Can someone explain to me how to get the FEL to “float”? Shouldn’t this allow the bucket to move with the topography without gouging into the ground? Thanks!
You should be able to push the control stick forward, past a detent (you’ll feel it) It will still “dig in” if the bucket lip is tilted below level. To have the bucket follow the ground, you’ll have to raise the lip enough to glide over the ground.
[QUOTE=hosspuller;8754534]
You should be able to push the control stick forward, past a detent (you’ll feel it) It will still “dig in” if the bucket lip is tilted below level. To have the bucket follow the ground, you’ll have to raise the lip enough to glide over the ground.[/QUOTE]
This. On mine, you need to push it forward sort of decisively, and you will feel it skip when it gets past that point.
[QUOTE=hosspuller;8754534]
You should be able to push the control stick forward, past a detent (you’ll feel it) It will still “dig in” if the bucket lip is tilted below level. To have the bucket follow the ground, you’ll have to raise the lip enough to glide over the ground.[/QUOTE]
Thank you! Forward as in push it up or down? So do I need to have the bucket level and on the ground and then push the stick forward?
[QUOTE=SugarCubes;8754564]
Thank you! Forward as in push it up or down? So do I need to have the bucket level and on the ground and then push the stick forward?[/QUOTE]
I’d start with the bucket raised a few feet, and tilted level or slightly up so the front lip won’t dig into the ground. If it is already on the ground it is harder to engage the float mechanism, at least on mine. Then push the stick forward, as in towards the bucket, and you should feel what we are talking about. Once you’ve passed that point, you can release the stick and the bucket will continue all the way to the ground on its own. Hope this makes sense!
When you lower the FEL bucket to the ground, push the lever just a little harder and you’ll feel the detent release for the “float”.
That said, I’ve often found things work better by learning to “feel” your way through the task without the float which sometimes introduces issues, such as the bucket skimming too much if you are a fraction of a degree off on the “tilt”…
Thanks, all 
I’ve had this tractor for 4 months now and had yet to figure that out!
Using the “float” position with a FEL is a bit of a misnomer. The bucket doesn’t actually “float”. All the float position does is release the hydraulic pressure. The bucket settles on the ground with no pressure in the lines to hold it there. So it will “swing” up and down with the contour of the ground. But the weight of the bucket and arms will give enough down forces to dig up things. It is handy to use when plowing snow so as not to damage the road surface too much and to keep the front wheels on the road for traction and safe steering.
The only other use for it is when taking the attachment off. Pretty near impossible to release the hydraulic couplings when the lines are under pressure.
The hydraulic system is not set up to counter balance the weight of the bucket so it will actually “float” just above the grade and “float” up when it changes. If this were the case the operator would be able to “pick up” the bucket with very little effort Maybe this is offered on a Kubota but it seems to me this would be an expensive option.
To prolong the life of the hydraulic seals and lines, the system in general one should try and remember to push the stick into float mode releasing line pressure when finished using the tractor.
Certain 3 point hitch attachments should always be used in float mode. Like swing blade mowers. This will keep them from scalping high areas. But not always. Depends on the mower design. It also cuts down on the wear and tear on the structural components of the attachment, metal fatigue from being forced up against the hitch held in place.
The float mode on my 3 point hitch can be adjusted for the desired down force.
