DIY Mechanical Self leveling loader

[Roger66]

I'd like to modify my loader to add a mechanical self leveling feature. It does not look difficult to fabricate, just a top link and a triangular pivot. Doing some reading it seems there are many people that don't like self leveling loaders while using the bucket or are good enough to do this with the stick themselves manually. I primarily use forks on my tractor and I'm not a daily user so I'll never get enough hours to be good enough to do this manually. I've seen the hydraulic options, but I want to try mechanical. Anyone done this before or have any advice? I will be doing this on a spare loader frame so I can always revert to stock, should this prove to be a bad idea.

Thanks

 

[4570Man]

It could be done but I think you’re under estimating the amount of work. You’d have to drill holes in the middle of the loader to mount the triangle piece and you’d have to add another pivot at the back of the loader and everything would have to be precise and have pin bosses welded on. What’s your tool setup and fab ability like?

 

[Roger66]

It could be done but I think you’re under estimating the amount of work. You’d have to drill holes in the middle of the loader to mount the triangle piece and you’d have to add another pivot at the back of the loader and everything would have to be precise and have pin retainers welded on.

It's safe to say I'm a much better fabricator than I am a tractor operator I can model the parts in CAD and cut them on my CNC mill, welding is also no challenge. Just need some design ideas to start.

 

[4570Man]

If you have a CNC mill, welder and a mag drill would probably help it wouldn’t be that hard.

 

[MossRoad]

Isn't it just two parallelograms?

 

[ptsg]

Definitely model everything in CAD to see how it works out. When I built my loader from scratch, I took the time to model everything in CAD and see how it moves. Took a lot of adjustments in CAD but in the end it paid off and everything just fitted as it should.

I have a feeling the curl cylinders will be a tad longer for a self leveling loading though. You'll also need a crossover relief valve on the curl circuit, so the cylinders gives under a certain condition and won't bend stuff.

Another alternative is doing a hydraulic self leveling, instead of a mechanical one.

A loader manufacturer here in my country, uses two cylinders mounted above the lift cylinders. These are tied into the curl circuit. Here is a picture of it:



It seems to work very well as they sell more hydraulic self leveling loaders than mechanical and non self leveling loaders. The trick is figure out the volume needed on these two extra cylinders, so it keeps the forks leveled.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I think you could also get a self-leveling hydraulic feature if a person mounted a short hydraulic cylinder between the oscillating front axle, and the tractor frame. That would force the pivot point on the front axle instead of pivoting the loader. A person would have to have a float position on the hydraulic valve though so that it could be free to float when not needed for self-leveling.

 

[Roger66]

Definitely model everything in CAD to see how it works out. When I built my loader from scratch, I took the time to model everything in CAD and see how it moves. Took a lot of adjustments in CAD but in the end it paid off and everything just fitted as it should.

I have a feeling the curl cylinders will be a tad longer for a self leveling loading though. You'll also need a crossover relief valve on the curl circuit, so the cylinders gives under a certain condition and won't bend stuff.

Another alternative is doing a hydraulic self leveling, instead of a mechanical one.

A loader manufacturer here in my country, uses two cylinders mounted above the lift cylinders. These are tied into the curl circuit. Here is a picture of it:

View attachment 667387View attachment 667386

It seems to work very well as they sell more hydraulic self leveling loaders than mechanical and non self leveling loaders. The trick is figure out the volume needed on these two extra cylinders, so it keeps the forks leveled.

This is a very interesting style. I've seen it on tele-handlers, it's a great way to go, but I have no idea how to determine the volume and no way to tune it later. Need to get this perfect on the first shot! With the conventional overarm style, I figure I can change the triangles if I need to tune it.

 

[ptsg]

This is a very interesting style. I've seen it on tele-handlers, it's a great way to go, but I have no idea how to determine the volume and no way to tune it later. Need to get this perfect on the first shot! With the conventional overarm style, I figure I can change the triangles if I need to tune it.

Totally agree with you. From a fabrication standpoint, the hydraulic route it's easier to make and adapt but harder to figure out, while the mechanical linkage it's the opposite. From what I've seen, the hydraulic one is less prone to have the bucket kinda floppy when in full dump position versus the mechanical one.

 

[Roger66]

Totally agree with you. From a fabrication standpoint, the hydraulic route it's easier to make and adapt but harder to figure out, while the mechanical linkage it's the opposite. From what I've seen, the hydraulic one is less prone to have the bucket kinda floppy when in full dump position versus the mechanical one.

Hate when my implement gets floppy! ;-)

I see Orange and Green seem to have some self leveling options. Although when I was shopping these options did not seem common out in the real world. Had I known about this option, It might have changed my purchase decision.

Tested | B1671 Self-leveling loader kit | Performance Impact? - YouTube
Loaders | Front End Loaders | John Deere US