Rest position for FEL

[Squeak n Itch]

When the tractor is parked for a day or so should the FEL rest 1) level 2)tipped down to let accumulated water out or 3) back to retract the cylinders?

Other preferences?

 

[dirtworksequip]

I usually park any machine with a bucket so the water drains. Either slightly downhill or with the bucket slightly tipped forward. If you are thinking you need to retract the cylinders to protect them from the weather..........don't worry about that. Good quality cylinders can set out in the weather for years and never show any rust or pitting.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Deerlope]

I park mine inside the barn with the bucket flat on the floor.

 

[john_bud]

Inside - flat on the ground.

Outside - put a brick, rock or 4x4 under the back of the bucket so water can drain.

Always run the FEL controls in a circle (joystick) a couple times after shutting off the engine so you KNOW it is settled. Especially important if there are any little hands around! It can't drop and squish someone if it is already down.

jb

 

[browns40]

Hey Squeak,

This one's a matter of preference I would imagine... for a day or two, I think anything short of up in the air would be fine...

When I am fortunate enough to have it inside, I usually keep the bucket "mouth" flush on the floor (usually has snow in it), and in the float position...

Outside, I can't help but try & keep as much of those cylinders in as I can to prevent any exposure to elements, kids chucking rocks or playing with knives & whatnot to take any damage out of the equation... probably would never happen, but I do my best to be overly cautious about maintenance stuff...

I do always keep it in the float position, to relieve any pressure in the system, and prevent potential movement if some kids were to happen to play around it--again probably no need to do so... but between my boy & the kids next door, I figure there are ample opportunities for Murphy's Law to weigh in on just about anything!

 

[PA hayseed]

I park it flat on the garage floor, just so my daughter can't ever hit the FEL lever and smash my foot.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

There are valid reasons for leaving it any which way. Personally, I like to leave any cylinder with a load on it. Loading a cylinder keeps the seals pushed against the gland-rod, and against the piston-housing. By keeping the seals in shape, they last longer. Pressure in the cylinder also keep foreign matter out. This is a big reason you see so many manufacturers invert the FEL lift cylinders. With the rod pointing up, rain can drip down the frame, onto the rod, and get into the cylinder. With the cylinder inverted and pressurized, there is no chance of this happening. If you notice on most backhoes, any cylinders that aren't normally inverted are set so that when the machine is off, the rod is being pulled on. This keeps pressure on the rod seal and keeps junk out.

 

[john_bud]

Wayne,

I for one and glad to see you as a member here. Learn something new from many of your posts. Didn't know about keeping a load on the seals.....thanks!

jb

 

[CurlyDave]

I always make certain the bucket is fully settled whenever I turn the engine off & leave the machine, even if only for a few minutes.

The safety of not having the bucket move if the joystick is accidentally moved outweighs any other consideration.

 

[jimainiac]

I usually leave the bucket angled slightly down so water doesn't puddle and freeze in the winter, but John Bud's point about not wanting to let it fall if someone was monkeying with it is good, so if that was a concern, the trick of resting the back of the bucket on something makes sense.