation where taking it off would be to my advantage, I won't hesitate to do so.

 

[ishiboo]

I have a neighbor that runs an old tractor (8n maybe) haying, and he has the front loader as high as it will go the entire time. Always makes me laugh.

 

[Leejohn]

The way I see it and this about 75% of the time. The ones new to tractors just seem to have the loader to high. When it comes to taking a picture of there tractor the loader has to be high as it goes. When I see a tractor with loader high I think it's for sell. All tractor you see setting around for sell the loader is way up. Go look at the pictures in "Show your tractor and wood" thread and you well see the old timers and the new one.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Ah, I knew someone would come up with something additional about removing the loader.

First, some loaders are VERY difficult to remove.

Secondly, the FEL makes a very convienient front counterweight on these light modern tractors.

Thirdly, when there is a field full of trash, concrete chunks, wooden posts, (some buried) and the field has been used as a dumping ground for years and one gets hired to clean it up and reduce fire danger, a FEL is necessary. Once the surface is cleaned and the discing begins there continues to be junk turned to the surface. That has to be cleaned up... preferably on the next pass.

Oh, and now I get to add "foolish" to the obnoxious vocabulary of the know-it-alls that like to call others names while being closed-mindedly ignorant of the circumstance some of us encounter while trying to be productive.

I'm done with this thread. It does not reflect the helpful and understanding message that TBN usually embraces.

I'll give you point #1. The more you practice it, the easier it becomes though.
#2-They have suitcase weights for this that work very well. If I'm doing field work, the loader comes off and the weights go on.
#3-I can see how you justify this, but if you are ok with wearing your loader pins out by bouncing around a light duty loader then by all means.

#4-I was not calling you foolish, I was calling the act foolish. These modern loaders are very expensive and are not tolerant of abuse. Bouncing around a rough field is a sure way to need a line boring job done much sooner rather than later.


Its your equipment though, do as you wish.

 

[kiotiken]

Mine is up when I'm plowing or blowing the rink in the winter. Yes, maybe the center of gravity is higher, but I'm pretty sure the couple hundred pounds of bucket aren't going to bother my 8000# tractor on flat, solid ground. I don't think this makes me an idiot, noob or anything else that's been suggested here, I just need to get in closer to the corners. It does also help with visibility when you're trying to get right up to the edge as well.

 

[McREBEL]

Many of these are the same folks that ride around with the ROPS folded down....because it's too much trouble to put up when they pull it out of the garage.

I recently watched a guy get on his tractor and, with the ROPS down, take the time to buckle.

I have also heard of at least one case where someone was thankful they had the FEL bucket high because it kept the tractor from rolling all the way over.

No name calling here, just interesting observations.