Practice Removing Your FEL

[MF RED in MT]

Generally I leave the loader on, to push stuff, carry tools ect. There are a couple trees with bucket marks on the property though...

I must admit there are a few trees on my property that are well marked from my bucket :laughing:. I leave the bucket on when using my brush hog to keep the front wheels on the ground when I pick up the mower off the ground.
F.Y.I. I have welded on 2 lifting lugs on the mower, now its simple to store when I pick it up with the FEL :thumbsup:. KC

 

[banjodunn]

G'day guys i deal with fel's nearly every day and most are bigger than what alot of you guys have got (80 to 150 hp ) and we tell all our farmers that buy them to build a cement pad to put their loaders on, those that do say it is the best thing they have ever done, those that don't are the ones who ring up asking how the **** do they get it back on:laughing:. It does not have to be huge (4 - 5" thick is plenty) but it takes out all the hassles. Just a side note to you guys that have problems with couplers have you thought about the multi coupler systems, not cheap but one handed operation to use.


Jon

 

[irvingj]

Summer, winter, in-between (like when large trees fall down across driveway & road, like YESTERDAY at 5AM!:laughing....

Yes, I get lots of practice taking off & putting on "things"!

 

[sailorman]

Took FEL off again today. 4th time ever. Got it done in 1 min flat. Plenty fast enough for me since my 1st time took 10 mins. What was my secret ? I did it from memory instead of reading the manual .

 

[Don87]

Took mine off for the first time yesterday. Did not use the manual. Took less than 5 minutes, off and back on.
Woulda been easier if I would have done it on my concrete garage floor, instead of my crooked paved driveway.


Don

 

[blueriver]

My Owners manual for the FEL states: WHEN LOADER HYDRAULICS ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRACTOR, THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT MUST BE COMPLETED BY CONNECTING PRESSURE PORT TO RETURN PORT. FAILURE TO DO SAY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC PUMP.

Intructions:
1.) Remove the plug from the right side of the valve
2.) Install a power beyond plug in the valve
3.) Install a 90degree elbow in the power beyond plug
4.) Attach hydraulic hose to the 90 degree elbow and route to the return outlet on the tractor.

Note: Additional fittings are required to attach the hose to the tractor return outlet.

sooooo... think I'll just leave the loader on.

 

[RoyJackson]

My Owners manual for the FEL states: WHEN LOADER HYDRAULICS ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRACTOR, THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT MUST BE COMPLETED BY CONNECTING PRESSURE PORT TO RETURN PORT. FAILURE TO DO SAY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC PUMP.

Intructions:
1.) Remove the plug from the right side of the valve
2.) Install a power beyond plug in the valve
3.) Install a 90degree elbow in the power beyond plug
4.) Attach hydraulic hose to the 90 degree elbow and route to the return outlet on the tractor.

Note: Additional fittings are required to attach the hose to the tractor return outlet.

sooooo... think I'll just leave the loader on.

Wow!!!! That's a crappy design!

 

[kencunningham]

My Owners manual for the FEL states: WHEN LOADER HYDRAULICS ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRACTOR, THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT MUST BE COMPLETED BY CONNECTING PRESSURE PORT TO RETURN PORT. FAILURE TO DO SAY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRACTOR HYDRAULIC PUMP.

Intructions:
1.) Remove the plug from the right side of the valve
2.) Install a power beyond plug in the valve
3.) Install a 90degree elbow in the power beyond plug
4.) Attach hydraulic hose to the 90 degree elbow and route to the return outlet on the tractor.

Note: Additional fittings are required to attach the hose to the tractor return outlet.

sooooo... think I'll just leave the loader on.

I have to wonder why the valve just wouldnt go into relief. Its basically the same thing as maxing out cylinder travel, and it should only see pressure if the valve is operated.

 

[blueriver]

I have to wonder why the valve just wouldnt go into relief. Its basically the same thing as maxing out cylinder travel, and it should only see pressure if the valve is operated.

I have two tractors and two loaders and each manual says the same thing ... one is on a Montana and one on a Branson ... I quess its a Korean thing??

 

[wvpolekat]

Doesn't make any sense. When the loader valve is in "neutral" that is just like the loader being removed. Fluid has to go somewhere when you are not actuating any cylinders.

 

[blueriver]

Doesn't make any sense. When the loader valve is in "neutral" that is just like the loader being removed. Fluid has to go somewhere when you are not actuating any cylinders.

Okay then why do the manuals state that ... can someone else review the manuals for different model loaders like Kubota, Kioti, John Deere, Mahindra to compare. Sure hate to remove mine and cause damage.

I really thought the idea behind todays loaders was to take them on and off as need be.

 

[wvpolekat]

I know that my Kubota does not require this. I wonder what is different. I have no doubt the manuals state what you are saying. Just curious why they are different.

 

[bp fick]

Wondering out loud. Are these directions for removing the system, or just removing the FEL? They seemed rather unclear to me.

 

[blueriver]

I know that my Kubota does not require this. I wonder what is different. I have no doubt the manuals state what you are saying. Just curious why they are different.

I just also read this in the manual for the FEL ... Power beyond kit is provided to relieve excessive pressure on the loader control valve when other implements are used while the loader is still attached to the tractor.

So ... it is saying that the Power beyond kit is used both when the loader is on or off. If thats the case why then was it not standard to come equiped with the Power beyond Kit?

I just emailed my contact at Branson for an explaination ....

 

[blueriver]

Wondering out loud. Are these directions for removing the system, or just removing the FEL? They seemed rather unclear to me.

Well I'm thinking because it says "When the Loader hydraulics are disconnected from the tractor" that would mean when you use the QD to unplug the loader ...

 

[wvpolekat]

I think it is a terminology issue. As someone else stated, it sounds more like directions for completely removing it.

The flow should be: pump--->loader valve--->3ph--->tank

So if the line between the pump and loader valve had a quick disconnect in it, you could not just disconnect it.

In my case, this line does not have a quick disconnect. It is threaded on to the loader valve, and the valve stays behind when the loader is removed. The lines that you disconnect are the 4 that go to the cylinders.

Perhaps that is the difference. When you remove your loader, does the valve stay behind?

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

I have two tractors and two loaders and each manual says the same thing ... one is on a Montana and one on a Branson ... I quess its a Korean thing??

I've been watching this thread for a while and thinking I needed to give it a try. As I have a Korean tractor that came with a FEL installed (LS S3010) I got a little concerned after reading about your situation. Just looked at the instructions for removing and mounting mine and all they say is disconnect and connect the quick connect hydraulic couplers.

 

[irvingj]

On my 2310 (M-F), disconnecting the loader is simply unplugging the lines... BUT, the valve does stay on the tractor.

On the backhoe, however, the valve stays with the BH, and a return line has to be re-connected "to avoid serious damage to the hydraulic system...."

Sounds like maybe it is whether the valve stays with the tractor or not is the key, as wvpolekat suggested.

 

[blueriver]

Both mine are cab tractors ... obviously the Joystick stays in the cab and the lines are all QD couplers on the loader valve. Perhaps it is terminology and I am interputing it wrong. Either way I have an email into the Branson rep awaiting an answer.

I agree with what others have said. Makes no sense ...

 

[rjkobbeman]

When I took delivery of my Kubota M8540, I noticed a u-shaped hydraulic line in the toolbox. I asked what this was and the mechanic said it came off of the tractor when the FEL was installed.

It is basically a return line from the supply (pressure) side to the return side. When no valves are installed, it completes the loop. When you install a FEL, this is where you tap into the system.

There is a BIG sticker down near my FEL hydraulic valve (not joystick, but valve) that states you must re-install the u-shaped line if the FEL valve is removed... and NOT simply cap the lines. This makes perfect sense.

Anyway, unplugging the the QD couplers to remove the FEL does not remove the FEL valve. (On my Kubota anyway. I imagine on most Kubotas and on most other brands that have QDs.) The joystick in neutral allows the FEL valve to let fluid flow and return. This is the same whether the FEL is installed or not.

Now, if you tap into the system and remove the FEL valve, you have to provide the return yourself. In my case, I have the original line handy.

The main reason I know this is because I recently installed a 3rd function valve myself. To do this, you have to tap into the hydraulic system and re-route the pass-thru. (This is in addition to other things of course.) Instead of the return from the FEL valve going back to the main return, it goes into the supply of the 3rd function valve. Then the return from the 3rd function valve goes back to the main return. (Or vice-versa, I don't remeber. The 3rd function valve may be first, but the point is valid though.)

When all valves in the system are in neutral, fluid freely flows throughout the entire system. Nothing is blocked. When one valve in the system is opened, fluid is routed to the implement (cylinder, pump, etc.). When the system GPM exceeds the implement the bypass is used.