Upgrade the lift/tilt capacity of an FEL

[watkincm]

My FEL (ML111 from KMW) has about 1400 lbs lift capacity.
Most frequent attachments are pallet forks for lifting firewood pallets and a root grapple for lifting tree trunks and log bundles - whether to mill or for firewood.
Loaded firewood pallets are at the extreme edge of lift capacity - will just lift but not tilt up. With the root grapple, the forward/backward rolling, grabbing action used to gather bundles of logs off the ground takes a serious toll on the tilt cylinders - they are fully extended when maximum pressure is being applied. I have had to replace bent tilt cylinders (both of them) twice now at $700 a pair and I am already seeing indications for a third pair.

Is there a way to increase the lift/tilt capacity of the FEL and, at the same time, beef up the durability of the tilt cylinders - or does it mean a new tractor?

 

[Leejohn]

Tractor sounds like it's to small or it's the way you are trying to load them. To bend them the force has to be pushing the cyl in.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Tractor sounds like it's to small or it's the way you are trying to load them. To bend them the force has to be pushing the cyl in.

Not sure how you are bending the rods? :confused3: Double check your hydraulic pressure, suppose to be 2200 psi. If you are constantly at the max for the loader, probably need to get the next bigger tractor. The new 1500 series has a 1650lb lift capacity or step up to a 2540 and get a 2041lb loader lift capacity.

If you start altering how the loader is designed, it becomes a domino effect and to do everything correctly, you should be changing a lot of different things which = lots of $$$$.

Probably not a problem to boost the pressure a bit, 5-10% ?? I would not, but others have and it solved their borderline lift problems.

Start by checking the pump pressure.

 

[buickanddeere]

Less load or more machine. As preciously stated the tractor drive train is being used to lift and push instead of the hydraulics .

 

[oldnslo]

Bending tilt cylinders is an indication that you using the weight and power of the tractor trying to push or retract the cylinders like back dragging with tilted bucket. Unless the cylinders are poorly designed straight hydraulic force should never bend them.