Using And Abusing Your Front End Loader. What is the difference?

[npalen]

There are many good discussions on TBN about loader use and abuse. This video is about the engineering principles that go into building an FEL and what the operator needs to know.

Edit: I discovered the video after another one of the guy's videos was posted in this discussion:

DIY Root Ripper

Found this while surfing youtube and it looks real handy so I thought I would share.

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Use the corner of the bucket not the middle when working something out of the ground but you are taking the risk of bending the loader arms.

These machines are not bulldozers or loaders. They are not nearly as strong. The only thing they have is looks, not strength

 

[oosik]

What is the difference between using and abusing - about $$$$ to repair or replace your FEL.

What Beaver Cove Deere said ............. Take heed or pay the price.

 

[diesel85]

I see so many machines on lots and in people's yards with bent buckets and tweaked loader arms. This also includes skid steers.

Tractors and skid steers aren't bulldozers or forklifts.

I've had my tractor for 22 years now and the loader is in the exact functional shape as when I bought it.

 

[5030]

I repair a lot of buckets with smiles in them, not just front loaders on tractors but on bucket loaders and excavators as well and most times, bucket damage is caused by using it as a lifting device or by Ill placed lifting hooks, Especially prone to smiles are the light duty, general material buckets sold by tractor dealers with new machines. All the manufacturers offer 2 designs, the light duty material bucket and the heavy duty excavation bucket which has to be ordered separately. The excavation buckets will have a double floor bottom and reinforced cutting lip, most times replaceable.

Poor hook placement as well as clamp on forks are the big bottom sheet benders on light duty buckets.

 

[5030]

The big no no when using a bucket is back dragging with the curl cylinders in full extension and the cutting lip down. In that position, hitting a buried rock or stump will almost surely bend something, usually the curl / dump cylinder rods and second is attempting to dislodge something using the corner of the bucket and curling back the bucket while lifting it. Puts tremendous strain on the loader arms and mounts and can tweak them, sometimes real bad. Both are wallet draining abuses.

 

[WranglerX]

I sneak up on object with FEL, if I engage it and FEL says no.... Time to back off...IF I keep hammering at object then its abuse....

 

[oosik]

I sometimes backdrag with my bucket. Bucket fully curled up - backdragging with the "heel" of the bucket. If that's not good enough - drag with the rear blade fully reversed.

 

[Mud2Money]

I think a lot of loader damage comes from materials it’s used on as well. Our basic tractor loaders are really intended for moving already disturbed materials like manure piles , mulch , topsoil , stone etc. I see a lot of people smashing them into hard clay not touched in decades. The frames are not robust enough for constant use doing this.

 

[ptsg]

I think a lot of loader damage comes from materials it’s used on as well. Our basic tractor loaders are really intended for moving already disturbed materials like manure piles , mulch , topsoil , stone etc. I see a lot of people smashing them into hard clay not touched in decades. The frames are not robust enough for constant use doing this.

Exactly. And if that wasn't enough, they will slap some oversized and overweight implements on it and keep on pushing.