I've moved about 25 tons of gravel with the loader. It works great.
Just did all my trails with the LX4 this afternoon and am not totally bushed out. I even hoed about 10 rows of the garden and spread some lime during the 3 hours after my walk and before quitting. Built a culverted bridge across my little stream along the left side of my property with some of the gravel. Had been going across a little wooden one with the Gravely. Left it and built the gravel one downstream a little bit.
The LX4 takes some getting used to when engaging it. Have to go up to about 1800 rpm to engage it to avoid killing the engine and yet not so high that I risk stripping the shear pin. It runs nice and smooth at 2900 rpm (for 540 rpm on LX4). Had the LX4 cross the whip blades once when nearly new. Had to get under there with a pry bar to get them apart. Think it was from shutting it down at max rpm. Hasn't happened again. I usually turn down the engine speed to near idle before disengaging the PTO. Adopted this from using the Gravely; otherwise, its bush hog blade would spin on forever.
Oh, I use a chain for the top link on the LX4. Otherwise, I might bend something going over uneven terrain with it back there.
One more thing. Make sure the pins on the LX4 are in their lower positions for 4010, 4110 and 2210 (and likely 4115). Otherwise, the top link will be too long, and you won't be able to raise the LX4 more than 1" past set point, pure geometry: can't have top link longer than bottom links. Of course, with the chain I wouldn't have that problem. Lower position just plain gives more lift. Those pin bolts are attached at 430 ft-lbs!
Ralph
