Loader expectations

Kodiak45 · May 7, 2015

I saw a thread where a member was disgruntled with the capacity of his JD 3038 loader capacity and performance which leads me to my own expectations and prior experience. I used to own a takeuchi TL130 rubber track loader and had hundreds of hours of seat time before I sold it and I find myself comparing the specs with the TL130 to the specs I've read on the loaders for the tractors I'm looking at. For example the TL130 has a bucket operating load of 1600 lbs, tipping load of 4630 lbs, and breakout force of 6738 lbs, so when I compare these specs to some tractor loaders like the kioti 6010 with a lift capacity of 2761 (at pins) and a breakout force of 3727 (at ground line). I'm assuming that the kioti will handle more of a operating load than the TL130 that I was accustomed to, although the 1600 lb operating load of the TL130 seems very weak compared to what it appeared to handle. Am I somewhat comparing apples to apples here, I just don't want to be disappointed in tractor loader expectations. I understand that they are different machines with different applications, but am I even on the right track? From the thread with the disappointment of the 3038 loader, I started to have anxiety about my hp and loader decisions.

vtsnowedin · May 7, 2015

I would be more concerned that the loader was matched to the weight and rear tread of the tractor so that it could be used safely. Unless you have some specific heavy loads you want to lift repeatedly like large round bails a smaller loader just takes smaller bites out of the pile.

TSO · May 7, 2015

I wouldn't expect a loader on a CUT to handle loads anything like a skid steer will. There's isn't really a "tipping load" with tractors. Yes, they will tip forward if not properly ballasted with enough rear weight... But the rating they post for CUT loaders is usually the max it will lift, at the pins, at max height. It's a dumb measurement, a more appropriate rating would be the lift strength at 59" (which is an older rating, and which some manufacturers still give).

For example, my Massey is rated at 2527 lbs at full height (113") at pins... But in reality, I can lift about 2400 lbs, evenly distributed on a pallet, on my pallet forks (which weigh 375)... To about 50"

There needs to be a way to fairly and consistently test all tractors to the same point. Mfg specs can be very biased, depending on the way they measure.

hitecredneck1 · May 7, 2015

True my LS xr4040h was rated 1000 higher then a Kubota l4310hst I had and the LS will not lift anwhere as much as the Kubota did. I'm selling the LS.

TSO · May 7, 2015

hitecredneck1 said:
True my LS xr4040h was rated 1000 higher then a Kubota l4310hst I had and the LS will not lift anwhere as much as the Kubota did. I'm selling the LS.

Before you do that, have the dealer check the loader relief valve setting. It seems like more and more tractor owners are finding that their loaders are set below factory spec. My Massey was the same. It was set about 150 psi below spec. Fixing that resulted in me gaining over 350 pounds on the pallet fork test.

Likewise, it could also be possible that the Kubota relief valve was set above factory spec.

arlen4720 · May 7, 2015

Yes, skid steers are a different animal. They will lift even more than their tipping point...if you can hold the rear down.
I agree with TSO, in that a tractor loader rating is all it can do.

gladehound · May 7, 2015

based on the specs the OP gave, I would expect the loader on the TL130 to be about twice as strong as the loader on the NX. You can see this in the break out force given for each. I have no idea what the "operating" load on a skid steer means. It is probably some standard rating that is ~40% of tipping load or something like that. The TL130 is in a differentt (higher) class of loader performance compared to any loader on any CUT.

That being said, the loader on the NX far better than the loader on a JD 3038. The boom has about 2.5 times better lift. I didn't find curl specifications for the JD 3038. However, I suspect the difference in curl force is even more in favor of the NX. The NX has a good loader, but it is not a TL130. In addition to the hydraulics not being as strong as the TL130, the structure of the loader arms is also not as robust so you shouldn't bash into things at speed the way some do with skid steers. It is fine to slowly push until the wheels spin, but I wouldn't get a running start at a stump (which I see my cousin do with his T300 all the time and thousands of hours later it hasn't hurt it at all).

GManBart · May 10, 2015

hitecredneck1 said:
True my LS xr4040h was rated 1000 higher then a Kubota l4310hst I had and the LS will not lift anwhere as much as the Kubota did. I'm selling the LS.

Something has to be wrong there. My R4047H had essentially the same loader as your R4040H, and I know for a fact it would lift way more than the 1500lbs the spec for the L4310 loader.

Steppenwolfe · May 10, 2015

hitecredneck1 said:
True my LS xr4040h was rated 1000 higher then a Kubota l4310hst I had and the LS will not lift anwhere as much as the Kubota did. I'm selling the LS.

This has been my exact point on several threads; spec's on paper are pretty much worth the paper they are printed on. I think Kubota is quite conservative on their spec's, and honestly so. I also think TSO has two great points in his posts, minding what manufactures put on paper, and check that relief valve. Could be you keep the LS.