Loader How much can I lift?

[suntreemcanic]

I hope I am in the right forum. I take care of a Landtrac Model 360DTC tractor for a man who removes snow from driveways during the winter. He mounts a front end loader on it during the summer and moves around gravel with it. He said I could use it to move some logs. He does not have any manuals with it and the dealer who sold it is out of business. Does anyone know how much this tractor will lift with the front end loader? This will determine how long I can cut the logs. Thank you in advance.

 

[texasjohn]

you'll want to get weight on the 3ph.... Likely you'll need it...you need sufficient rear weight such that when you chain the FEL to an immovable object and try to lift it the FEL hydraulic relief will pop before the rear wheels leave the ground.

If you set the tractor up this way, you are at a reasonable weight safety point and can cut length of wood to match FEL lift capacity and still transport a full FEL load safely. Carry a full FEL about 6 inches off the ground. This way, if you hit a bump it will still stay under control, not start rocking violently back and forth.

 

[xtn]

That's good advice, but he wants to find out the lift capacity.

 

[texasjohn]

I thought he was seeking to determine the max log length he could in reality safely carry given wood density / cubic foot and the log's trapezoidal cylinder dimensional characteristics.:thumbsup:

 

[SixHoeBob]

Trapezoidal cylinder dimensional characteristics.:confused2:

Refering to the fact that the log is smaller diameter at one end than the other?

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I hope I am in the right forum. I take care of a Landtrac Model 360DTC tractor for a man who removes snow from driveways during the winter. He mounts a front end loader on it during the summer and moves around gravel with it. He said I could use it to move some logs. He does not have any manuals with it and the dealer who sold it is out of business. Does anyone know how much this tractor will lift with the front end loader? This will determine how long I can cut the logs. Thank you in advance.

I have a Farmtrac model 360 DTC with a model 5145 loader, I'm guessing the loader you are inquiring about is the same one,my spec sheet says lift capacity at pivot points is 2100 lbs, breakout force 2600 lbs, hope this helps. Charlie.

 

[mljenkins]

I have a 390HST with 5140M. The specs on it are:

1600lb lift capacity at full height
3300lb breakout force

390 HST tractor is rated for 2976lb lift capacity for hydraulic system.

I have had a box blade on the back and almost tipped the tractor with so much weight in the bucket (wet dirt/mud). The only thing I have broken thus far are the two bolts that attach the loader frame to the tractor frame in the front (two on each side). I snapped two clean off while lifting some mud trying to clean out our pasture. The bolts holding the loader frame to the tractor frame come loose often, so check them regularly. I think the bolts may have been a tad loose which probably contributed to them snapping.

Matt

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have a 390HST with 5140M. The specs on it are:

1600lb lift capacity at full height
3300lb breakout force

390 HST tractor is rated for 2976lb lift capacity for hydraulic system.

I have had a box blade on the back and almost tipped the tractor with so much weight in the bucket (wet dirt/mud). The only thing I have broken thus far are the two bolts that attach the loader frame to the tractor frame in the front (two on each side). I snapped two clean off while lifting some mud trying to clean out our pasture. The bolts holding the loader frame to the tractor frame come loose often, so check them regularly. I think the bolts may have been a tad loose which probably contributed to them snapping.

Matt

Keep in mind that figure of 2976 lb lift capacity is for your 3pt hitch which is the same as the 360 DTC.:thumbsup:

 

[suntreemcanic]

I do not intend to lift the logs more than 12 inches off the ground. What does the term "breakout" mean in comparison to lift weight. I want to saw my logs maximum length for weight that I can lift. The largest is 32 inches at the but.

 

[trac]

Shearing the bolts that hold the sub frames to the tractor was an issue with Farmtrac Loaders. That issue was never correctly addressed by them. Some of my customers have installed channels from the sub frame to the final drives on the rear axles. The Great Bend loaders that I use to sell, already had that frame member on the loader. They don't shear the bolts off at the sub frame. Pushing on the bolts was a bad design from the start. The loader sub frame pressure points should be mounted on the front, mid , and rear of the tractor. Also remember, the loader is not designed to do heavy digging. Use a rear tine box blade to lossen soil first, then scoop it up with the bucket. Farm equipment dealers won't tell you this for fear of loosing a sale. As far as lifting, the hydraulics of the tractor do have the ability to lift the rear tires off the ground with a heavy object in or attached to the bucket. The weight cap. that are used at the piviot points are correct that were refered to above. All tractor lifting cap will changed with age of the unit. Remember, saftey and common sence will have to be used when determining lifting cap. of your tractors loader.

 

[Qapla]

The only way to determine the amount of logs your loader will lift is to load your bucket.

Cut the logs so they are the longest you want that will fit in your bucket.

Load them one at a time and try lifting the bucket after each one is loaded.

When it will no longer lift the load, take one log out. That is how much you can lift. The relief valve in the loader control will kick in when the load limit had been reached so you will not hurt anything while determining the load limit.

Having ballast weight on the back is critical. If the loader can lift it, you can move the tractor without hurting the tractor, but be sure to use care so you do not get the tractor off balance and risk a tip-over. (Don't take a near max load down a steep hill front-ways or sideways)

We have a FT 360DTC and it lifts quite a bit, but I have found a few things I could not lift. Ours has a backhoe, so ballast has not been a problem.

 

[suntreemcanic]

Qapla
Thank you for your advice. My logs are large. We want to saw them into at least 18 foot lengths for beams. I want to move them to a drying deck to sit for a year. This will only require a 300 foot move on level land. I calculate that an 18 foot log will weigh 2145 pounds so I should be able to move it. Ballast will always be an option.

 

[Qapla]

If they are going to be 18' long, I would consider dragging them the distance to the deck and then lifting them in place with the loader.

Since they will be much wider than the tractor and quite heavy, be sure to chain them to the bucket securely before lifting them. We don't want you to post in the "Safety" forum that you rolled one onto yourself while lifting it.

You should have plenty enough tractor for the job you are describing, just be careful.

 

[texasjohn]

suntreemcanic, Qapla hit it on the nose. Cut one to length and see if you can lift it.

I recommend dropping the FEL bucket and rigging a way to chain the log directly to your FEL. This will give you maximum actual payload. You will be VERY near the max you can lift, even a short distance off the ground. Getting the balance right on such a long log will be tricky.... and you will experience AMAZING torque when you turn such a long log..... gotta go REAL slow, it's going to want to turn your tractor over going around a corner.

Please listen to me.... rear ballast is NOT an option, it is MANDATORY...and a LOT.... only your experience will dictate how much, but I predict that you will need about 800 lbs on the rear to give you a stable ride with your 2200 lb load lifted. If you lift the log and experience a significant rocking motion back and forth while carrying the load, this means you need MORE rear weight.

I don't have personal experience with logging, but am wondering if it wouldn't be better to lift with your 3 pt hitch and a boom pole...which typically can lift much more than the FEL... for the major move... then possibly use FEL to pick up an end at a time and move it into position for storage.

Alternatively, have you considered skidding it out, again using the 3 point hitch/boom pole?

 

[xtn]

I understand most tractors have better capacity at the 3pt than at the loader, but isn't that at the pins? Wouldn't adding a boom pole, thus increasing the lever arm out from the pivotal points three fold or more result in a capacity that is a third or less?

 

[texasjohn]

I'm suggesting that you chain the log close to the 3PH lower arms, lifting it a short distance off the ground. Yes, the further you get from the pins, the greater leverage you are having to overcome. Same is true with FEL.