Loader Park with FEL Up

[BrunoGA]

Good evening all, first post to the forum and a question for the experienced owner/operator. I just recently purchased my first compact tractor, an LS XJ2025H. So far I love it, seems to be everything I need to manage my seven acres. So the question - to fit the LS into my 12x16 shed, with my JD D170 and a LOT of other stuff, I need to leave the loader arms in an up position (less bucket of course). Is this okay to do? I don't want to damage the hydraulic system. Your advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks to you all, I learn more every day that I read the forum.

 

[MossRoad]

In general, stored energy is a safety hazard. There's stored energy in a raised implement: it can fall. It won't hurt your hydraulics to leave it up. But it will be a safety hazard.

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

It will leak down anyway so don't park it over something you don't want crushed. The best solution would be to block it up or put it on the ground.

 

[brown40]

There's stored energy in the actual weight as well as residual pressure in/on the system. I usually "move" the hydraulics after the machine is turned off to get everything on the ground and in a neutral position. I don't think the system would suffer with some residual pressure on it, but there are kids around here, and a small movement would be enough to pinch little hands and feet. Storing stuff under an unsupported loader will result in some squished stuff sooner or later.

 

[aczlan]

If you do that, get a piece of C or U channel that just fits over the rod of your cylinder and cut it so it just fits in with the FEL all the way up.
Then when you park it, you put it over the extended rod of your lift cylinder and lower the bucket until the weight is resting on the brace.

Aaron Z

 

[90cummins]

I support my loader with the bucket in the up position also and use a piece of angle iron placed over the cylinder.
But a word of caution is needed here; the end that contacts the cylinder end seal area must not touch the seal and the iron should not touch the chrome cylinder surface to avoid scratches & rust.
I drilled two holes in each end of the angle and placed a zip tie thru the hole so that when the support is in place the nylon zip tie prevents the angle from contacting the cylinder.
When I lower the bucket I do it very slowly with the engine off to avoid forceful damage.
Done it for years with no problems.
90cummins

 

[k0ua]

I support my loader with the bucket in the up position also and use a piece of angle iron placed over the cylinder.
But a word of caution is needed here; the end that contacts the cylinder end seal area must not touch the seal and the iron should not touch the chrome cylinder surface to avoid scratches & rust.
I drilled two holes in each end of the angle and placed a zip tie thru the hole so that when the support is in place the nylon zip tie prevents the angle from contacting the cylinder.
When I lower the bucket I do it very slowly with the engine off to avoid forceful damage.
Done it for years with no problems.
90cummins

This sounds like a plan, if you must leave the loader arms up. But as others have pointed out there is still stored energy just waiting for something to happen to change the dynamics. I have always parked my equipment with all loads on the ground, like my 3pt ballast or what ever implement is on at the end of the day and with loader arms down. If you don't pin the arms up in some way, they will slowly lower on their own, and there is no accounting for what children and thoughtless adults will do when you are not around to prevent it.

 

[Threepoint]

All good advice. I'll add one further thing. In addition to the slow leak down while the tractor is sitting undisturbed, if a child or anyone else fiddles around and bumps the joy stick forward, the pressure will release and the FEL will drop. If held forward, or bumped all the way into float position, it will drop all the way, very fast. Try experimenting with this a bit after you've been parked for awhile. It's a good illustration of how dangerous it is to try to do any work under a raised loader bucket without strong bracing. A very experienced TBN member died recently in an FEL accident while working on his tractor.

 

[BrunoGA]

Great information guys, thank you. I like the idea of putting a brace of some sort (C, U or angle iron) on the cylinder, that should do it. Since it's just my wife and I with no children, and it's in the shed locked up, less chance of danger. But wise advice to be careful around - and not under - the FEL. Again, thanks!

 

[90cummins]

When I lower the bucket onto the supports all pressure is relieved, I then return the loader control to the neutral hold position.
If the tractor is cold when I bring it into my heated garage after I secure the braces I move the loader control to the float position because it will pick the bucket off the supports when the hydraulic oil warms up and expands.
This happened a couple times until I realized what was happening.
90cummins

 

[Threepoint]

When I lower the bucket onto the supports all pressure is relieved, I then return the loader control to the neutral hold position.
If the tractor is cold when I bring it into my heated garage after I secure the braces I move the loader control to the float position because it will pick the bucket off the supports when the hydraulic oil warms up and expands.
This happened a couple times until I realized what was happening.
90cummins

Very interesting; I'd never heard of this happening! That could mean for a big surprise if the braces were to depend on the weight of the bucket to stay in place. When you say heated garage, what temp do you try to keep it at in the winter? My small tractor stays in an unheated barn, but my larger one is in attached, tempered garage space, which usually stays above 40 degrees except in the coldest snaps.

 

[90cummins]

Garage is heated occasionally only when in use and never more than 50 degrees in winter and is most likely 40 degrees where the tractor is parked.
90cummins

 

[bfisherman11]

I have to do the same thing in my shed. My hunting land is 3hrs away from my house so the tractor is stored at times unattended. I actually also store my ATV in the same shed. What I have done is wedge a 2x4 about 5-6' long under one lifting arm to hold everything up. It will be stored like that this winter and has worked so far over these summer months. It has sat like that for a couple weeks and I usually touch nothing till I start it and then jog the loader joy stick to lift the bucket just slightly to allow the 2x4 to drop. I can say that I have seen bleed down and at times the 2x4 is under load. Once clear of the 2x4 I then just pull forward. I think I have enough trials to say the 2x4 will hold this winter. If it does not I have the tractor positioned so one arm would contact my old workbench top (thick maple with steel legs). It would contact that just before the ATV.........

Anyhow, reading this I like the U-channel idea and will look that over for future consideration.

Thanks!
Bill