When do you use FEL disengagement lever?

[toukow]

Since I'm on a roll asking the most basic questions of operational controls on my new tractor, I figured why stop now? I must be using the wrong terms when searching forum, because I do not see this mentioned.

As I understand it, the lever in the photo disengages the joystick and stops the FEL from operating. I'm unclear when you would use this? When you have a critical load and you're worried you will inadvertently hit the joy stick? Or are there other applications?

Thanks for the education, Toukow

 

[blkqi]

It's called the float position. Use it when you want the loader bucket/forks to track the ground surface. Mostly that's back dragging for me, but you could also use it to come in low on a pile of dirt or brush.

 

[blkqi]

Sorry I think I misunderstood your question/photos. I think you mean the joystick locking lever. I use it anytime I don't want the loader to be moved. Running in high gear is a good time to use it. If I'm getting on/off tractor on the right side I'll use it too.

 

[cholland]

Yes, it just locks out the joystick. I haven't found a specific application yet, but nice to know it's there. Also remember it's there in case you accidentally flip it on and your loader isn't responding.

 

[ruffdog]

Would you use the lock if your loader is removed from the tractor?

 

[Gary Fowler]

That would be a good time to use it just in case you pushed the control and didn't notice the hydraulics squalling. Normally you use it to make sure no one inadvertently moves the joystick.

I would never lock out the joystick when moving the tractor, you can never tell when it might be necessary to lower the FEL, like if you were to be moving down a hill and lost traction, you could quickly lower the FEL to stop or if you were carrying a load and the tractor started to tip, drop the load to the ground.

 

[Redbug]

I use mine more as a safety kind of lock such as when I am working around the loader. Sort of a "Lock Out Tag Out" kind of thing.

 

[Amvcane]

I use mine all the time when snow blowing with my 3pt blower. I sit kind of side saddle and my thigh would hit the joystick. I wouldn’t even notice till I faced forward and the loader would be fully raised.

 

[jaroban]

I noticed this post because my mechanical joystick stop is not in the right position. I can tilt my bucket. But I cannot move the front and loader up or down. I’m not sure which way it supposed to be. I cannot move the stop into the right position to make the loader go up and down. I would assume that you would push the locking mechanism all the way in for the loader to work correctly. Am I correct?