Removal (& attachment) of FEL on JInma 354

[lu]

Hi,

can anyone provide the instructions for removal & re-attachment of the FEL mechanism.

Including which way the props go (bent "shoe" end to ground or square cut end to ground)?

A video or link to a video would be great. Photos OK too.

Thanks

[quicksandfarmer]

Do you have the Koyker loader? That's what I have.

The props go with the bent shoe on the ground. What you do is put the props in, then gently lower and curl the bucket so that the weight of the bucket is sitting on the props and the front edge of the bucket. Then you take out the hinge pins for the loader, which may require loosening the big bolts on the hinge pins. Then jiggle the hydraulics ever so slightly. With the weight of the loader on the bucket and the props, and the hinge pins out, moving the hydraulics will cause the hinge pins to come up an inch or so. Once they're up, turn off the tractor, disconnect the hoses from the loader, attach the hoses to each other, and turn the tractor back on. You should now be able to drive out backwards and leave the loader in place.

Taking it off is much easier than putting it back on again. You definitely want to do it on a hard level floor, and even so it can be tricky to get it back on, because you have to position the tractor exactly right. I built a dolly from a pallet, some casters and some pieces of 2x6. The pallet isn't long enough for the spacing between the bucket and the legs so the 2x6s stick out and the legs ride on them. That way I can roll the loader up to the tractor instead of trying to drive the tractor up to the loader.

When the loader is on the prop legs it is somewhat tippy, be careful around it.

Never run the tractor with the hydraulics disconnected, it will blow up the pump in short order.