float

[foggy1111]

Two new float things learned today....

I was having trouble getting the bucket into "float" via the joystick valve....I thought it was the way the lockout was positioned....but after reading about briskly operating the valve past the detent....walla!!....it works just fine. I have never seen this to be an issue with other loaders...but this has a little "learning curve" to it.

From one of the posts I searched on "float"....I noted the two positions available on the lower links....one rigid...the other with a 1 /1/2" slip or "float". What is the purpose of the float vs rigid positioning of this hardware on the 3 point? Their is no down pressure on the 3 point anyway....so I would think the draft arms would just raise up anyway....no? No mention on the "why" in the operators manual.

 

[Karl2]

Two new float things learned today....

I was having trouble getting the bucket into "float" via the joystick valve....I thought it was the way the lockout was positioned....but after reading about briskly operating the valve past the detent....walla!!....it works just fine. I have never seen this to be an issue with other loaders...but this has a little "learning curve" to it.

It was the same with me when I first got my 4720 but the members here provided sound advice and now I float it without even thinking about it. Once you got it you got it, float mode seems to have a different feel with different tractors.

From one of the posts I searched on "float"....I noted the two positions available on the lower links....one rigid...the other with a 1 /1/2" slip or "float". What is the purpose of the float vs rigid positioning of this hardware on the 3 point? Their is no down pressure on the 3 point anyway....so I would think the draft arms would just raise up anyway....no? No mention on the "why" in the operators manual.

I believe rigid mode is not to add downward pressure but to prevent the implement from floating up or following a surface you'd rather dig into horizontally instead. I don't know if tractors can be used for grading but that would be an instance where you'd want the implement to follow a level plane regardless of terrain configuration. I also imagine that a non industrial (light) rear snowblower could in some situations skid on top of hardened snow instead of biting into it when allowed to float but I can't really tell, I use a heavy blower whose weight pretty much prevents from climbing even in float mode.

 

[JB4310]

I think it's just to allow one side to move up and down that little amount independent of the other side, I just keep mine locked.

Reason, if your pulling a rake, plow or box and you run over a rock/bump with the rear wheels the impliment will stay on the ground, not rising up with the tractor on that side. that would be if you want to follow the contour of the ground, if you wanted to change the contour for a crown etc then you would want them locked

JB.

 

[RalphVa]

I went through a few incidents where I raised my tractor's front wheels off the ground before learning how to swiftly push the lever forward into "detent".

Ralph

 

[JGY]

I'm still confused as to what "float" is, and "how to make it work"?

L8R,
"Confused" Joe

 

[kennyd]

I'm still confused as to what "float" is, and "how to make it work"?

L8R,
"Confused" Joe

Joe,
Float is used on the FEL to allow the bucket to move up/down and follow the contour of the ground.

When the FEL is in float mode (joystick held all the way forward buy the "float detent" there is NO hydraulic pressure on the lift cylinders of the FEL, and the pistons can freely move in and out.

Clear as mud