[VWJake]

So a few weeks back I bought a Sears F.E.L. on Ebay. This past Tuesday my wife sent me a text message saying that my "new toy" had arrived and sent me this blurry photo to prove it.

I'm dying to get home to play with it. If all goes well I should arrive at home at around 7:30 tomorrow night. I suspect by 7:45 I will have been out to the garage at least twice to marvel at my new "tool".

I have managed to aquire 4 sets of cast iron Sears weights, a Gannon Earthcavator, and some large steel bars for ballast. Not sure if I'll be mounting the loader on one of my 12hp Suburbans or the 16hp onan powered 'Burban (seems to be an interested buyer for that one). Regardless it won't take long for me to have it mounted on a tractor and ready for trials.

Just thought I'd share my excitement with people who "get it". I'll have better pics after I get home. BTW- to ship this from Sacramento,CA to Urbana, IL only cost me $475. Not bad considering its size I'd say.

-Jake

 

[cranky1]

i'd be antsy as well, post pics when you get it rigged up. Hope it's all there and works out for you

 

[Slow Crawler]

sweeeeeeet!!! can't wait to see it in action:thThumbsU:thThumbsU

 

[Sears SS 12]

Awesome, cant wait for pics of it on a tractor, and action shots. I would mount it on your '70 Sub 12.

 

[Umaxman]

Take a few pictures as you slowly unwrap that sexy thing
Shipping wasn't bad.

 

[VWJake]

I'll try to remember to snap pics as I unwrap it. No promises though, I'm wayyy too excited about this thing. I think I will install it on a late model tractor as I'd planned for Jack to pull implements. I don't want to obstruct that sweet 1970 grill with a loader. Maybe I'll change the nose on one of the later model tractors to mimic one of the early 70's rigs. I just won a hood on ebay the other day. I would have had the grille too, but I didn't try very hard. Perhaps next time.

 

[GT_80]

I wanted that so badly!

 

[Umaxman]

I wanted that so badly!

:ditto:

 

[VWJake]

I've been waiting for one for over 2yrs. I finally have the means to get one si I pulled the trigger. I'm sure you guys will stumble onto some as well.

 

[VWJake]

I wasn't home more than 10 minutes before I'd wandered out to the garage. I peeled back the saran wrap and here's what I found.

Adjustable Sears dual wheel spacers.

100.26230

Hydraulic pump/brackets/belt

Oh yes....

It's all there except one hydraulic control lever. The hoses are all scrap (in my book anyway). The outer covering has basically rotted off of all of the hoses. The cylinders appear to be in good shape. I hope to spend some time working on it next weekend.

 

[bbrennan]

How do the uprights attach to the subframe?

 

[TUDOR]

The hoses are not scrap unless the steel braiding under the abrasion protection is damaged, or they are otherwise leaking. A dozen hoses at $12 - $20 each is an unnecessary expense just to replace the anti-abrasion covering. Use automotive wire loom if it bothers you too much, there's not much for them to rub against. The hoses on my FEL are about the same age and surface cracked when I got them. They run with quite a bit more pressure when loaded and I've only replaced 4 of them for leakage since 1978. If you wanted it, you can purchase the same quality hose without the anti-abrasion covering and with the steel wire braiding showing.

Those are good little loaders. Mine is from a different company, but it's the same size and uses the same cylinders and self levelling link arrangement. Twelve horses is lots to run it, more won't make it work any better. Only weight can do that.

 

[Sergeant]

Not a Bad Looking Kwik-way Loader for it's age:thThumbsU

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

JEALOUS!!!! nice job Jake

 

[VWJake]

Tudor- While I agree that the damage to most of the hoses is esthetic, I will be replacing them. I plan to strip and restore the loader in short order. I'll need to reseal the valve body as it's weeping. I may replace it all together since I also want to add a hydraulic 3pt to the mix as well. There will be some new additions and modifications to the loader as I go. I intend to create a set of pallet forks to go with it. I'm also toying with the idea of having it blasted and powder coated... we'll see. All in all I'm pleased with what I've bought. I'll be sinking more money into it than it's worth, but that's fine. It's solid, complete, and not damaged so it's a great start. I'll be looking forward to years of proud service when I'm done.

Come on SPRING!

 

[jiveturkey692000]

Nice! I want one. Actually have a line on a cub with a loader that hasnt run in years. hopefully I will here something back about that soon. Been waiting over a year and have just started hearing some answers lol.

 

[A1CNC]

Hi Jake,
That loader looks to be good and solid.

If I was to do it again I would get it blasted and paint it with a real good paint like Imron. I had mine powdercoated and there is rust showing through the powdercoat in some places already. Mine lives outside under a tractor cover.

My valve body was leaking too, The o-rings that seal the spools were shot and the ends of the spools were rusty/pitted from a life outdoors. I was able to replace the o-rings and save (1) of the original spools, the other I had to re-make. If you decide to replace yours and are willing to get rid of it I might be interested for spare parts.

Kwik-way did make a set of forks for these, I would love to find one of those!

 

[VWJake]

A1CNC- Very useful info. Thank you. I'll keep you in mind when I get goign with the hydrualics.

 

[GT_80]

So So Jealous... I know my day is coming sometime... Did the taxes last night, but unfortunately that isn't "disposable" income

 

[VWJake]

I've had those years for decades. For anyone who desires to build their own, I'll take measurements and document this one as much as I can.

Soo so excited.