Loader traditional VS. self leveling Loader

[magicheater]

I had my first taste of a self leveling loader the other day while testing some bucket mounts on a John Deere tractor. I understand the concept but was quickly dissuaded from wanting one. It actually stalled the loader in some bucket positions while lifting. Does anyone else feel this way? Unless you had forks on your loader all day long I see no real advantage to it.

 

[TripleR]

We had the self leveling feature on our Case CX80 and took it off as we did not like it. Ours was mechanical rather than hydraulic. We did not get the feature on our M8540 as we have no real need for it. I can see where someone who does a lot of pallet work would like it though.

As always, just my opinion.

 

[kennyd]

Unless you had forks on your loader all day long I see no real advantage to it.

That is my feeling also.

 

[piller]

I've got the hydraulic self leveling loader option on my M8540 as well as the Kubota Shockless Ride (KSR) option (tractor came with both). I don't use KSR very much but I do use the self leveling feature all the time. Anytime I've got something in the bucket I just raise and lower the FEL as needed and the bucket/attachment angle remains constant relative to the ground as I raise and lower the FEL.

Even with self leveling enabled I can dig, scoop, whatever by using the normal lift/curl controls, but as soon as I stop using curl the bucket/attachment angle will stay constant relative to the ground as I raise/lower.

 

[Builder]

My LB-115 has it, but my M-7040 doesn't. Overall, I like it. makes the loader work a little more goof-proof, but I tend to use my loader control to level the bucket as I raise it because I owned a lot of machines without self-leveling feature.

If I had my choice, I'd rather have it. I'd love to have the ride control accumulator as well, but anyone can get by without them.

Piller: remove your KSR option and sell it to me.

 

[KB9UDE]

I do quite a bit of pallet fork work with my new 4720 Deere. I have the 400CX loader which is mech self leveling. I love it!!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you move pallets a lot, a great thing to have.

When I first got my 7520 tractor, I was uncertain whether I liked it or not. My brother absolutely hates it. But the more that I used the loader the lazier I got and the more I liked it. Didn't actually realize how much I like it until I bought my little 3215 that does not have it. I now feel that I would not have a new tractor without it as long as it was an option.

Overall self leveling is just a convenience and someone that is not use to that convenience can feel that it is just an annoyance.

 

[Reg]

I often think I would LIKE to have it, sometimes I would like it a LOT for bucket work.

What I think I would like even MORE would be a good PRECISE and ACCURATE bucket roll/dump POSITION (wrt tractor's "level") control.
Like; zero is parallel to the ground (as determined by the tractor's wheels).
Divisions every 2 degrees or so roll/dump from there - and REPEATABLE !!!

 

[pelletfarmer]

According to Deere, the self-levelling 400CX has 25%-30% more lifting capacity than the 400X, which is a good reason alone to get it IMO. Bigger cylinders in that case, I guess. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it sure is nice.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I often think I would LIKE to have it, sometimes I would like it a LOT for bucket work.

What I think I would like even MORE would be a good PRECISE and ACCURATE bucket roll/dump POSITION (wrt tractor's "level") control.
Like; zero is parallel to the ground (as determined by the tractor's wheels).
Divisions every 2 degrees or so roll/dump from there - and REPEATABLE !!!

So how would the indicator work? Every height the loader is at, the indicator would have to be different. I guess that an electronic system could be set up, but I don't see how a mechanical system would work. :confused2:

 

[Reg]

So how would the indicator work? Every height the loader is at, the indicator would have to be different. I guess that an electronic system could be set up, but I don't see how a mechanical system would work. :confused2:

See my patent attorney for details, NDA required.

 

[Reg]

According to Deere, the self-levelling 400CX has 25%-30% more lifting capacity than the 400X, which is a good reason alone to get it IMO. Bigger cylinders in that case, I guess. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it sure is nice.

Does it actually HAVE more lifting capacity, or do they just RATE it higher.
I could see a case for them rating a trad FEL lower due to (perceived) lower stability.

 

[SPYDERLK]

So how would the indicator work? Every height the loader is at, the indicator would have to be different. I guess that an electronic system could be set up, but I don't see how a mechanical system would work. :confused2:

Brain works best. Just a flat surface, // to the lip, on top of the bucket.
larry

 

[Dargo]

If you move pallets a lot, a great thing to have.

I have machines with both. I agree, unless you're doing a lot of pallet moving, it is more annoying to me than helpful IMHO.

 

[Marveltone]

Brain works best. Just a flat surface, // to the lip, on top of the bucket.
larry

You obviously don't have my brain! Although, I am getting slightly better with practice.

Joe

 

[SPYDERLK]

Does it actually HAVE more lifting capacity, or do they just RATE it higher.
I could see a case for them rating a trad FEL lower due to (perceived) lower stability.

The force exerted by the bucket load tends to make the bucket want to tip outward. On the mechanical types the linkage causes this out tip force to be exerted on a linkage element that applies a lift force to the arms. This augments hydraulic lift.
On hyd type, its possible to use the hi fluid pressure bled off during lift on the rod side of the curl cyls to augment the flow to the lift cyls. ... :confused2: I think larger lift cyls would be used in this setup.
larry

 

[rjkobbeman]

The beauty of Kubota's self leveling implementation is that it is controlled 100% by the FEL's hydraulic valve. (Others may do this too, but I am only familiar with Kubota.)

The FEL on Kubota's "non-self-leveling" and the FEL on the "self-leveling" are the exact same loader. It is the valve that does the leveling. On that valve, you can turn "on" or "off" the self leveling. I use mine in the "off" position 99% of the time. Because the self leveling is a valve feature and not a mechanical feature of the loader, there is no restriction of loader movement due to the self leveling implementation. (When self leveling is actually turned on, there may be some restriction -- I don't know -- but it is nice to have both.)

Because the self leveling is implemented solely by a valve, you can add this feature at a later date. You don't have to get a different loader.

 

[Builder]

Yes you can, but at BIG cost. The self leveling valve kit for my M 7040 for example is $1,700. :confused2:

 

[TripleR]

Yes you can, but at BIG cost. The self leveling valve kit for my M 7040 for example is $1,700. :confused2:

Well, so much for that idea.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Yes you can, but at BIG cost. The self leveling valve kit for my M 7040 for example is $1,700. :confused2:

Yeah, it is more expensive after-the-fact because you are replacing you standard valve with a self leveling valve. If you buy it from the factory that way, you are only paying the "upgrade" price which is the difference between the standard valve and self leveling valve. Of couse, if you do the upgrade after-the-fact, you will have a standard valve you can sell. Don't know if there is much of a market for loader valves...

If I remember correctly, the 'upgrade' price was like $800 when I ordered my tractor.