Front-End Loader Help Removing The FEL

[PitbullMidwest]

Could someone walk me through the correct way to remove the FEL?

 

[Rara Avis]

The Kubota Owners Forum, a little further down the list, might be a better fit this question...

 

[subzero]

send me some better pics , I will help you..

subzero@mcsnet.ca

 

[stimpee]

Do you have a manual for your tractor and loader? If not, get one!

It tells you step by step how to do it.

 

[wushaw]

It's pretty simple.

Find a flat piece of ground or concrete.

Raise FEL high enough to drop them little arms on the bottom side of the FEL.

Lower FEL till you can remove the big pins.

Curl FEL till the bottom back side clears loader frame.

Back tractor up till FEL clears loader frame.

"Caution" watch your hoses, don't put undue stress on them.

Turn tractor off and bleed down FEL to remove pressure on hoses because hooking them back up can be verry messy and difficult if there is pressure on them.

I can remove my FEL in the time it took me to write this. After you do it a few times you will be able to also.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

Thanks Wushaw, clear and simple instructions, just what I needed.

 

[Lindy]

It's pretty simple.

<snip>

I can remove my FEL in the time it took me to write this. After you do it a few times you will be able to also.

Wushaw, I've removed the loader from my B3030 a couple of times using the procedure you've detailed, and it's gone well.

However, I've had a really hard time getting the loader REATTACHED to the tractor. Do you have any tips/tricks to make that process easier? I try to follow the procedure in the loader manual, but it doesn't seem to work out very well. Without fail, one side won't seat right, or the arms pop off as I'm trying to get it back in the cradle.

Does it just take practice?

Thanks,
Lindy

 

[Charlesaf3]

question - why remove the front end loader? I haven't found a reason to take mine off yet, even mowing. I just drop the bucket. But that's not to say there isn't a reason, and I'd love to know it. (I hope there isn't though, I really don't want to start taking it on and off... I even mow with the backhoe on some times!)

 

[Lindy]

question - why remove the front end loader? I haven't found a reason to take mine off yet, even mowing. I just drop the bucket. But that's not to say there isn't a reason, and I'd love to know it. (I hope there isn't though, I really don't want to start taking it on and off... I even mow with the backhoe on some times!)

For me, a couple of reasons -- if I leave the loader on when I use the MMM, it tends to rip up the lawn more. The extra weight in the front from the loader removes some weight from the rear wheels, which then are more likely to spin and rip up the lawn when I turn or am on a slope (I have R4's). So I use 4WD, which also is harder on the lawn. Also, it's easier to see without the loader, and I can get closer to stuff when it's off.

Maybe this would be less of an issue if I had the 72" deck instead of the 60". I'm seriously thinking about trading my 60" back in to my dealer for a 72" -- even though I'd take a pretty good hit ($-wise) with a deck that's been used only ~ 2hrs.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

question - why remove the front end loader?

I'm mowing with a 60" brush cutter and have to maneuver around quite a few trees on parts of my property. The FEL adds enough to the overall length that it makes it difficult. So, removing it while mowing seems to make sense to me.

 

[wushaw]

Lindy, It just takes a little practice and a "FLAT" piece of dirt or concrete.

I remove my FEL for maintence, it's easy.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

There are a lot of reasons to remove your FEL, some were listed previously, I'd say with the price of gas, remove any added weight you can when you mow. Because it's such a chore and a lot of wasted time, I always hear reasons why you DON'T have to take off your loader. Let me ask everyone... If you were able take off your FEL as quickly as you can change out your quick attach bucket, WHY WOULDN'T YOU? Power-Mount video. http://www.loaders.com/userdocs/products/23_WindowsMedia_-_DSL.wmv

 

[pitt_md]

I am sure I'm not alone when I say that my land grows rocks. Its great to have the loader on to toss the rocks into. There are times that having it on is a pain. It's hard to get close to the fences to mow with the brushHog. I'm getting better at watching where the bucket is but my wife can tell you about a couple of section of fence that didn't stand up to the abuse a FEL can dish out.

 

[N80]

That's the main reason mine stays on most of the time. I don't want to be mowing the woods road on the back 40 without the FEL and find a dead tree across the road. And I'm always finding rocks, logs, etc etc in many of the places I mow. And some of our fire ant hills are huge. Less stress on the mower if I knock it over with the FEL. Don't even have to slow down.

However, after a few years of mowing and clearing, the areas around my cabin are pretty much obstacle free and I don't let the grass get too deep so not much can hide there anymore. So, I've started removing the FEL for mowing there and I have to admit, it is very liberating. You can see better and turn in a smaller area. I have trees, buildings, etc in this area and the tighter turning area is nice. The front is a little more bouncy (I have no front weights) but it is a much less violent bounce than when you hit a bump with the FEL on.

For me there are three keys to removing and attaching the FEL. (Although, attaching it is always the hard part for me, removing it is easy.) 1) Memorize the procedure listed above (and printed in the FEL manual). It is not entirely intuitive, but once you do it a few times you remember the steps. And they work. 2) It has to be on dry level ground. Unfortunately I don't own any of that and so attaching is always a little bit of a hassle. When I've done it on concrete, it is super easy. 3) Sometimes the hoses don't want to go back on. This is from pressure remaining in the loader hoses. For me, this is usually due to heat (from the sun). If this happens, tap the little pin in the quick attach of the loader hose. This releases the pressure. Sometimes a brisk tap is needed. I use a ratchet extension bar. A rag can help prevent getting splattered. I re-attached mine the other day in the cool of the morning and there was no pressure build up.

If I had a concrete slab to do it on, I'd probably remove the loader more often. But still, other than mowing the 'lawn' type areas, I usually end up needing the loader for something no matter what else I am doing.

 

[RussMan]

I have a B3030 - and my books simply says "remove the pins". since I have never removed the FEL until now, can someone tell me how many pins there are. Is there 1 or 2 on each side? Anyone have pics for us non-farmer types.

 

[stimpee]

I have a B3030 - and my books simply says "remove the pins". since I have never removed the FEL until now, can someone tell me how many pins there are. Is there 1 or 2 on each side? Anyone have pics for us non-farmer types.

There are 2 total, one per side, look on the side of the loader frame just forward of your operator station where the loader arms come back. They are very large pins. Hard to miss.

Your dealer should have shown you how to remove and install the loader upon pickup/delivery though.

I have gotten to the point that I can probably get mine on/off within 2 minutes in either direction. It is dirt simple, and only occasionally takes a little bit of fussing with the control to get the pins to slide in/out easily.

 

[KennK]

I have a JD 3320 with a FEL and a MMM. I almost always just remove the bucket. Sometimes I'll need to raise the arms high in the air to be able to get the front of the tractor close to something, but it is plenty easy enough to mow the yard with the arms on.

I have more issues with the ROPS getting in the way (around trees) than I do with the FEL arms.