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Engaging the quot Float quot Position

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dwilson
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22 Galesburg, IL & Ferryville, WI
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2000-07-24          18229


I am using a JD 420 loader with a JD 4400 and having trouble engaging the "float" position for getting the bucket to follow the contours of the ground. When I push the control lever all the way forward, as instructed, it forces the bucket lower and raises the front wheels off the ground. I would appreciate some advice on what the problem might be.



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Engaging the quot Float quot Position

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Halsey Green
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2000-07-24          18230


To find float, you sort of bump the control forward, you will feel a detent after the lower position, don't pull the control back, let the spring bring it back. ....


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Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 962
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2000-07-24          18232


Doug, when you push the lever forward until it stops (the detent), you should then be able to push harder and go past the detent and into the float position. ....


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Jerri Neese
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2000-07-24          18235


Doug, I like you must not have figured this trick out. I can find float with no difficulty when sitting still but as soon as I start moving, I go past float and raise the blade. Sound familiar? So for all you pros out there, any trick?
Thanks, Jerri ....


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Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999
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2000-07-24          18236


Jerri, now you've stumped me. How can you go "past" float? You pull back or down on the joystick to raise the bucket, you push forward or up to lower the bucket, and push all the way forward or up to go into float position. ....


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Jerri Neese
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2000-07-24          18238


I will check that tonight and see if my recollection is faulty, been a week or two since I've used it ha ha. Anyway, it set up like you describe should be easy to do. So I wonder. Will let you know later. Thanks, Jerri ....


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Richard Harburn
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2000-07-24          18240


I have two tractors with hydraulic lift on the front (Kubota B8200 and Steiner 430 Max) and both use the same float procedure. Push the lever forward until you feel a little down pressure, the down pressure will increase and then you will be at a detent point. A quick push past the detent puts it into float. After getting a feel for this, you can go right into float (while moving or stationary) without raising the front end from down pressure. With a front mounted bucket, you have to be careful that the leading edge of the bucket is not tipped down so it doesn't dig into the ground but rides along the surface. ....


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Mike S.
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2000-07-24          18243


Doug--on my 4400 with the 430 loader, I simply push the joystick all the way forward, but found that it usually works better for me if I set the float position when the tractor is stopped. IF I am moving and wish to set the float position, I usually snap the joystick forward and let go--I can feel the joystick go past the detent and go into the float position. Mike S. ....


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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2000-07-25          18247


If all else fails, check the hoses. The spooling valve with the larger rear portion is the valve with a float position. The bucket lift cylinder hoses should be connected to that valve. It took me quite awhile to find the float when I bought my used tractor. The float valve was connected to the bucket curl cylinder. A floating bucket, rather than lift, sounds strange, but somebody said that tractors used in haying are sometimes set up with floating buckets. ....


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Jerri Neese
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2000-07-25          18251


To Bird and everyone else, thanks. Yes I checked my "Float" and it is as you said. I have tried to use it when grading by dragging the bucket, tractor in reverse, and guess I was doing too many things at once, because I lifted the tractor almost everytime. Anyway, practice practice practice.
Thanks, Jerri ....


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dwilson
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22 Galesburg, IL & Ferryville, WI
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2000-07-25          18253


Many thanks to all responders. With your help, I have found the "float" position! What was confusing me was the tendency of the front wheels to come off the ground just before I got it into "float", prompting me to back off too soon. Thanks again. This board is a great help. ....


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Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999
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2000-07-25          18257


Jerri & Doug, glad it worked out all right. I, too, use the float most frequently when dragging the bucket backwards to smooth dirt I've spread and I just quickly shove the joystick all the way forward into the float position while the bucket is still in the air so it doesn't pick up the front of the tractor. ....


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Eddie Watkins
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2000-07-25          18275


Doug, thanks for asking the question. I am so new to all this tractor stuff I wasn't even aware there was such a feature. I went out and tried it and dadgum if it didn't work. ....


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Darryl Gesner
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2000-07-26          18282


Now that we're all set on floating in reverse, any input on floating while going forward. My JD manual says it's the recommended way to level, but when I try it the front wheels really get off the ground. No matter how I angle the bucket, the bucket wants to dig down and the tractor wants to climb over it.

I also wanted to add one thing about leveling in reverse. I usually start out with the bucket at a fairly steep angle and gradually reduce the angle with subsequent drags until the bucket is nearly level. This helps to compact the soil a bit so it won't wash away and gives a fairly smooth and uniform surface. ....


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Jerri Neese
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2000-07-26          18284


I have seen skid steers float the bucket going forward and seemed like a good way to clean up for the final finish. I have also had difficulty doing this. I think I must bounce too much and wind up moving the lever and lifting the tractor. I guess I just need to practice. Jerri ....


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Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999
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2000-07-26          18286


Darryl, I think that's a common problem unless you're already on a hard, smooth surface, probably the reason most of us use it so much in reverse. And Jerri, I see both skid steer and tractors being used with the front end loader in the float position to clean up piles of dirt or gravel that have been dumped on pavement. You just have to learn now to tilt the edge down where it tries to dig in. ....


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