Well, I tried my hand at this mod over the weekend and figured I would share my results as well. My motive was not even 100% just to increase the lift capacity of my loader. I was also motivated by the desire to try new stuff and learn about things I've never done before. Of course, I couldn't have done it without this forum (along with countless other things I couldn't have done without this forum.
This was the 'before' state at the beginning of the project. You can see the quick coupler and fittings mated up to the pressure gauge. Multiple readings settled in right at
2250psi. A quick tip before you start - obviously you are trying to find the relieve pressure so you'll have to run your system to the max. This may seem obvious to everyone one but me but it's easiest to find relief pressure on the bucket roll function than the raise/lower function. I was doing this in my garage though and didn't have a ton of extra room. I also made pressure measurements at PTO speed.
This is the 22mm bolt that was removed (under the right foot on my
L3700SU). Using the "shop vac in the hydraulic fill hole" tip, I didn't lose a bit of oil while the plug was out and this suction also kept the bolt and spring from falling out even when there were no threads engaged.
Here is the plug and spring as they first emerge:
I had ONE spring in my entire garage that was less than half an inch in diameter. And of course I dropped it never to be found again. Crap! I sure as heck didn't want to drive to town just to get a tiny washer but I couldn't find much of anything worthy of making a shim like I needed. I finally found another washer that was about 0.55 in diameter and 1.5mm thick. When's the last time you tried to build a tiny washer out of a tiny washer!?
What a dang nightmare. Anyway, after some burned fingers and extra time on the bench grinder, I had a reasonably uniform shim/washer.
Ready to go back together.
I actually wrote down my new max pressure goal before I started. I have a tendency to get a little 'greeder' or to just push the envelope a little bit more...thus, I had to do something a little extra to keep myself in check. My goal was 2500psi and by some great luck I hit it right on the nose my first try!
I took it out the next day after church and popped some 3-5" cedars out of the ground. Could I tell a significant difference? Not really, but I'm glad to have the experience under my belt and know that I have a little extra oomph in the system should I need it some day. Hopefully this will help someone else have the confidence to give it a try if they're so inclined.
