202 stability with Backhoe attached

[BIG1RED9]

For the first time since having purchased my 202, I mounted the backhoe in preparation for work I am doing on it. I was not at all comfortable driving it. You can really feel that weight and it feels like the center of gravity has shifted substantially. We have a variety of ground slopes and have my comfort zone figured out for the tractor with the loader without the Backhoe. No question I need to re-learn and gain comfort through experience.

The rear sidewalls have a slight bulge. When coming to a complete stop the whole tractor rocks. If going up a slight incline with an empty bucket the front wheels hardly touch and the ability to turn is impacted.

I am not sure if my rear tires are loaded. I plan to check and fill them (backhoe manual says 90%) with water as our temps do not remain at or below freezing very long. I am thinking about loading the fronts as well.

I have Ford Spin Out rear rims which are presently set as far in as possible. Going to take them out as far as possible, which will be close to the backhoe frame width.

1. Do you keep your bucket filled so when going up mild inclines the wheels make good contact?

2. Is there reason to be concerned about it flipping backwards or will it rock slow and bounce off the BH bucket if tucked and centered?

3. I would assume after "X" grade you must backup. What might X be?

4. With the BH bucket tucked and centered in the back, in terrain I drive the tractor, I am concerned about rollover. How many degrees is cautiously reasonable to traverse and or go on a diagonal?

Thank you,
Don

 

[ptfarmer]

My 1972 Ford 4500 TLB is the same way, as are a lot of other TLB's. Carry something in the front bucket that has some weight to it like 2 (or maybe 3 if they fit in the bucket) 55 gallon barrels of water it will stabilize the ride some.

 

[Jim.ME]

Having a hoe on will certainly make it feel different. You may need a little more air in the rear due to the extra weight of the hoe.

Many machines are light on the front with a hoe on the back, it varies with the machine. If it is light on front and you have material there is nothing wrong with scooping some up to travel with, that's a common practice. You say it is a 202. Is it the standard size MF loader and hoe on it or are they larger/different than the ones the 202 was normally equipped with from the factory? Those things affect balance.

I don't know of any magic number for degrees of slope you can traverse or point you need to back up a hill. I might feel comfortable to go where you wouldn't and I know of some operators I wouldn't want to follow around. Your comfort level, experience, and judgement are likely the deciding factors of that at this time. If you are traveling on a slope and drop a rear tire into a dip; I bet you will have something tighten up real quick. You have a good bit of weight low in the hoe frame so the center of gravity is not as high as you might think it is looking at it with the hoe folded up to travel.

 

[BIG1RED9]

(quoted from post at 13:45:25 11/05/19) My 1972 Ford 4500 TLB is the same way, as are a lot of other TLB's. Carry something in the front bucket that has some weight to it like 2 (or maybe 3 if they fit in the bucket) 55 gallon barrels of water it will stabilize the ride some.

Think I will give a scoop of dirt a try

 

[BIG1RED9]

(quoted from post at 14:02:09 11/05/19) Having a hoe on will certainly make it feel different. You may need a little more air in the rear due to the extra weight of the hoe.

Many machines are light on the front with a hoe on the back, it varies with the machine. If it is light on front and you have material there is nothing wrong with scooping some up to travel with, that's a common practice. You say it is a 202. Is it the standard size MF loader and hoe on it or are they larger/different than the ones the 202 was normally equipped with from the factory? Those things affect balance.

I don't know of any magic number for degrees of slope you can traverse or point you need to back up a hill. I might feel comfortable to go where you wouldn't and I know of some operators I wouldn't want to follow around. Your comfort level, experience, and judgement are likely the deciding factors of that at this time. If you are traveling on a slope and drop a rear tire into a dip; I bet you will have something tighten up real quick. You have a good bit of weight low in the hoe frame so the center of gravity is not as high as you might think it is looking at it with the hoe folded up to travel.

Mine has the factory Davis 102 loader and 185 backhoe. I did rebuild the bucket with a 3/8" bottom and 1/2" cutting edge which added a couple of hundred pounds. Good thing or I would be doing wheelies.

I will take it slow until I have some experience.

 

[brooktre]

MF 202 tractor / 102 loader / 185 backhoe
I always start out in low and 1st gear with the backhoe attached. Occasionally I'll go to a higher gear, but only if the ground is level. My rear tires are 14.9x24 and are loaded. They are set to 64" apart on center. I could go as wide as 72" but it feels secure at 64". I've never carried any weight in the loader for stability, going slow seems to work.

 

[BIG1RED9]

(quoted from post at 10:26:40 11/06/19) MF 202 tractor / 102 loader / 185 backhoe
I always start out in low and 1st gear with the backhoe attached. Occasionally I'll go to a higher gear, but only if the ground is level. My rear tires are 14.9x24 and are loaded. They are set to 64" apart on center. I could go as wide as 72" but it feels secure at 64". I've never carried any weight in the loader for stability, going slow seems to work.

I hope to get a feel for it soon.

 

[Inno]

Definitely a bit of a learning curve but you will appreciate the extra traction offered by all that weight. I'm on relatively flat ground here so it's not a big issue but I can see where larger slopes would be a concern. Something in the bucket will go a long way toward keeping in control. On the flip side, when I was rebuilding my backhoe controls, I tried to do some work with the loader without the backhoe installed and found it almost impossible. I guess it's all in what you're used to.

 

[Clarence Slydell]

I bought one of these old lizards about 6 weeks ago or so. It's a Massey-Harris-Ferguson, hadn't run in around 10 years. Cleaned the tank and sediment bowl/fuel shutoff valve, it was plugged solid.

Took the carb off and cleaned it, wasn't very bad at all. New plugs, points, condenser, new gas, fresh oil, boom, away she went.

Carefully began to move it around and tried the brakes. They took hold real good, surprised me how good they worked. But, yes it is light on the front and I was expecting it to be so I was ready.

Anyway, using care, common sense and low speed on rough terrain and inclines would be quite wise.

I'll get a picture or two tomorrow and show the old girl off, she ain't very pretty though.

 

[brooktre]

For better traction when using the loader without the backhoe I have a heavy weight that rests on the backhoe sills. I read where others use half a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete. One disadvantage is that you can't use the 3-point hitch with this on.

 

[BIG1RED9]

I am looking forward to the experience using the 202 with the backhoe on. One of the things that excited me about the 202 was that it had a 3 point, PTO and a Backhoe.

 

[BIG1RED9]

(quoted from post at 15:06:01 11/07/19) For better traction when using the loader without the backhoe I have a heavy weight that rests on the backhoe sills. I read where others use half a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete. One disadvantage is that you can't use the 3-point hitch with this on.

I have always had a heavy metal box scraper on 3 pt. Didn't think of it till now...its why I had "some" traction.

 

[BIG1RED9]

(quoted from post at 14:50:12 11/07/19)
I bought one of these old lizards about 6 weeks ago or so. It's a Massey-Harris-Ferguson, hadn't run in around 10 years. Cleaned the tank and sediment bowl/fuel shutoff valve, it was plugged solid.

Took the carb off and cleaned it, wasn't very bad at all. New plugs, points, condenser, new gas, fresh oil, boom, away she went.

Carefully began to move it around and tried the brakes. They took hold real good, surprised me how good they worked. But, yes it is light on the front and I was expecting it to be so I was ready.

Anyway, using care, common sense and low speed on rough terrain and inclines would be quite wise.

I'll get a picture or two tomorrow and show the old girl off, she ain't very pretty though.

I have a lot of respect for these machines. Many have had a beating for 60+ years and still show up to work. I am in no rush to get hurt and so it will be the long slow approach starting with projects on level ground.