LOADERS: do we expect too much from them?

chim · Sep 20, 2004

My B7500HST/302FEL is a great combination. A heftier FEL would only cause problems. Without any implements / weight on the 3PH the rear can easily come off the ground when trying to pick something heavy. I do have filled R4's back there too................chim

To20Chris · Sep 20, 2004

I find the Rhino 2408 with 60" bucket is well matched to my LK3054. I have spent a lot of time moving damp topsoil out of a tall pile, and I can stall it out if I have a full scoop and I'm still pushing into the pile on the way up, but so what - I shouldn't be doing that. I did tweak the loader bypass a bit, as I believe it was set very conservatively (just a wild a$$ guess). I have filled R4's, a heavy tractor, and I always have my BB on the back when doing loader work. If the loader could lift more, I would not want to be driving it. The tractor would be unstable, and with a really full load on even partly soft ground, the front wheels will sink in far enough that steering becomes difficult. You'd definitely want a bigger chassis if you were lifting more.

longway5 · Sep 20, 2004

We have three loaders at work which I can compare: a BX2200, an L2850, and a Case 580M.
The 580 is, if anything, overpowered. I can dig into just about anything and always fill the bucket. That said, you can feel a difference when you dig into a pile of blasted rock vs. wood chips, but that's understandable. It also helps that I can get enough traction to push the bucket into the pile, something not every CUT can do.
The L2850 with the B500? loader is a good match. The tractor has been worked hard in its life, and is due for a replacement here soon, but its been dependible and strong. I can dig into many piles and get a good load, from loose material to clay/loam thats been sitting for over a year. I have always been able to handle a full bucket. There have been times when its been loaded to capacity, usually involving pallet forks or chained rocks, but its been fine with a full bucket of material.
The BX2200 is a nice tractor. The loader, by comparison to our larger equipment, is underpowered. It could use more breakout force, and it could use more lifting capacity, relative to the size of its bucket. If I get a good bucket of dry sand, I may only be able to lift it 3/4 of the total height, which is usually not high enough to load the topdresser. This is never a problem with the L2850. The tractor may also be too light, as its not easy to dig into piles. We always use 4 wheel drive with it, plus something on the rear (landscape rake, box blade, or concrete weight). Its not fun to use with settled loam piles, as you can hardly get anything into the bucket. I would also say we may expect too much from it. We got it because of its small size, so as to fit in some tight areas for removing snow in the winter. Without that requirement, we may have been better off with a larger tractor.

NIXON · Sep 20, 2004

Bob , I've got a 3130 with the 513 loader /Hd Bucket . I suppose I could have gone the 723 loader route . But , It does what I expected of it . No More , No less . I don't try to use the machine like it's a D8 cat . So far I'm very satisfied with it . And it sure beats the heck out of doing things maually /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif John

CTyler · Sep 20, 2004

I'm happy with my loader. Its a Woods 1016 w/72" bucket on my L3130. I recently bought some 48" Bobcat pallet forks and lifted ~2000lbs of block for my retaining wall. 27 blocks at 75-85lbs each depending on what site you read. Made the back end kinda lite even with hoe on it. Had to get it out of my pickup some how. Cause there was no way I was unloaden them suckers by hand again! Not to mention the 175-180lb step blocks. Had a couple pallets of them to, the pallets forks arrived the day after the first load. Didn't care what the CIO said!
Thier handier than a butter knife.

Anyway...I digress.... the FEL has always had plenty of power for whatever I'm doing with the bucket. I was pleasently suprised it would lift as much as it did with the forks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 20, 2004

I have a Deere 4200 with a 420 loader and regular duty 61' bucket with a toothbar. I KNOW that I expect too much from it. The thing that amazes me is how many times it comes through for me and does what I ask of it even when I ask far too much. Last week I used it almost like a battering ram to knock down a couple of dead trees, the larger of which was probably 12" or a little more. I had to hit it more than a few times but it came down.

One note on doing this (besides the obligatory "Do not try this at home") is to be aware that if you make your contact point on the tree high enough to get some leverage to uproot it then after a while your bucket teeth tend to chew into the tree at that point. The result can be that you will hit the tree again at that point and, while you might not uproot it with that blow, you stand a very good chance of breaking it off there. A little basic physics will come into play and the now free falling majority of said tree will tend to fall in the exact direction from which the last blow was received. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I mention that because you'll likely be sitting dead center in that exact direction. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif This is, of course, merely a discussion of physics and should be taken as nothing more. Any similarities between this story and anything I might ever have done are unintended and purely coincidental. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

beenthere · Sep 20, 2004

Your warning is good, but also add that battering will (could, may, does) dislodge dead limbs higher up in the tree and they can get some good speed as they fall straight for the 'pusher'. At best, you just ding up the shiny hood, and I don't want to think about the 'at worst'. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

MossRoad · Sep 20, 2004

Bob,
I really am satisfied with the loader on my little PT425. What makes it so usefull is the quick attach and several sizes of buckets. Small, heavy bucket for tough heavy work. Pop it off and pop on the larger bucket in 15 seconds for loose material and mulch. Best of both worlds.

KennyV · Sep 20, 2004

“Imention that because you'll likely be sitting dead center in that exact direction.”

Hi Gary
I learned just how that works a few years back with my 933 Cat. Fortunately for me the enclosed ROPS deflected the much larger tree.

It is easier and safer to go to the side you want it to fall and dig a relief hole at the base of the tree, THEN go back around a push it over… This works equally well for wheel driven loaders.
As to this threads original question....Sure we do. KennyV.

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 20, 2004

"you just ding up the shiny hood" 

You've obviously not seen my dirty, scratched, scraped and gouged version of a hood. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I'm already in need of a new grille and one new side. I figure if ruin the hood and the other side I can get a whole new doghouse. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As to the branches, I just thought it was a freak hailstorm with oblong, bark colored hail. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

markie61 · Sep 20, 2004

( you just ding up the shiny hood )

Plastic hoods (like mine) don't ding....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark

frank_f15 · Sep 20, 2004

i most certainly ask to much of my loader. i sometimes feel like it don't have enough power, but you know what ? it probably has just enough power for that size tractor, anything more would be dangerous to the operator and the machine.

PineRidge · Sep 20, 2004

I purchased my 17LA to accommodate my TC-40D equipped with SuperSteer. I wanted a tractor and loader with the guts to handle heavy loaded pallets and one with reach and capability to load and unload semi trucks which I do quite often. (see attachment)

To this point I have been very pleased with the 17LA loader whether it be coupled to my 72 inch HD bucket or pallet forks it has performed flawlessly for me. I also like the fact that it is very easy to mount or dismount on the tractor without the use of any tools as I do remove it frequently for other chore duties

We have all seen more than a couple of unhappy loader owners, but I can't help but wonder if some of the problem might be associated with technique rather than merely equipment. When pushing into a heavy pile there is always a bit more involved than just trying to lift the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

gav64 · Sep 21, 2004

I know I expected more from my loader but I have a skidsteer that is an overachiever. Shvl73 I totally agree with you my 2810hst and 108 loader is under powered, I know it strong enough to handle more and maybe when the warranty is over I will tweek up the relief circut. I was planning to sell the skid when I bought the tractor but now I am not. Realistically when it comes to digging and moving material with a bucket quickly and safely they do not compare, it just doesn't like the forest with it's soft soils which is the main reason I got the tractor in the first place. glenn.

kensfarm · Sep 21, 2004

My 17LA loader has worked great too.. it has been pushed to the max.. I just replaced my 3rd rubber hydrolic line.. they are the short "1 foot" ones that operate the bucket pivot. I've spread over 180 tons of rock & gravel w/ it on the driveway and farm road. Besides the toothbar.. I also have a bucket spear for round bales.

slowrev · Sep 21, 2004

"I just replaced my 3rd rubber hydrolic line.."

I have come to the conclusion that hoses that come on todays equipment are pretty much junk. My old tractor has 2 wire hoses on it that some are 20 or more years old and stiff as a board, but none have ruptured since I had it, and only 2 appear not to be origional. My loader runs about 2400-2500 psi. And I regularly lift over a ton with it, and do aggressive digging in heavy clay and slate rock.

This conclusion is based on observations of friends equipment and many post on a variety of boards for a couple of years. I believe I will only buy made in USA Gates hoses for my tractor. I need to replace them because after 20 or so years most of the swivels are dribbling. Import hoses suck. Sure I can buy about 4 import hoses vs buying a good hose , but is my safety and the downtime worth the price cut ?

Just my opinion.

PineRidge · Sep 21, 2004

My 17LA loader has worked great too.. it has been pushed to the max.. I just replaced my 3rd rubber hydrolic line.. they are the short "1 foot" ones that operate the bucket pivot. 

Hmmm, I think I remember that Jinman had the very same problem with his 16LA loader. Maybe he'll see this post and chime in here if I'm wrong. I'm now thinking that it might be cheap insurance to get a few spare hydraulic hoses if I'm using my loader for a lot of pallet work. Downtime at an inappropriate time could cost me a lot of back-breaking manual labor unloading a semi the old fashioned way. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

CTyler · Sep 21, 2004

Thats a few more pallets than the 14 or 15 I had. The quick attach
really is handy.

kensfarm · Sep 21, 2004

"get a few spare hydraulic hoses "

Lately.. since my weekends are so busy.. I call the NH dealership from work and have them ship the parts UPS to me. Even though I only needed one.. both times I've ordered two.. when I blew the second line.. my down time was only 10 minutes or so.. no excuses to get right back to work.