Loader position when parked

[dknarnd]

Wondering what position people place the loader in when your tractor is parked, not being used. My particular interest is where the loader could see some weather while parked. My tractor is backed into a building with no door and the front of the loader is at the very end of the building so it will see some weather, however most storms do not blow directly into the building.

I have been parking it with the bucket at a slight forward tilt. My nephew parked it with the bucket at full dump resting on the front bucket edge. The only concern I have with this position is the length of the hydraulic arms exposed.

 

[whodat90]

I leave mine with all cylinders as retracted as I can get them. Lots easier to repaint the bucket than to replate the rods.
whodat

 

[N80]

I leave mine with all cylinders as retracted as I can get them. Lots easier to repaint the bucket than to replate the rods.
whodat

I agree. But for a tractor that lives outdoors, like mine, I tip the bucket a little so water doesn't stand in it. This exposes a few inches of the rods. Fortunately the tarp reaches just far enought to cover them.

Can't wait to build my shed, but it will be another year.

 

[3RRL]

I agree. But for a tractor that lives outdoors, like mine, I tip the bucket a little so water doesn't stand in it. This exposes a few inches of the rods. Fortunately the tarp reaches just far enought to cover them.

Can't wait to build my shed, but it will be another year.

Yes, my circumstances and park position is exactly like N80 describes. Besides not allowing water to pool into the bucket, it also keeps the tooth bar flat against the ground so it does not trip or injure anyone.

 

[CurlyDave]

I place mine on the ground with in whatever position it comes to rest with all of the hydraulic pressure bled off. Move the joystick to all positions twice after turning off the engine.

This is a safety issue rather than a rust prevention problem.

Tractors are very attractive to kids, and the idea of one exploring under a raised edge of the bucket while a second climbs into the seat and moves the joystick is always a possibility.

Now I don't have any young kids at home, and neither do my neighbors, but enough of them have families who come to visit that you never know when a couple of grandchildren are going to be visiting and want to run around "out in the country."

Finding my tractor and playing on it is certainly bad behavior, but the penalty for this should not be serious injury...

 

[Opti-Mist]

Curly Dave gives good advice. Most, if not all, Operator's Manuals will recommend parking a loader with the bucket fully lowered and all circuits neutralized as he also advises. From a liability perspective its the best advice.

 

[Duke4AZ]

According to my manual the bucket and any 3PT equipement should be resting on the ground with the hydraulics relaxed, i.e., no load. The way I interpret that is to retract the bucket to the stops lower the bucket to the ground and put it in float mode. Since there is a bit of overstoke in the down direction, there is some exposure of the hydraulic rods. The hydraulic rod are chrome plated which should protect them from exposure while it is parked between uses. Since I live in AZ, I do not concern myself so much with the water in the bucket thing. The bucket steel thickness is enough that I am not worried about a bit of surface rust accumulating between uses. If I lived in a very humid/wet climate, I am sure I might take a different position.

 

[Paddy]

Ok, let's make everbody happy. Place a 4x4 down, lower so pivit point hit close to 4x4. Now you have a bucket tilting forward with relaxed hydra. Then lube the crome.

Or park it in your heated garage and keep the door locked to keep the Fed-X guy from taking it for a spin when your not home

 

[bamatoolmaker]

I also park in a relaxed position.A local kubota dealer is parking all his inventory with loaders raised to the max and at full curl.Is this some sort of sales gimmick or what?

 

[Glowplug]

A local kubota dealer is parking all his inventory with loaders raised to the max and at full curl.Is this some sort of sales gimmick or what?

I think it is. My local Kubota dealer often does the same thing. It has probably been shown that that position makes the tractor look bigger, more powerful, and hence more attractive to us horsepower junkies.