Go BottomRemoving 430 FEL from 4310 4410
 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee 
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2004-08-31 95068
I removed the 430 FEL from my 4410 yesterday just to try cutting with out it being installed and to familiarize myself with doing it. I figure it is much less wear and tear not lugging it around on the machine when I am not using it anyway.
I was VERY surprised at how easy and simple it was to remove it. I took my time and went at a snails pace checking and verifying everything 17 ways to Sunday since this is the first time I have done this but it only took me about a half hour and about 20 minutes of that was reading, checking, and verifying with "Fuzz" any last minute tips.
Once familiarized with the procedure, the FEL can be removed in about 5 minutes or less. The only tips I would offer in additon to what the FEL operator's manual states is that you may need to back the tractor up ever so slightly (just a few inches) to raise the FEL frame high enough to clear the front tires. The FEL frame support made contact with the front axle when I raise the FEL frame so I backed the machine up a few inches to make room for the supports to extend enough to make the FEL frame clear the front tires.
It is very important to note that Deere STRONGLY recommends that the materials bucket be installed when removing the FEL from the tractor as the bucket aids the lateral support of the FEL while off the tractor and also counter balances the rear support frame to stand by itself. If you remove the FEL without the bucket installed; you will run into problems. A note here to also be sure and carefully clean the hydraulic QD couplings and install the protective color coded dust caps provided. I use some silicone spray lube to clean out the couplings and the dust caps.
I was also very surprise at how much more stabile the tractor felt on slopes. The tractor was also much more nimble and did not bounce near as much when hitting bumps which allowed me to cut that much faster. Also made the tractor a lot shorter in length which significantly helped out with getting into and manuevering in tight spots. No where near as much rear tire slippage when backing up as well. When the grass cutting is done for the season; I will reinstall the FEL and remove the MMM.
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 | JD855inWI
Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 38 Mid East Wisconsin 
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2004-08-31 95072
Chief: You have maybe covered this before; but what is the purpose of the chain from the top line down to the draw-bar?
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| JD855inWI
Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 38 Mid East Wisconsin
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2004-08-31 95074
Chief: You have maybe covered this before; but what is the purpose of the chain from the top line down to the draw-bar?
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| Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2004-08-31 95075
JD855inWI,
It is a safety chain to prevent the rockshaft and entire 3 pt. hitch from being tipped up in the air when using the 3 pt. trailer hitch. The 3 point hitch is controlled by a ONE WAY hydraulic servo. It can lift but provides NO down pressure or holding power. In the event you were to tow a trailer with an improper weight distribution or were the weight to suddenly shift and the trailer became tail heavy; the tongue would flip up into the air uncontrollabley, taking the 3 pt. hitch along with it. Depending upon the weight and value of the load you might be towing, this could be disasterous and possibly cause a severe injury. I used my tractor and the 3 pt. trailer hitch to move around the Sea Ray boat in my profile pics which wieghs over 8,000 lbs. The damage and consequences of a trailer load such as that flipping up in my driveway which is a fair slope are unthinkable so I use a saftey chain (I now use a much heavier duty cable now) and strong urge anyone else who uses these hitches to do the same. At the very least, be aware that as unlikely as it is to happen........it can and with potentially disasterous consequences. ....
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 | Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 955 Central Iowa 
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2004-08-31 95085
Chief, I totally agree with your FEL finding. I've had my 4310 for less than a week. The 430 FEL is incredible with how easy it is to remove and re-install. I took it off before I tried mowing as I know it makes the entire machine heavier and harder to maneuver. I had a 5' box blade on back to balance the FEL. With both off, the machine is really nice to mow with. My wife likes it better than the JD 325 mower we have.
As an engineer, I think the FEL design is really slick. Way better than the subpar adjustable steering wheel design. ....
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| JD855inWI
Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 38 Mid East Wisconsin
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2004-08-31 95086
Yep, I get the idea, I've been there, done that. I pick my short tandom up pretty high sometimes to dump it. did you ever forget about the chain, what gives first? ....
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| Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2004-08-31 95096
I agree, the steering wheel adjustment feature is REALLY cheesey, cheap, and fragile. They could have done much better than that. I am thinking about writing to Deere about this as I see it as an extreme safety hazard if the steering wheel adjuster were to fail at the wrong moment. (like on a steep slope) ....
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| Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2004-08-31 95100
JD855inWI, sorry about that! I should have mentioned that as well. Very good point to bear in mind. DO NOT forget about the safety chain if you plan to raise the 3 pt. hitch. Depending upon the strength of the chain; it could posibly bend the draw bar or worse. That is why I switched to the plastic coated cable which I doubled and secured together with threaded cable clamps. I am an expert on CRS and I just knew that one day I would forget about the chain and tear something up. Kinda like I did with the ROPS. ;O) My thinking with this cable set up is that it is strong enough to hold the hitch down under the load of the trailer pulling it up but weak enough to slip if I have a CRS brain fart and forget and raise the hitch under hydraulic pressue. I realize this is not the best of configurations but it is the best I could come up with. I am ALWAYS open to a new idea if anyone has a better solution. Some folks just think outside the box better than others. ;O) ....
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