What Is The Value Of Regen On The FEL?

[npalen]

That may be a bit rhetorical as we all know it allows for fast dump and bangs against the stops to shake out stubborn material.
I've noticed, on my loader at least, that the bucket cylinder rods are extra small diameter 1" where the lift cylinder rods are 1 3/8" diameter. The bore on the cylinders are all 2".

I suppose the rod diameter has to be extra small on the bucket cylinders in order to have regen with any power behind it rather than just gravity dump.
The tradeoff is much slower curl-in due to the extra volume on the rod side of the bucket cylinders.

The slow curl-in is a negative when dumping down into a trailer, for example, where the bucket tip has to be up nearly level to clear the tall trailer sides when backing away.
The small bucket cylinder rods are also a negative when back dragging due to tendency to buckle. (I know, not supposed to back drag with the bucket tipped down)

So my question is: Do those of you having regen feel that it is really beneficial?

 

[oldnslo]

Two main reasons for regen are:
Faster extend speed as you noted.

Reduces or eliminates the floppy bucket problem that some people experience.

A possible problem is that it is more difficult to feather the dump with regen.

Note: the smaller rod makes the extend faster with less force

 

[npalen]

Note: the smaller rod makes the extend faster with less force

I would have thought just the opposite in that the smaller rod provides more differential which would cause more force. A larger rod would slow the regen and give less force down at the bucket tip. Right?

Edit: After thinking about this a bit more I understand what you're saying in that "less force" is relative to no regen.

 

[oldnslo]

Note: the smaller rod makes the extend faster with less force

I would have thought just the opposite in that the smaller rod provides more differential which would cause more force. A larger rod would slow the regen and give less force down at the bucket tip. Right?

npalen,
While extending During regen both ends of the cylinder are connected to pressure so the only area doing any work is the rod area. So larger rod provides greater extend force but reduced retract force. Since the vast majority of ag style loaders use retract to curl the smaller rods provide a greater curl force.

While extending in regen the pump is filling the rod area/volume so a smaller rod provides faster extend speeds.

 

[npalen]

Yes, I believe that is correct and I was not thinking correctly.

Perhaps using 1 3/8" rods on the bucket cylinders would not give adequate curl force particularly in this case where the loader is supplied with skid steer style buckets with their extra long "snouts".

On a 2" bore the 1" rods give about 43% more curl force than the 1 3/8" if my math is correct.