Should I be Removing my FEL More?

[Tennspread]

How often do you remove your FEL and why?

I have a L3901 with LA525 FEL. Not sure if I should be removing the FEL when pulling my disc or brush hog. I have a detached garage with concrete floor I can leave it in. My thought has been to use it as a ballast since I have no weights up front but I have read here that it may be putting unneeded stress on FEL attachment and pivot points?

Should I be removing for specific task?

Thanks
TS

 

[countrynerd]

How often do you remove your FEL and why?

I have a L3901 with LA525 FEL. Not sure if I should be removing the FEL when pulling my disc or brush hog. I have a detached garage with concrete floor I can leave it in. My thought has been to use it as a ballast since I have no weights up front but I have read here that it may be putting unneeded stress on FEL attachment and pivot points?

Should I be removing for specific task?

Thanks
TS

That size tractor I would leave on. If had disconnect for bucket then take that off, but even if on should be fine.

Grandfather and father both had L's never took off. I have BX and just take bucket off if cutting grass.



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[Grizzy3901]

I take mine off when mowing that way I can get closer to my fences and don't have to worry about catching the bucket or welded on teeth on anything. Plus I feel if your mowing rough areas it's less bouncing on the piston seals in the cylinders.

 

[scdeerslayer]

I remove mine when plowing and discing, one thing for clearance and another because without the weight up front it should give a little more traction on the rear wheels. I might start removing it when mowing, if the mower isn't too heavy without the loader. I haven't been doing that because it seems there's always a tree that needs to be moved out of the way.

 

[William1]

Mine stays on for ballast, though I do have the QD for the bucket and have removed it a few times when doing jobs that the bucket might get in the way. Once a year, I do remove the FEL mounting pins, clean and grease them though.

 

[rut3556]

Mine's never been off in the 32 years I've owned it. (from new)

 

[85 Sovereign]

I'm new to owning my own tractor with FEL, and asked the dealer basically the same thing. Thinking that bouncing around unnecessarily while bush hogging would be bad for hydraulic cylinder seals or cause unnecessary wear on pins and bushings, I asked if there was a manufacturer recommendation. I was told no, that the main reason anyone takes their FEL off is just for clearance when mowing etc. and that it wouldn't cause unnecessary wear.

I still wonder though. I'm sure the tractor is built for it and can handle it just fine, but it is a lot of weight to have bouncing around for no reason. I also wonder if the dealer or manufacturer is just interested in additional service work, so no official direction exists?

Either way, I say do what you think is best for your tractor, and/or what you prefer. Mine has been staying on because I'll still find something that needs to be pulled up or pushed over while mowing.


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[Creature Meadow]

Mine is seasonal. this time of the year far more time in the garden so I keep it off. After garden season mine stays on as I am doing more loader work.

The beauty of it is the ease in which it can be removed and reinstalled.

 

[Sammy3700]

If you drop the bucket you will notice it handles better. I used to take the entire loader off but now have a SSQA on the loader instead of pin on bucket. Have not removed the loader since I changed it.

 

[chim]

This is the second tractor I've had with a loader. The loader - frame and all - are not on the tractor unless I'm using it. The exception is when I used to have a bush hog. There were some unfamiliar places I'd do with tall brush. Then the FEL was useful for detecting hidden things before running over them. The rotary mower deck was heavy enough to appreciate the ballast the FEL provided as well.

 

[Tennspread]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I will try just dropping the bucket and go from there. Will change the oil today and conduct other 50 hour maintenance then do some brush hogging

-TS

 

[PHPaul]

I had my JD 750 for 28 years and the only time I took the loader off was to split the tractor and replace a leaking gasket between the transmission and the rear end.

Sold the tractor when I bought the new Kubota and it still had the original seals in the loader pistons.

 

[Bulldog]

I used to take mine off for mowing until I bought a Kubota QA. Now I just drop the bucket and leave the loader.

 

[KennedyFarmer]

I took mine off for tractor service.