Novice lifting question (Kubota specs vs. reality)

[David M]

Dex, that sounds like a whole 'nother thread, and probably a sticky. How does one check pressures on these units and then go about adjusting them to factory numbers?

Thanks,
David

 

[texasjohn]

Relief valve on my tractor was set just a tad below specs... I had the dealer increase the pressure, ended up just a tad above specs...it made a very, very important difference to me in lift capacity...only usable with near 1000 lbs on the 3ph.

Net... when the valve opens, that's all the lift it will do, rear weight makes no difference to lift weight, but DOES influence where the rear tires are!

 

[dex3361]

Dex, that sounds like a whole 'nother thread, and probably a sticky. How does one check pressures on these units and then go about adjusting them to factory numbers?

Thanks,
David

It is very easy to perform a check and here is a link to a thread when I checked a friends L4400 after I adjusted mine.
FEL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CHECK

 

[Ken45101]

My B21 TLB reached it's limit lifting round hay bales. Some of the heavier ones it would not lift more than a couple of feet (I was trying to double stack). The rear end did not lift up at all, in fact I was able to get the bales up by goosing the "forward" pedal a bit. Those of you mentioning that the rear wheels came off the ground, make me wonder if the tires are loaded! I bought the B21 with 90 hours on it. Maybe the tires are loaded.

Ken

 

[Baby Grand]

I would argue that manufacturers don't design in obsolescence. They try to design a product that meets what they say the product will do and that doesn't result in a lot of warranty work (lost revenue). The end result is the same - less margin, less life; but the intent is different.

Ballast - For FEL work as much weight as you can put as far aft of your rear wheels without losing traction on your front wheels. Ballast applied aft of your rear axle does a lot more than just keep your rear wheels on the ground - it takes weight off of your front axle. If you plan to do a lot of heavy FEL work, then you really should have something heavy a fair distance aft of that rear axle - like a box blade or even better, a brush hog if you have plenty of maneuvering room. Front axles seem to be the week link with our SCUT & compact machines when an FEL is used at it's design limit.

-Jim

 

[Ken45101]

If you plan to do a lot of heavy FEL work, then you really should have something heavy a fair distance aft of that rear axle - like a box blade or even better, a brush hog if you have plenty of maneuvering room. Front axles seem to be the week link with our SCUT & compact machines when an FEL is used at it's design limit.

Good point. The R1 front tires on my M5040 really squat when I have a bucket full of mud. No problem with the loader lifting it, but the tires are not rated for that much load. When turning, I hold my breath wondering if the bead will break loose.

Ken

 

[repete]

I would argue that manufacturers don't design in obsolescence. They try to design a product that meets what they say the product will do and that doesn't result in a lot of warranty work (lost revenue). The end result is the same - less margin, less life; but the intent is different.

Ballast - For FEL work as much weight as you can put as far aft of your rear wheels without losing traction on your front wheels. Ballast applied aft of your rear axle does a lot more than just keep your rear wheels on the ground - it takes weight off of your front axle. If you plan to do a lot of heavy FEL work, then you really should have something heavy a fair distance aft of that rear axle - like a box blade or even better, a brush hog if you have plenty of maneuvering room. Front axles seem to be the week link with our SCUT & compact machines when an FEL is used at it's design limit.


-Jim

Just so if I understand this correctly. If I have 1000 lbs in front of my front axle in the bucket and I add 500 lbs to the rear end it somehow transfers some of the 1000lbs to the rear of the front axle? Seems like the 1000 lbs is still there, it just reduces the effect of the overall tractor. In fact you should be able to put even more weight on the front axle without tipping forward.

 

[dex3361]

Think of a lever and fulcrum. the object aft of the rear wheels is the lever and the rear wheels are the fulcrum if enough weight were added to the rear it would raise the front wheels off of the ground. What the issue is with the FEL is the opposite the lever is the FEL and the front tires are the fulcrum and if you lift enough weight with the FEL you will raise the rear wheels off the ground(not good) when this happens all of the weight of the tractor and
FEL in on the Front axle(again not good). That said weight behind the rear wheels does remove weight of of the front axle.

 

[repete]

Think of a lever and fulcrum. the object aft of the rear wheels is the lever and the rear wheels are the fulcrum if enough weight were added to the rear it would raise the front wheels off of the ground. What the issue is with the FEL is the opposite the lever is the FEL and the front tires are the fulcrum and if you lift enough weight with the FEL you will raise the rear wheels off the ground(not good) when this happens all of the weight of the tractor and
FEL in on the Front axle(again not good). That said weight behind the rear wheels does remove weight of of the front axle.

I am just going to respectfully disagree here.

 

[johnk]

I am just going to respectfully disagree here.

You still need a counterweight on the 3 pt. Rge loaded tires don't take any load off the front wheels.. It just helps in stability