[Curlymurt]

I relatively recently decided to buy a new, very used tractor. Overall, it's in really good shape for a 1979 but I'm trying to tighten somethings up a bit, in a literal sense. Working to get all the bolts and pins needed.

I started checking the implements and attachments to see what works and what is needed. It came with a snow thrower, front loader, rear platform, sweeper, snow or grading blade, and 60" mowing deck (which I can hear the ground screaming already from where it's going to scalp, so that'll be a project to add more rollers).

Anyway, on the FEL, my hydraulic hoses are stringing everywhere. I re-did it so I have two hoses that go across the top of the hood or steering wheel area. I also added hydraulic quick connect couplers for when swapping attachments. What have you all done to keep those hoses tidy?

For the snow / grader blade, I'm trying to figure out exactly how to mount it. I see the horizontal bars go into the rests on the tractor, but there's a flat stock bar that goes over both ends of the horizontal bars (on both ends). I'm not doing that part correctly. I assume the mid-hydraulics lift or drop it? *It's just sitting under the loader while I worked on the hydraulics

 

[Curlymurt]

That's about the best description I could have read. Well done and thank you guys for the help! I should have some tinker time tomorrow to see what I can do.

 

[Curlymurt]

If I remember, in the loader manual to use the tractor without the loader there where two quick couplers for the bucket dump cylinders so the hoses stayed with the loader arms and you were supposed to leave the lift cylinders in place and tie them up . I never removed the loader the time I owned it

That would make sense why 2 of the 4 had quick connects on them. I assumed the previous owner added them. I went ahead and added the other two facing the opposite direction so I don't get them backwards.

Thanks for the photos showing the routing. I guess I'd have to drive over them when connecting/disconnecting the loader, which I'm not keen on. I'm going to try to thread them under the bell housing but on top of the frame as previously mentioned. I've found a few photos as a reference.

 

[Curlymurt]

Im guessing you want to remove the complete loader frame not just the arms & bucket ?

Yes, that's the goal. I had to do it tonight, but only out of necessity. Get your popcorn ready...

I was loading this new to me tractor and implements onto my brand new, 2 hour old 16' trailer and when I lifted the loader sky high to get a better weight balance for driving up the ramp, it blew a hydraulic hose on the loader, which I didn't realize at first because it was in the dark and snowing. I soaked the tractor, implements, new trailer, a jacket, sweat pants, shorts, underwear, sock, sock hat, and work boots in hydraulic fluid. Then I had to try to unhook the front loader and load it by hand before I could load the tractor; all while slipping in snow (still coming down) and hydraulic fluid. The driveway isn't awful but it's at the rental so they won't be happy. The street took a bath in it. I ruined so many clothes that I need to get it cleaned up before I try to move anything and ruin more.

What's the best way to clean up hydraulic fluid that's sprayed EVERYWHERE? Just a standard decreaser then hose off? More hydraulic questions to come as I examine the scene in daylight and try to eventually fix the loader.

 

[Curlymurt]

I wanted to add a couple of photos of the oil slick. It really makes the orange pop in the sunlight. The entire hood, both tires, all implements, even the back of the seat somehow.

 

[Curlymurt]

I took a glance at the FEL today and it appears the elbow coming off of the cylinder broke at the threads where it enters the bung for the cylinder. Looking at old photos, and the way it is laying in the garage, that elbow was facing up where other photos and the manual have them facing down. So at some point, it got rotated so the elbows where either out and up, rather than in and down. That's likely why it got stressed and broke. Probably even got stressed just from having the loader resting on the elbow during storage, transport, or while getting it on the tractor.

I hope this info helps someone else in the future! I did see they're 3/8" fittings, so I'm going to hit the hardware store to see what I can find. I've got projects for this thing!

 

[Curlymurt]

I worked on getting the FEL back up and operational in a couple of sittings. First, I was able to remove the broken bits fairly easily. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 3/8" extractor bit. Best $15 spent so far. Didn't have any issue getting it out.

Once I got that out, I hooked it up again to move some debris to a dumpster at the new house in the daylight this time. It didn't take long to realize what the issue was. The cylinders definitely need rotated 180 degrees. I actually though about flipping the cylinder to the upper/front half and the piston on the lower so it's easier to route the hoses across the loader, rather than through the tractor engine bay or on top. Any reason I shouldn't flip the cylinder/piston?

 

[Curlymurt]

I want to be able to remove the loader for other attachments.

 

[Curlymurt]

Not a good excuse its just as easy to remove doing it the factory way I've had mine off

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Looks like you do 4 connections at the controls and the two under? I could work that outbpretty easily. Quick connects are cheap on Amazon these days... Would be cheaper than buying new lines. Thanks for photos. Helps visualize it all... All I see are random hoses going everywhere on mine

 

[Curlymurt]

These are awesome. Thank you!

 

[Curlymurt]

I had some more seat time today as I burned a use-it-or-lose-it day off at work. The new house has a yard that grades towards the house. The first step in getting the water intrusion remedied was a "French drain", which is more of a surface drain in some areas. It'll catch the top runoff in heavy rains. I'll be able to backfill on top which will create a small swale around the back of the house. Still didn't spin the loader cylinders, but it comes off tomorrow to put on the snow blade.

The Jesus statue won't stay, but we also figured it was a bad omen to throw it in the dumpster.