Rearranging FEL Hydrualics

[DFW]

Hi all, being new to tractor ownership and a real newbie to FEL and backhoe operations I've always felt that the FEL controls were backwards. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I know there is probably a lot of history behind why the FEL controls are setup the way they are. But, to my limited mind if I want something to go up, I push the handle up and so on. So, my question, does anyone see any problem with rearranging the FEL controls to the way my mind works? Push up, the FEL goes up, push down and the FEL goes down... The only obvious reason I can think of is if I lent my tractor to someone that learned the "normal" way they would be confused. I know the folks on TBN have probably 100's of years of collective experience and wanted to know what y'all thought. Thanks,

 

[Jimbrown]

Hmm have not seen your loader control but mine does not have up down it is forward and back which works exactly like an airplane or helicopter which I flew for 20 years so I think it is normal. However, I see nothing wrong with changing yours to the way you like it. I doubt you are going to loan it to anyone who could not adjust to your system.

 

[gone]

you can certainly change the machine to your liking,but it would be better to learn the standard way,because if you use a rental or any constuction equipment it will be standard and you will still be messed up.

 

[texbaylea]

The first time I tried a loader, I felt the same way you do. I am used to the standard arrangement now so did not try to switch it around although it would be easy on my Kubota since the disconnects are after the controller. Just interchange the hoses for the boom cylinders.

 

[JoshJ]

Maybe this will help it make sense?

Imagine you had a stick on the pivot point of your FEL that extended back to the drivers seat. if you pushed it down, (with enough force) then the loader would go up and vice versa.

 

[Rip]

A problem with just reversing the hoses is that the Float function on the valve would then come into play if you pushed the lever too far as you were raising the arms and suddenly drop your load. You would of course loose the Float function for the down position.

All in all not a good way to go.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A problem with just reversing the hoses is that the Float function on the valve would then come into play if you pushed the lever too far as you were raising the arms and suddenly drop your load. You would of course loose the Float function for the down position.)</font>
That was my first thought also. This would be a dangerous way to go. Just learn to use it the way it's set up and you'll stay safe! John

 

[MMM]

The history is a safety issue on horizontally mounted control valve handles. If a handle was to be leaned upon or something fell on it, the load would raise instead of lowered onto an unsuspecting victim. All winches etc I've used in construction and offshore have this hyd arrangement. Just remember push-away and pull-come for vertical mount valve handles.

 

[DiskDoctr]

DFW,

Could you just rotate the hydraulic spool 180 degrees? Have to check the length of your hoses is okay.

-JC

 

[Junkman]

I had similar thoughts once, when I owned a 1926 Buick. The shift pattern was an upside down "H" pattern that was completely back-wards from what I was used to and learned to drive with. This bothered me at first, and I was constantly making the mistake of putting it into reverse when I wanted to go forward. It took about 2 days to retrain my mind to correctly put the car into the gear that I wanted, and after that I never had another problem. It was a mental mindset that was causing the problem initially, and after I decided that I had to change my way of thinking, I had it perfected. The interesting thing was that I also had a modern car that had a floor mounted 4 speed shifter also. When I got into that car, I found the gears correctly also. The only thing that got me every time, was getting into an automatic transmission car and looking for the clutch pedal. I was even able to master that and drive all three in the same day without problems. Time for you to change your mindset and adapt..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif