First loader work on NX4510

[joefromga]

So this week I finally did some real loader work.

I somehow bent the level load indicator bar. Was using it then all of a sudden noticed it was curled up. Oh well.

Loader work isn't easy. I can't see what's going on up front. Maybe need a camera up there. That would be sweet.

Back dragging on float seems to work well. I was laying crush and run on dirt that I smoothed out with the ratchet rake.

I found I needed a flat bolt-on scraper for the backhoe bucket teeth. Hard to remove dirt without it.

I've noticed everytime I use the tractor I need a new implement.

The dump trailer I rented is awesome. Now I want one.

I'm not sure what to run the rpms at. I used 2000+ most of the time but it's really loud. I hope the neighbors didn't mind.

I also am not comfortable with the sticks on the backhoe and how thwu control movements. It seems so counterintuitive. Each movement just seems backwards to me.

And the hydro pedals. Who decided that contrary to every car ever built the forward should be to the left of the reverse? Can this be changed? My rider lawnmower isn't this way. I found myself many times hitting forward when I meant to reverse nearly hitting things that aren't meant to be hit.

The cab heater is almost totally unnecessary. You're inside a tiny glass box. (it was only 40s)

This was a learning experience.

 

[davesl708]

Practice makes perfect. You will learn to see the edge of the bucket on the FEL in your minds eye.
Have fun. You will find more and more uses for your TLB.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

So this week I finally did some real loader work.

I somehow bent the level load indicator bar.

Don't feel bad. The load indicator loosens up, starts to fall off, and then gets bent. I was told to lock tight it down (which I did with blue 242 LocTite), and it still loosened up, started to fall off and got bent. I have removed the load indicator and haven't missed it for well over a year and all I do is loader work.

 

[Alien]

I don't work my tractor hard and most of the work I do is 1800rpm, however with my mower I go up to 2200 max. It never struggles, I just use lower gears. I now have 500 hours on it. When I bought it I gave my stepson the battery for his ute and I put a expensive calcium type battery in it. It is still going well after 9 years.
The only thing that came loose on my tractor was the Loader mounts. The spring washers cracked and fell out. I push a lot of tree stumps so I guess that is what caused that.
If your tyres are loaded make sure you put the valves to the top before checking pressures or you will fill your guage with fluid.
Tyres on a tractor can look OK but they may be flat. Check them regularly.
Usual things, Check oils and water and grease regularly. Your wife may wonder why you spend more time working on the tractor than the car. Well. it is a bit like having a mistress, something a bit different. Tractors are special.

 

[TJP89]

There is a learning curve for sure. You'll get used to it all over time. I have never used the loader level bar, useless IMO. Now I just have a sense of what the loader is doing. The heater is for when it's in single digits or negative. As someone said, practice makes perfect. Very true for all tractors.

 

[cat fever]

I dug this trench with the FEL 2 months after getting my tractor. I have to admit, it took a little time to burn the movements into my thick head. But it was going smooth after that.

The more you use it the more natural it will feel.

 

[joefromga]

I was thinking about switching the lines for the backhoe or the lever direction and lines. I'll have to experiment.

The loader is easy but I didn't expect the level indicator to break so fast.
The backhoe on the other hand is just so against what my brain thinks should happen I'm almost sure it's backwards.

I've used small fee rentals before and skid steers and it was never like this.

Someone needs to develop a glove that you can use for backhoe work instead. We have the technology. It can be done.

 

[cat fever]

I was thinking about switching the lines for the backhoe or the lever direction and lines. I'll have to experiment.

The loader is easy but I didn't expect the level indicator to break so fast.
The backhoe on the other hand is just so against what my brain thinks should happen I'm almost sure it's backwards.

I've used small fee rentals before and skid steers and it was never like this.

Someone needs to develop a glove that you can use for backhoe work instead. We have the technology. It can be done.

I think switching lines might be the easy way to see if it is better for you. Who knows maybe they were not put on right from the dealer.

 

[Cataclysm]

See if you can switch between the "backhoe control pattern" and "excavator control pattern". Most modern machines are switchable.

I run a backhoe every day on the "backhoe" control pattern and have for years. Switch my machine to "excavator" and I cant do anything with it.

Maybe one or the other pattern will feel more intuitive for you.

 

[blucoondawg]

How are your backhoe controls arranged? They should be link this,

left hand stick
forward/back is main boom down/up
Left/right is swing left right

Right hand stick
Forward/back is dipper stick out/in
Left/right is bucket curl/open

I don't recommend changing from that pattern, it is the John Deere or ISO style control pattern for all tlb machines, I'd you change to some customized setup it will save you up for ever using a different machine without a bunch of practice to learn a new control set. It should make sense to you, the lever movements should go the direction you want to the hoe to go with the exception of the curl function.
Have you ran excavator style controls before on a mini ex or excavator? The excavator controls switch the main boom and dipper stick functions to opposite hands.

I personally don't care to dig with the loader, I've done it a couple times in very sugary sand ground and I took it easy at it. To much chance for damage for my liking, a loader on a tractor isn't so much a digging tool as a scooping up loose material for stockpiling/moving tool.