Recently, while my dealer was showing me a tractor with a FEL, he put a safety boot around the cylinder while the bucket was lifted. I asked him if they had them for sale, but he said they had them made. Do you know where I can purchase one or will I have to have one made? Thank you.
FEL Safety Boot
- Thread starter Ridger
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North Idaho Wolfman
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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Daren Todd
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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
See if you can measure the one at the bota dealership along with a picture. Local welding shop/ machine shop should be able to make one up for you
My Dad made some stops for his Mercruiser boat outdrive that had slow leaks in the hydraulic cylinders that would sag in storage. He cut a slot in PVC pipe so that it was a snug snap onto the extended rod. Looks similar to a giant roll pin. Worked really well and an inexpensive option that can be done with hand tools.
A simple piece of angle iron or u-channel with some velcro or zip ties will work perfectly, just be careful of the wiper seals.
North Idaho Wolfman
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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
There is very, very few good reasons to work under a lifted FEL or piece of equipment!
It is way better to remove or work over something that can Squash you like a bug!
It is way better to remove or work over something that can Squash you like a bug!
85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
that though made me think of these $%@#$# stink bugs.....we still have them!!!!!!There is very, very few good reasons to work under a lifted FEL or piece of equipment!
It is way better to remove or work over something that can Squash you like a bug!
Wife lit a candle last night - one of them sumbeauuuches flew a little to close....poor thing....NOT!!!!
I would like to see a picture of this KUBOTA made lock !
An older fellow that i used to sell parts to lost his life due to the lack of a safety boot. Raised the box on his truck to repair something and hydraulics holding it up failed. An easily fabricated boot is money and time well spent.
gpreuss
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L3200DT w/FEL, K650 Backhoe, 5' Rotary, 40" Howard Rotavator, 6' Rhino blade
In order to get my tractor in the barn with the FEL and rear blade on it I have to pick up the FEL and drive it over my welder. For years I've been resting it on a 5-1/2' 6X6, stood on end. The 6X6 is forever in the way, when it isn't in use. I'm really liking this idea - I think I'll use some unistrut or 1-1/2X1-1/2 channel iron and a Velcro strap, and give it a try...
Thanks for posting the idea!
Thanks for posting the idea!
Depending on your needs, a safety stand may be an alternative. I used mine to hold up the FEL while I pulled the lower cylinder pins last weekend. This is an example for a pretty low cost....
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-underhoist-safety-stand-60759-9924.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-underhoist-safety-stand-60759-9924.html
How about taking two angle irons cut to length and bolting them together with carriage bolts in a 'U' shape (put the buttons in so it ill not scratch ram).
Holes for two pins to hold it on.
Ray
Holes for two pins to hold it on.
Ray
coachgeo
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L225 w/woods Few Mowers & Back Blade, D722 in Motorcycle (Triumph Tiger), LMTV
I keep my D-17's loader up with a 4x4 across the bracing that goes around the hood. That let's us work on it all we want, especially when we need to test the hydraulics and such. It's common enough that I'm surprised I haven't made a permanent 'holder' on the cylinders like the new tractors have.
I'm kinda with NIWolfman on the 'detach' and work on it side. Safest thing you could do is to make a loader working rack. It looks something like a super sturdy ladder that is self standing. You lift the loader bucket to the level on the ladder you need and pull forward, resting the bucket on the 'rung' of the stand. Then you can work on whatever and the bucket won't drop. When not in use it makes for a handy stand to clean rugs, hang things on, etc. A couple of 8' 4x4's with 2x4's for rungs would work.
I'm kinda with NIWolfman on the 'detach' and work on it side. Safest thing you could do is to make a loader working rack. It looks something like a super sturdy ladder that is self standing. You lift the loader bucket to the level on the ladder you need and pull forward, resting the bucket on the 'rung' of the stand. Then you can work on whatever and the bucket won't drop. When not in use it makes for a handy stand to clean rugs, hang things on, etc. A couple of 8' 4x4's with 2x4's for rungs would work.
I went back out to the Kubota dealer and took a couple of photos of the FEL safety boot or cylinder lock as he called it. It is about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and about 18 inches long. It is hinged with the two halves held together with a pin. He said they had a local machine shop make them.
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Since I originally posted this thread, I sketched a design for a safety boot (or cylinder lockout) and had a friend with a welding machine make it for me (you can see he is not a professional welder but it works). He uses some scrap pieces he had around so it didn't cost me anything. I agree with some previous posts that you should never work under a raised lift, but if you find yourself in situations that require you do, then it is better to be safe. I wanted to share these with you in case any are interested in making one. Have a good day.
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85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Excellent work - and that would not cost an arm or leg either.
Dumb question - do you use ONLY one? and if so - if the cylinder leaks down over time (assuming it is up for hours) would it place a strain on the system as only one is supporting the load of the bucket? I hope you get my question.
Or to better answer my question - it IS ONLY used as a device to prevent it from potential falling and therefor saving a human under the bucket? If it ever moved quickly the last worry would be about the machine!
I originally saw one at the dealer and they only used just one cylinder lockout. The mechanic was working on something with the bucket raised and had the cylinder lockout in place. Should something cause the hydraulics to fail and the bucket to drop, it is designed to catch the cylinder and prevent the FEL from falling further and injuring the worker. It is primarily a safety device to prevent injury or worse.
However, in my neck of the woods, some folks use an FEL to lift a deer while skinning it. I can certainly see the need for something like this to be in place before getting under the bucket. It may save a life.
However, in my neck of the woods, some folks use an FEL to lift a deer while skinning it. I can certainly see the need for something like this to be in place before getting under the bucket. It may save a life.
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Using a safety device when working under anything suspended by hydraulics alone might save your life.
I made one for each machine as the lengths are different.
Mine is a piece of 3/8-in thick x 3-in each side angle iron onto which I welded a handle and two nuts (oriented longways on the ridge) right on the peak of the angle.
Split a piece of 2-in PVC lengthwise.
Heat the angle iron. Lay one of the half-section PVCs into the angle.
Use another piece of angle to sandwich the PVC and mash all together (use loader for convenience).
Now you have a PVC-lined piece of angle that will hold up any hydraulic arm. At least any hydraulic eqpt we're likely to encounter.
Elevate the loader completely, install the PVC-lined safety device, and strap into place with two zip ties, one though each nut, encircling the shaft.
PVC prevents dinging the chrome rod.
Please post back your experiences so we may all continue to learn.
I made one for each machine as the lengths are different.
Mine is a piece of 3/8-in thick x 3-in each side angle iron onto which I welded a handle and two nuts (oriented longways on the ridge) right on the peak of the angle.
Split a piece of 2-in PVC lengthwise.
Heat the angle iron. Lay one of the half-section PVCs into the angle.
Use another piece of angle to sandwich the PVC and mash all together (use loader for convenience).
Now you have a PVC-lined piece of angle that will hold up any hydraulic arm. At least any hydraulic eqpt we're likely to encounter.
Elevate the loader completely, install the PVC-lined safety device, and strap into place with two zip ties, one though each nut, encircling the shaft.
PVC prevents dinging the chrome rod.
Please post back your experiences so we may all continue to learn.