FEL w/o Power Steering

[JimBinMI]

Thanks for all of the replies!

I'm guessing that a TC18 with a front end loader could quite possibly render all Kubotas from the BX to the M series useless. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Actually, my wife was very supportive until I told her the cost! Now, I think that I'll need much more snow to convince her! I'm keeping my chin up though because in the forcast we have snow, rain, freezing rain, snow, snow snow...starting later tonight through next Wednesday! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Tried to help my mother in law buy a snowblower yesterday and every store in the greater Battle Creek area was sold out! She ended up ordering one that's due next Thursday. She usually winters in AZ south of Tucson and I think she's wishing that she was there now! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

JimBinMI, sounds like your mother-in-law's smarter than most of us. When we were traveling, we loved southern Arizona in the winter./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[kevincook]

I was just thinking. If I bought a snowblower and the temperature went to 40°F for the rest of the winter I think that would be a great thing. As a matter of fact I would be willing to buy a new snowblower every year if I could get those kind of results!

Good Luck
Kevin

 

[JonE]

Jim, been there done that!

Kevin, I feel the same way!
I had a B8200/fel w/o ps and did not find it to be too troublesome at all. The problem I had is thinking I could plow my drive with it. Oh it worked fine but the bucket on that small of a loader just took forever. I mean the snow blows over the sides and you have to go over and over to get it all. So I finally got a lead on 3pt snow blower and haven't regretted it. Much, much neater and a lot faster!

Interestingly, when I got my blower, I only used it once the rest of the season!!!/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

 

[RobS]

Jim, ya gotta go for it! I just saw our weather forecast and we'll have some form of snowfall for the next seven days! It's high time that "mighty TC" becomes the "mightier TC". And on the wife thing... I had to invest in some precious metal and mined minerals for Christmas since I got the "mightiest 790" for our anniversary (sort of).

Rob

 

[WVBill]

Jim:
I was out yesterday so I'm a little late with my two cents but...

I have a B6100 4wd no Power Steering with a FEL. I don't mow with it so I'd say that FEL work is 90% or more of what I do with the tractor. Have not had it thru a winter yet.

Since this is my first tractor, I can't compare with having power steering. Yes, non PS takes work and others have pointed out techniques to reduce that work. One thing I'll echo - when traveling, either go VERY slowly or hold onto the steering wheel very loosely. The force of a front wheel hitting a rut/rock or anything else is immediately and with full force transmitted through the steering linkage to the steering wheel. And, if you grip the wheel tightly, directly to your fingers, hands and arms. I've found that my non power steering is the limiting factor on how fast I can travel on any given terrain.

WVBill

 

[RobertN]

Hopefully the turning brakes work on the NH-TC18, Unlike my Orange Kubota, where the turing brakes are a silly rolling on the floor laughing joke /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RayD]

Jim,
Just finished putting a Great Bend #220 on my TC-18. Got the loader for $1950.00 and saved tax by picking it up. It took me about 5-6 hours to install. Was very easy and directions were good. No leaks and works great. I went with Great Bend because the loader attaches to the side rails not the front bumper. This way I could still use my front weights. Email me if you have any questions.(dursk@earthlink.net)
Ray

 

[Bird]

RayD, I'm pretty much a believer in going with the same brand of loader as the tractor, but for that difference in price, I might have to re-think that position./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[Blu21]

Ray,how does it attach to the front bumper(7106)?You use front weights with the loader attached?The reason I ask is,one there doesn't seem like there would be room for the weights with the loader on,second,on the 7106 if you remove it there is nothing in the way to prevent you from putting on the weights.Otherwise 1k saved seems like a deal.Tom

 

[jima1]

JimBinMI,

You've probably gotten all the advice you need from the experts by now, but here's my $0.02 based on B7200HST experience:

Yes it can be hard to turn with a heavy load, but keeping an implement on the rear and keeping the tires properly inflated makes a big difference. On snow, you won't even notice the effort /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I do find the loader practically useless outside of 4WD and low range. Hydraulics are very slow unless RPMs are kept >2000 (no doubt the TC18 will be better in this dept). Biggest problem IMHO is the danger of a broken wrist if you hang on too tight and a front wheel catches on something /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Also watch the tight spots now, you'll be quite a bit longer. For high usage, I'd get a tractor with PS, but as a weekend amateur it's in the expensive luxury category.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Estif]

Thomas;

Deep South. Grew up in the midwest, so I know about snow. Winters here don't get up to needing chains...and I've finally come to like it that way.

Steve

 

[DennisY]

If the better 1/2 says o.k. strike while the iron is hot!!

 

[JATO_RaT]

Jim, its hard to say how your tractor will turn with the added weight of not so much the loader but that load in the bucket which extends many feet in front of the tractor effectively compounding the weight over the wheels. I would not let that stop me from putting a loader on since it is the second most useful tool on the tractor. Steering will be harder no doubt, particularly when you are not rolling (moving forward or backwards). The answer to that is to do as I do and turn, be it forward or backwards while the tractor is rolling. Having power steering, I still find that most of the time I roll before I turn, not only is it easier to turn, but I know it saves the tires
"The only down-side I can see to your getting an FEL is that the rest of us will have to put up with a whole new batch of "MIGHTY TC18" remarks," Oh Mark, Hehehehehehehehe.

 

[Thomas]

Rat,
Since the FEL the second most useful tool on a tractor,/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifwhat would be the first useful tool on a tractor?

Oh I don't think Jim will say to much./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JimBinMI]

Thomas,

We got another 4-6 inches last night, with drifting!

More justification for the front end loader! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

I told my wife that if we get much more snow the FEL will not be a "Want", it will be a "NEED"! I emailed the guy that mentioned the Great Bend FEL that he bought for $1950, waiting to find out if it's quick detach like the New Holland or not. I think I will NEED a quick detach since I don't want to mow with it on.

I'll be going outside pretty soon here to move around some more snow...still having fun!

JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

JimBinMI, in my opinion you've got the right idea; GET A QUICK ATTACH loader. When I had the B7100, it was not a quick attach, and of course, you can do what you want to do with it on there all the time, but it sure is a lot less convenient. Besides being a little bit of a visibility obstruction when mowing and tilling, I sometimes had to raise, or lower, it to avoid fences, tree limbs, etc. And when mowing with the brush hog on rough ground, the tractor rides much smoother without the loader. The weight of the loader out in front causes the front end to bounce up and down more on rough ground at higher speeds.

Bird

 

[Thomas]

Jim,
Maybe your first idea was better [snowblower}with all the snow thats falling out there,heck your not really into winter yet. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Kinda wish you send some snow my way...so I can enjoy going out to play...oops work.

Bird is right about being aware when useing other attachments with the FEL on the tractor,got my mailbox once and couple of trees. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

50 degress here and a wild day weather wise. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif



Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

Bird,
I'm sure you still remember changing the fuel filter also oil filter how you had to twist and bend yourself around also washing and waxing the B7100 /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif...not much room w/ the FEL on the tractor and always remember to keep an eye open when servicing the FEL..ouch...bang on the head. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Don't tell Jim what he in for just yet. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Thomas, I remember all of it except the waxing. I'm too lazy to do that./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif It is a little easier servicing a tractor without the FEL on it, though.

Bird