Parking with FEL up

jimmyj · May 6, 2009

So often I see tractors parked with the FEL left in the up position. I don't mean when somebody is just off it for a minute either, I mean at dealerships, in fields, for sale on the side of the road etc.

That seems very risky to me, why take the chance of somebody who is not experienced pulling on a lever and down she comes.

Thomas · May 6, 2009

"risky"...I agree,some fel now have locking controls,and seen some dealers place angle iron piston to frame to stop free fall.

Wis Bang · May 6, 2009

Angle iron & a long worm type hose clamp around the extended cylinder to hold the angle in place was the standard before doing any work that required the FEL arms to be out of the way when I worked in the construction company shop. Long 4x4 under raised dump truck bodies. Anything else was left down while any maintenace +/or repairs.

J_J · May 6, 2009

Perhaps they don't know that they are totally liable for any mishap that occurs on their property. and any owner. I think it is called. attractive nuisance. It also has to do with providing safety while someone is on your property.

pat32rf · May 6, 2009

And some of the newer FELs have a piece of channel iron permanently attached to the cylinders so it is really easy to lock them extended. I always think of my FEL as a parking brake for level ground, plus the dog won't curl up and go to sleep in the shade of the bucket.....

Wis Bang · May 7, 2009

My dad was an equipment operator for the local municipality when I was in school. I used to watch my highschool janitors mow the property w/ a rear mounted rotary while having the FEL all the way up so they could 'see' as they mowed. They used to tell me to MYOB when I told them how un-safe they were, property had lots of terraced athletic fields.

Then one day dad picked me up after school and seeing them mowing, he walked into the office and spoke w/ the principal. The janitors never had the FEL all the way up again!

pat32rf · May 7, 2009

My BIL is like that with his 60HP Massey. All the way up!! Granted its a light FEL with a small bucket. I normally keep the top of my bucket just below the sight line of the front of the hood on my JD 4300. This way it doesn't even block the factory headlights and I still have a foot of ground clearance under it. My seat switch is history so if need be I can stand up for close manuvering...

RBD · May 7, 2009

As an attorney, I remember my torts (personal injury) professor using as the perfect example of "negligence" a person leaving a hydraulically lifted bucket in the air. "Easy pickings" or something like that was the term he used.

20 20 · May 8, 2009

NO NO NO

I have an excavator that will lockup everything without the key in and on. STILL DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE !!! Joints fail, hoses fail, controls fail, e.t.c. Why take a chance on someones health{or life} when all it would take is a couple of seconds to drop the buckets to the ground???????????????????

Dealers to this to show what they've got, I say "whoopy show what you've got when you get a customer."

ampsucker · May 8, 2009

i make it a point to lower all hydraulics whenever i leave the tractor. my 18 month old loves to sit on the tractor (when it's off and the key is out) and play with all the levers. and the cats are always looking for a shady place to sleep (like dogs). just too easy for an accident to happen!

since reading this board, i always leave all hydraulics down, even when leaving the tractor just for a few minutes.

i also make sure all hydraulics are "jiggled" on the FEL and backhoe when they are off the tractor so someone climbing on them or bumping the levers can't make them move.

safety first and no bad vibes (or worse) later.....

amp

em14 · May 9, 2009

From the first time I can remember a lift or FEL type peice of equipment I was taught to "Never leave any in the raised position without blocking the device so it could not come down" ... this included the three point hitch! Lower everything to the ground when tractor is at a stop! I still remember all those warnings!
Leo

ericstac · May 21, 2009

I always drop the FEL and 3pt. I figured you had to do it that way. My thinking was, if it is up then it is putting unneeded stress to the hydro system. So I always shut off my deere, lower the 3pt, then tilt my bucket down so it wont hold water and then lower the bucket until it hits the ground.

case646 · May 21, 2009

ericstac said:
I always drop the FEL and 3pt. I figured you had to do it that way. My thinking was, if it is up then it is putting unneeded stress to the hydro system. So I always shut off my deere, lower the 3pt, then tilt my bucket down so it wont hold water and then lower the bucket until it hits the ground.

x2 i do the same thing

tallyho8 · May 21, 2009

I always lower my fel but I do not tilt it down because this leaves the bare hydraulic shafts exposed to rust and corrosion. I make sure that all my hydraulic cylinders are all the way retracted.

JoelD · May 22, 2009

ampsucker said:
i make it a point to lower all hydraulics whenever i leave the tractor. my 18 month old loves to sit on the tractor (when it's off and the key is out) and play with all the levers. and the cats are always looking for a shady place to sleep (like dogs). just too easy for an accident to happen!

since reading this board, i always leave all hydraulics down, even when leaving the tractor just for a few minutes.

i also make sure all hydraulics are "jiggled" on the FEL and backhoe when they are off the tractor so someone climbing on them or bumping the levers can't make them move.

safety first and no bad vibes (or worse) later.....

amp

I do the exact same thing, I am always worried about the mini-boss getting into something. She actually never does, but I could not live with myself if that "one time" should occur. Just less stressful, I lower and jiggle all.

Joel

biggerten · May 22, 2009

ampsucker said:
i make it a point to lower all hydraulics whenever i leave the tractor. my 18 month old loves to sit on the tractor (when it's off and the key is out) and play with all the levers. and the cats are always looking for a shady place to sleep (like dogs). just too easy for an accident to happen!

amp

I'd never get lucky enough to lose a cat.

jimmyj · May 22, 2009

tallyho8 said:
I always lower my fel but I do not tilt it down because this leaves the bare hydraulic shafts exposed to rust and corrosion. I make sure that all my hydraulic cylinders are all the way retracted.

Me too. I saw numerous tractors parked with the FEL up yesterday. One at a ritzy horse ranch where there are guests coming and going all day long. NUTS.