Parking Raised Loader

[2mcummings]

Hello, I am new to tractor ownership and have a small barn on a 10-acre property where I do not live. I have created a makeshift barn door with a lock to keep the new machine safer from vandals/thieves. In order to fit the tractor in the barn, I must raise the loader up to approximately 6 feet to avoid a beam the protrudes from the wall. This is the only way to fit it in there.

My question is simple: Is storing the loader in a raised position harmful in any way?

Thanks,
MC

 

[kennyd]

It's not harmful, bet most likely it will not stay raised by itself-most loaders will slowly leak down some over time, some faster than others. I would suggest you build a small platform or shelf to rest the bucket on.

And Welcome to TBN

 

[bigbull338]

i do not leaving the loader up at all.because as said itll leak down over time thus dropping the loader.an it can also bust your cylinders from falling.an its not safe leaving it up.we dont leave the loader up in the air here at all.if i see it up i usually raise thunder about it.

 

[Don87]

I strapped my bucket to my rafters with nylon straps once to work under it.

Something like that may be an option also.

 

[Short Game]

Is it in a place where you could just place a permanent post under it? That's all it would take. Or, is the protruding beam strong enough to support it?

 

[creekbend]

Is the beam a support beam? If the removal of part or all of the beam does not structurally jeopardize the integrity of the barn, I, myself, would initiate these measures. Then I would wrap two big logging chains over and around the axles. Just a thought. Happy Tractoring.:tractor::tractor:

 

[2mcummings]

Hey thanks everybody for the quick responses. I believe the beam is sturdy enough to handle supporting the bucket, and I would rather not remove it because the barn is OLD and needs all the support it can get. I might just rig up some supports for under the loader's arms to help hold it up when I park it. A "belt and suspenders" approach, so to speak.

Thanks for your help. If what I plan to do raises any concerns, please let me know. The forums here have been a wealth of information and I appreciate the warm welcome to the site. Cheers!

 

[RoMad]

Where I keep my tractor I have renters. The six year old climbs up and sits on my tractor seat when I am in the barn working. He is a nice young man and asks if he can sit on the tractor.
I would bet $20 that he sits on it when I am not there and that he pulls the levers. How can you be a six year old boy and not.
I do not have a way to lock the barn, so I am careful what I leave out.
I do always leave my bucket on the ground or resting on my boxblade and whatever I have on the back I also always sit on the ground too.

 

[JB4310]

Rest it on the beam you are trying to avoid, it's gonna end up there anyway after a day or 2.

I wouldn't worry about the weight of the loader on any beam, but I would worry a little if it came down against the wall's siding, could push out.

Could you roll the bucket down under (fully dumped) depending on the bucket you may save some space doing that.

With my ballast box, I have to drop it from the QH then raise the 3 pt and back up tight to it. that little bit of space I save allows me to close the shed door.

JB.

 

[JoeL4330]

You might cut to length a piece of appropriately stout angle iron...place it over/against one of the extended hydraulic cylinders (maybe with a bungee around it) ...and AFTER you shut off the engine, you can gently lower/float the loader onto it, but be sure you don't lower the loader with down pressure or you may pretzel the angle.

The equivalent of a jack stand

 

[grsthegreat]

they also sell c channel steel pieces that you can insert over the cyllinder ram then lower the bucket. This prevents the loader from dropping period. you have to raise the bucket to remove the thing. Its also great for working on the tractor with the loader instaled.

 

[Grandad4]

Hey thanks everybody for the quick responses. I believe the beam is sturdy enough to handle supporting the bucket, and I would rather not remove it because the barn is OLD and needs all the support it can get. I might just rig up some supports for under the loader's arms to help hold it up when I park it. A "belt and suspenders" approach, so to speak.

Thanks for your help. If what I plan to do raises any concerns, please let me know. The forums here have been a wealth of information and I appreciate the warm welcome to the site. Cheers!

Safety is a primary concern. As others have said, one usually does not want to park FEL's, backhoes or implements in a raised position because a child might climb aboard and work the controls. You're propping the FEL bucket on some kind of beam in a weak old shed, I guess because the tractor is too long to fit with the bucket on the ground - is that right?

Be aware the raised FEL will put either a downward or a sideways force on that beam (or both) as it leaks down. Some problems with that. Could cause tractor to roll backwards, for example. Be sure to lock brakes, at least. Just how wobbly is that shed anyways? Enough that a 300-500 lbs weight leaning against it 6 ft up from the floor might eventually push something out of place or break something? How many times do you figure you'll be able to drive in and park before you smack the beam or don't park in exactly the right spot?

Sounds like you really don't have a good long term storage location yet. Suggest you be working on an alternate plan (another location, a "bump-out" addition, or ??).

 

[jrepp44]

I have the same situation, I went for the good old redneck solution and cut a nice big hole in the back of my shed for the bucket. One concern with leaving the bucket up is that your chrome cylinders are extended and left exposed to the elements.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have the same situation, I went for the good old redneck solution and cut a nice big hole in the back of my shed for the bucket. One concern with leaving the bucket up is that your chrome cylinders are extended and left exposed to the elements.

the picture in my head reminds me of my old neighbor while growing up...his boat trailer was too large for his garage, so he cut a hole in the garage door and left the hitch stick out in front of the closed door......now i can see he was a red neck LOL:laughing:

 

[Short Game]

Rednecks have an amazing power to adapt. This guy hit the Lotto.

 

[grsthegreat]

Rednecks have an amazing power to adapt. This guy hit the Lotto.

hehe....now thats funny

 

[DeeDubya]

That's what I would do. Only I don't think a JD 6R would fit under the carport.
Which is what I would buy if I won the lotto.

 

[Grandad4]

Rednecks have an amazing power to adapt. This guy hit the Lotto.

What's wrong with that? Looks fine to me.

 

[JoeL4330]

they also sell c channel steel pieces that you can insert over the cyllinder ram then lower the bucket. This prevents the loader from dropping period. you have to raise the bucket to remove the thing. Its also great for working on the tractor with the loader instaled.

angle or C, either works ...in either case bucket-lowering demands a gentle touch. Advantage of this approach is that if installed before/as you pull in, your bucket is always at just the desired height.