Something different

[DEON]

I have been modifying my CK25 loader. My purpose is to do 5 things. I wanted better visibility, more lift capacity, more curl strength, eliminate the sloppiness of the QA loader and end up with a self leveling bucket. Unfortunately I ran out of time so I did not complete the self leveling parts. The snow will soon be here so I put it together as is until spring.
I used the boom lift cylinders for the curl. As they are longer, I was able to space the curl pins farther apart to gain over 40% in curl strength.
I replaced 1.77" ID boom cylinders with 2" ID cylinders and spaced the boom pins farther apart to gain about 50% more break out force. I lost about 3" height at full lift but I seldom lift the bucket all the way to the top as most of my loader work is dirt and snow, no hay and no fork work. I also spent a good amount of time reinforcing the loader frame bass so as not to break the tractor transmission/engine assembly. I compared my front axle and pivot assembly with other tractors with much stronger loaders like the L 3940 Kubota and LA724 loader rated at 3403 lbs. breakout force. The CK25 is built almost identical if not stronger then the much larger L3940 with a longer loader that extend much farther forward so I felt comfortable with my added loader capacity.
Anyway, I did not take any photos while building but you can see the old loaders towers in the background in one of the photos. Have fun looking. I will post again when the self leveling is completed. Oh, I put it to the test today in an old pile of pit run and did a little driveway grading. I am amazed at the added strength, stability and precise control. Feels like an industrial tractor.

 

[Johndeere3720]

looking good

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sure looks good. As I am not all that familiar with the details of Kioti and loader, I would not know that you had changed anything without seeing a stock unit and then immediately looking at yours. Do you have a way of checking what the lift capacity is now? With the added lift capacity, be sure to keep a heavy counter weight on the 3PT.

 

[DEON]

Have about 1,000 lbs on the back with counter weight and cab.
Don't know the exact gain as I am only working with the calculations and experiencing the difference in feel. My calculations are somewhat close as the feel when operating is very obvious. I can stuff the bucket in a pill of pit run and just curl a little and lift. In that type of material I previously needed to fill the bucket by scraping up the side of the pile.
See the before and after photos.

 

[Dmace]

Wow! That loader looks much more stout. Nice work!

 

[sandman2234]

I have a good friend that wisely reminds me when I want to reinforce my boxblade so I won't trear it up when I hit the water main cutoff valve housing, that the weakest link is what is going to break. Since the boxbade is the easiest part to fix, I haven't reinforced it, for fear of breaking a part on the tractor. (everybody knows how expensive Green paint stuff is!)
Just keep that in mind as you use your reinforced loader. Just because it will do it, doesn't mean you need to let it do it.
David from jax

 

[Gary Fowler]

From the before and after photos, looks like you rebuilt the whole loader frame and just used the bucket. Is that what you did? Looks good. I wouldnt know where to start to do that kind of work. After seeing your post, I thought I might rework my bucket attachement points to give me more breakout force like you did. By moving the attachment point higher on the bucket, that should add more leverage, right?

 

[Loren49]

Have you measured or calculated the difference in cycle time. There is always a trade-off of power vs speed. I believe that by going from 1.75 to 2 inch cylinders you have increased cycle time by 25 percent and depending on the change in bucket pin distance the bucket will be slowed more.
Your work looks professional! Nice job.

Loren

 

[jimmyj]

That is amazing. You should be in the FEL making business, what a great job.

Very interesting idea, but way over my head for skill. Thanks for sharing and show us your next projects, I bet they'll be great too.

 

[MotorSeven]

Very well done Deon. I definitly think that the mfg's intentionally do not engineer fel's to max capacity due to the "liability possibilities". If they could control how much counter weight was on the rear, then I bet they would beef up the loaders. I put Bush Hog bucket on my DK40 that has 40% more capacity than the standard Kioti bucket. The fel lifts it full of gravel with no prob, but even with loaded tires and a 7' box blade on the back it's still light in the rear. More counter weights are in my future

RD