Joystick concern

stout360DTC · Apr 2, 2023

Discovered my FEL is supposed to have float mode. I can't find it. Tried every way possible to slip into float but my joystick simply won't go there (used force, speed, in motion, engine on/off, hard wiggle, soft wiggle... No go.) However, I have a "fast dump" mode extra position to the right that's not labeled nor listed in the owner's manual...
Could it be that my joystick insert is 90' out of rotation?
Or my FEL came with fast dump and no float, despite the manual?
Please advise before I tear into the joystick and open a can of worms!

/pine · Apr 2, 2023

Remove the cap from the bottom of the spool...if there is a float mechanism present it may be corroded or rusted...
generally if a spool does have float...the cap on the bottom may be longer than a spool without...

rScotty · Apr 2, 2023

Isn't it usually the arms that float, and not the bucket tilt?

I've never heard of a deliberate "fast dump" position on a FEL. My guess it it would cause a cavitation problem.

But....think on this.... if the lines to the bucket and arms were reversed at the control valve....AND if the float detent was rusty or not working right for some reason.... then it would be like /pine says - and the result would be a very fast "one-shot" instant bucket dump.

rScotty

ericm979 · Apr 2, 2023

Float position usually has a detent while fast dump just has more spring pressure. The detent is so it won't go into float accidentally. It may be pretty stiff if it's new.

Fast dump (also called regen) affects the curl cylinders while float affects the lift cylinders. I don't think they can interchange like you're thinking. Regen lets one side of the curl cylinders pistons feed the other to prevent cavitation.

The float on my Branson takes quite a bit of force to get past the detent. I'd be careful about doing that unless you're sure it's got float, because the internal parts on the joystick are often made from aluminium and plastic if it's a remote cable operated unit.

The float and regen are all in the valve. The remote joystick just moves the cables that are attached to the spools.

K5lwq · Apr 2, 2023

A picture of the valve may help is confirm it has float.

rScotty · Apr 2, 2023

ericm979 said:
Float position usually has a detent while fast dump just has more spring pressure. The detent is so it won't go into float accidentally. It may be pretty stiff if it's new.

Fast dump (also called regen) affects the curl cylinders while float affects the lift cylinders. I don't think they can interchange like you're thinking. Regen lets one side of the curl cylinders pistons feed the other to prevent cavitation.

The float on my Branson takes quite a bit of force to get past the detent. I'd be careful about doing that unless you're sure it's got float, because the internal parts on the joystick are often made from aluminium and plastic if it's a remote cable operated unit.

The float and regen are all in the valve. The remote joystick just moves the cables that are attached to the spools.

I don't agree. Regeneration is a separate type of flow. It is part of the valve and plumbing and is always part of the normal operation of the regenerating cylinder. It is not a separate function at a different position on the control lever. Althogh regenerative dump is faster, it is not at all an instantaneous drop like float is.

So I don't believe that was what the OP was talking about when he said he had a "fast dump" position. It sounds to me like his is plumbing may be hooked up wrong. It isn't hard to do. It's also common for the float detent to get sticky or not work at all. Some can be cleaned.

But either way, some photos of his setup with the levers and hoses labeled will tell the story.
rScotty

oldnslo · Apr 2, 2023

Regen can be an option depending on valve style. Some valves have regen as first position and standard dump as forth position Kubota BX 1850 was this way while other valves have standard dump as first position and regen as fourth position.

Is the OP has fourth position regen dump the spring caps should be similar length if he has float on the loader since that is also a 4th position.

jigs_n_fixtures · Apr 2, 2023

On mine, if I haven’t judged it for a while, a smudge of fine stuff builds up, and blocks the movement. If I pull the cap off and clean things up, and put it back together, it works fine so long as a I keep using it.

If I don’t use it for about twenty hours, it gets clogged up.