Front-End Loader Self Leveling Loaders

   / Self Leveling Loaders #31  
eepete, I have a B21. What you're talking about is the self-leveling function. What it does is to regulate by mechicanical linkage "the bucket rollback angle in proportion to the boom lifting height so that this function plays a part of spill guard." And also that the regulated bucket angle can be changed, (under the adjustment section). As you say, it makes the bucket level itself as you lift up.

I hardly notice when operating the loader that the linkage moves the curl function, (am I that good on a loader?, lol), but have had the linkage "override" me when not paying attention or trying to do something with an unlevel bucket for whatever reason...
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #32  
Tnx bill. So this _is_ a self leveling function, but the "factory default" of level is not bottom of bucket level with/parallel to the ground, but, a "spill guard". Sorry this is a RTFM issue, I'll look at mine and try to find it. Don't recall it, but it's been a decade since I've read it other than some maintenance issues. I'll probably leave it where it is, since I use the forks 5% of the time and am moving material 80% of the time (the rest of the time it's a carry all).

BTW, back in the 70's I ran a bobcat for a day and dumped a load of gravel back on me when I lost focus for a second, so when I figured out this feature on the B21 after I got it I was happy with it.

I hate it when the problem is a geek that doesn't read the manual :eek:.

Pete
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #33  
Pete,
If you have a rod that goes back to the joystick then you have hydraulic leveling. Most mechanincal self leveling setups function with some form of parallel bars making a parallelagram. My 110 leveling system works as your does.
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #34  
There are actually three types of self levelling:

-Mechanical self levelling
-passive self levelling (Another hydraulic cylinder under the lift cylinder, communicates with the tip cylinder to self level
- active self levelling (a valve is actuated whilst lifting, letting pump pressure sucked into the tip cylinders)

hydraulic self levelling by means of a valve, wastes energy: To lift it you need a high working pressure: relieving the oil into the tip cylinders is allmost vacuuming it in:
The difference in pressure is power you waste, as a part of the full pressure pump flow is drawn through a restricted valve, which turns the pressure into waste heat.
The loss is comparable to non self levelling loaders.

Both hydraulic SL by means of a reaction cylinder, and MSL, roughly increase the lift force by 20% as the center of gravity of the load, is lowered when you tip the bucket forward when correcting: When self levelling does that on the go, you're only putting in as much labour as required: Not first lifting it up, while releasing this kinetic energy by tipping out the bucket to keep it level.
So, 20% more lifting force with general attachments (or no energy loss) and this gets even more when working with e.g, a boom pole: Without it, you have extended the force x arm by two, if you hung a 3 meter boom pole on a 3 meter loader arm.
With self levelling, the hook moves parallel to the quick attach hinge point on the loader boom: So with the same lifting cylinders you'd be lifting over the same 3.5 meter height, no matter how long the boom pole would be.

Just one disadvantage of self levelling: As it uses geometry to do this trick, it only works 100% in the bucket or implement position it is laid out for: Tip your bucket fully out, lift it and you'll see that in a 90 degree rotated bucket position, the bucket waves all over during lifting or lowering.

JD had a flip-over geometry arm, (in the turnover triangle in the bend of the boom) so you could change the parallel arm geometry for A. a horizontal pallet fork and B. a full dirt bucket, tilted 45ー back so it doesnt spill when lifting.

Industrial loaders dont need this as they have flat booms, so the cylinder angles in fully tipped back quick attach position are good enough to hold that pallet fork, in the same position as a fully tilted back position.

On tractor front loaders with curved booms, the cylinder stands more upright, decreasing the hold force when the bucket is rolled back: thats why loader manufacturers make pallet fork frames with a QA angle which is putting the tip cylinders out of their dead angle, and make the parallel position accordingly...
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #35  
So that linkage to valve lever would only be possible with the loader mast mounted valves, like found on some of the Kubs ?

JB.
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #36  
Well Said Renze...You Know your stuff!
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #37  
I was watching this thread to see if anyone has the bucket cylinder links reversed like the big loaders to get way more travel such as when lowered down can bring bucket cutting edge back almost to front axle so you can back pull or back dig. If ya look at my thread with the stuff I made for the last 50 some years, ya can see the mechanism I conjured up on the loader after dumping way too many loads of logs/firewood. Now want to be able to curl all the way over forward and curl back to loader frame. Basically make all the points equal from the main boom hookup to the bucket. Tractor used for firewood lifting/stacking, but I have a 5 foot (actually reinforced oil tank) bucket for cleaning snow from driveway which I have to manually curl when raising to keep full load of snow from spilling if ya bounce it too much. As you can see I have made many changes with design through the years. This project started in about 1970 on a 10 horse simplicity and progressed to a 18 horse sunstar with length modifications. I also have a 20hp but that becomes dangerous with the "posilock" rear axle as ya can get in trouble real fast with tip over. The 20's only had ps and hi/lo range 18 and below did not. PS would be nice on FEL but again trouble cause ya can turn way too fast. I use the 20hp with modified V plow just like the big kids all left v straight all right and inverted v to push snow straight ahead.
 
   / Self Leveling Loaders #38  
The only reason I bought my tractor with the self leveling loader was the added lift capacity. At first I didn't like it. The dump angle of the bucket when 4' or so off the ground is kind of a pain. To get the angle I have to raise the loader up about 3/4 of the way to get full dump of the bucket. I was nervous when I'd pile up manure that a rock would roll back into the tractor. Now I just back up quickly lol
 
 
 
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