OK to max out loader? (ie use it to its MAX capability)

[beppington]

I have seen a video from this forum I believe, a man on a good sized tractor trying to knock a 4' stump over and he would actually start back about 10 feet or so and take a run at it. He did that quite a few times and it finally went over. I just wanted to climb into the u-tube and slap him one.:thumbdown::thumbdown:

Yeeouch, man, that just sounds like broken tractor.

 

[Combustix]

Have had some heavy trunks that have had the back pretty light but no detrimental effects

 

[IndyIan]

I won't admit to running at 110% of capacity, but lifting some heavy items I found that if you curl it up, then lift while curling down you can actually get stuff up that otherwise you wouldn't be able to budge.

That is kind of a neat trick but I think that would be the definition of running your loader to 110% capacity:laughing: It depends on your tractor and the the loader and the hydraulic system. If your pump is getting weak then sure, doing something like this probably isn't going to hurt anything, but on a new tractor, I don't think I'll be trying this unless I have some sort of lifting emergency! Which I don't know what that would be? Maybe putting a perfect log onto a sawmill? Even then parbuckling it up is pretty easy to do even just with the ATV winch, and won't break my tractor...

 

[beppington]

Note to self: Avoid used equipment within the vicinity of Lakeview, MI




:laughing:

 

[RaydaKub]

No Im not kidding and I'll tell you why. Last summer I was knocking over some dead trees and I did the "nudging it slow" with my bucket. This only caused the tree to sway. Which made it snap off halfway up. Fortunatly it few away from me and my tractor. Ive found that one good ram usually forces the tree right over or at least leans it. Which if it breaks after that, who cares because it leaning or falling away from me. Momentum is key. Just like pulling with chains. I slack the chain as much as I can, I put her in 3 high and let her fly. If I just tugged slowly at it, thats wear on my drivetrain and clutch. With speed, I let the momentum of my heavy tractor do the work, not the tractor. Simple physics.

Think about your physics, dude. If the sway of that tree was enough to cause it to snap, don't you think the sudden impact is going to cause an even larger snap to occur and in the opposite direction of the impact? Which means directly backwards and then down in your face. Classic definition of whiplash.

If you don't think the sudden jerk on your tractor isn't harming your clutch and drivetrain, you're smokin' some real good stuff.

Tell you what, get yourself a small car and get it stuck really good in some mud. Hook your chain to the front bumper and pull it out with your method. Wanna place any bets on what that bumper looks like when you're done? The same thing is happening to your tractor, just in small increments.

Momentum is a wonderful thing and it certainly can allow the tractor to do more than it may with just the shear pulling force it can generate. Nobody is arguing that point. But the price you are paying is your safety margin.

Good luck to ya; you're gonna need it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but your odds are getting better and better.

The fact that you are still alive is nothing short of amazing.

 

[RaydaKub]

Note to self: Avoid used equipment within the vicinity of Lakeview, MI

You took the words right out of my mouth...

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I think I'd want something with a good roll cage, not a ROPS.
There's a good reason why skidders have a wraparound cage.

 

[scrappy isb67]

No Im not kidding and I'll tell you why. Last summer I was knocking over some dead trees and I did the "nudging it slow" with my bucket. This only caused the tree to sway. Which made it snap off halfway up. Fortunatly it few away from me and my tractor. Ive found that one good ram usually forces the tree right over or at least leans it. Which if it breaks after that, who cares because it leaning or falling away from me. Momentum is key. Just like pulling with chains. I slack the chain as much as I can, I put her in 3 high and let her fly. If I just tugged slowly at it, thats wear on my drivetrain and clutch. With speed, I let the momentum of my heavy tractor do the work, not the tractor. Simple physics.

:shocked::thumbdown:

Note to self: Avoid used equipment within the vicinity of Lakeview, M



:laughing:

agreed!

Think about your physics, dude. If the sway of that tree was enough to cause it to snap, don't you think the sudden impact is going to cause an even larger snap to occur and in the opposite direction of the impact? Which means directly backwards and then down in your face. Classic definition of whiplash.

If you don't think the sudden jerk on your tractor isn't harming your clutch and drivetrain, you're smokin' some real good stuff.

Tell you what, get yourself a small car and get it stuck really good in some mud. Hook your chain to the front bumper and pull it out with your method. Wanna place any bets on what that bumper looks like when you're done? The same thing is happening to your tractor, just in small increments.

Momentum is a wonderful thing and it certainly can allow the tractor to do more than it may with just the shear pulling force it can generate. Nobody is arguing that point. But the price you are paying is your safety margin.

Good luck to ya; you're gonna need it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but your odds are getting better and better.

The fact that you are still alive is nothing short of amazing.

I have seen firsthand what a chain can do when it breaks when jerked on! it is not a pretty sight!

 

[Furu]

I would no more ram a tree with the tractor than I would with my shiny new truck. yuck..

James K0UA

No joke.

I will use my equipment to it's limits and I use it hard, but...... If you treat it like sh** you get the results you deserve. If you take care of your equipment it will take care if you.

 

[Furu]

No Im not kidding and I'll tell you why. Last summer I was knocking over some dead trees and I did the "nudging it slow" with my bucket. This only caused the tree to sway. Which made it snap off halfway up. Fortunatly it few away from me and my tractor. Ive found that one good ram usually forces the tree right over or at least leans it. Which if it breaks after that, who cares because it leaning or falling away from me. Momentum is key. Just like pulling with chains. I slack the chain as much as I can, I put her in 3 high and let her fly. If I just tugged slowly at it, thats wear on my drivetrain and clutch. With speed, I let the momentum of my heavy tractor do the work, not the tractor. Simple physics.

You obviously don't understand basic physics let alone Newtonian physics.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

When the BX was delivered I asked about overloading the loader, and they said that you can't hurt it since it has a relief valve. You can lift as much as you can...:thumbsup:

 

[beppington]

OK, good info everybody :thumbsup: I'm gonna lift whatever heavy stuff I need to & not worry about it.

 

[teg]

No Im not kidding and I'll tell you why...

Wow, speechless... Make sure your next-of-kin knows how to post in the Safety forum. Since you've gotten away with this for awhile, you should quit while you still can. :2cents:

 

[Ford tractor]

I think I'd want something with a good roll cage, not a ROPS.
.

Actually you don't want a roll cage anymore than you want a ROPS. You want to have a FOPS. Falling Object Protective Structure. It's a real thing and is used in the logging and construction industry. The lack of them on utility tractors with FEL's is one reason farming is so dangerous.

 

[knightrider955]

You obviously don't understand basic physics let alone Newtonian physics.

Hey man I dont have a dog in this fight, Im just a telling things based on my experiances. Whether they be right or wrong thats a matter of opinion. I take good care of my equipment.

 

[GolfAddict]

Um, I think he was kidding.

Based off discussion on another topic in a different thread, I assumed he wasn't.

And since newbies come browse these threads, I wouldn't want anybody to think that was ok.

Oh my goodness, you were right!!

 

[rd_macgregor]

It seems to me that there are at least two slightly different types of widowmaker scenarios in play here. A sudden lateral acceleration of the lower trunk of a tree can cause the upper part to snap off at some weak point, and fall (pivoting back on the pushee). Even live trees may have hidden flaws that will weaken the trunk. Pushing slowly is a lot less likely to cause the top to snap off and fall in your lap.
Another case, though, is where the tree to be felled has to fall through the branches of adjacent trees. In this case, the top can snap off and fall back on top of you even if you are pushing very slowly. Of course, if the top is that fragile, ramming it would certainly have snapped it off.
BOB