Does Branson Offer Auto Bucket Leveling ? How Important Is It ?

[Cougsfan]

So what I have gathered from this thread that the mechanical self leveling is kind of "iffy", depending on what you are doing. On the other hand, hydraulic self leveling is great to use, but much more complicated, expensive to build and probably unavailable for any common compact tractor.

 

[ericm979]

Hydraulic self levelling is a $600 option on Kubota's L60 series.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ing/389375-self-leveling-valve-kubota-la.html

Although there's some question as to whether it's a self leveller or just a spill guard to keep you from dropping stuff out the back of the bucket when you raise it high. It may depend on the model.

If Branson offered a hydraulic self leveller like that for my loader I'd buy it immediately. I'd probably buy the spill guard only function too.

 

[ptsg]

Here in Portugal we have two ways of getting a self leveling loader, either mechanical or hydraulic. The hydraulic is done by using two additional cylinders just above the lift cylinders that are tied into the dump circuit. I believe this way, avoids some of the issues mentioned above.

We the proper math and geometry it could be done in a Branson loader and probably could be done under the 600$ that Kubota charges for their self loading system.

Here is a couple of pictures as example:



We don't get the Branson loaders here since the tractors come with a mid mounted ROPS. So the only alternative is to use aftermarket loaders custom fitted to the tractor. In Spain they use aftermarket loaders re-badged with the Branson logos. In the rest of the Europe, they use Branson loaders. 95% are self leveling loaders.

To be honest, I don't really understand why there is the need to have so much differences between US and EU models, at least in the loader part of it. The lift arms, DPF, lights and a couple of other things I can understand.

 

[LouNY]

Here in Portugal we have two ways of getting a self leveling loader, either mechanical or hydraulic. The hydraulic is done by using two additional cylinders just above the lift cylinders that are tied into the dump circuit. I believe this way, avoids some of the issues mentioned above.

We the proper math and geometry it could be done in a Branson loader and probably could be done under the 600$ that Kubota charges for their self loading system.

Here is a couple of pictures as example:

View attachment 576463View attachment 576464

We don't get the Branson loaders here since the tractors come with a mid mounted ROPS. So the only alternative is to use aftermarket loaders custom fitted to the tractor. In Spain they use aftermarket loaders re-badged with the Branson logos. In the rest of the Europe, they use Branson loaders. 95% are self leveling loaders.

To be honest, I don't really understand why there is the need to have so much differences between US and EU models, at least in the loader part of it. The lift arms, DPF, lights and a couple of other things I can understand.

Interesting concept, I'm running it through my mind as to how that would work? Any information?
In my mind it seems almost like the extra cylinder is acting like a hydraulic pump to push fluid into the dump/curl cylinders to slowly roll the bucket downward as the loader frame goes up.
It would be interesting to see the entire functional operation of that system.

 

[ptsg]

Yup. That's exactly how it works. The cylinders are just tied into the dump cylinders, acting as a pump.

I couldn't find any video up close of this working. It seems to be the same principle as the big telehandlers. John Deere just started using this system on loaders for the big boys, but they've put the cylinders above the loader arms.

Here is a video although it's a bit too far and with poor quality.

 

[LouNY]

Thanks,
That is quite the video loading bales, I cringed every time he bounced that front end crossing the road. I just see expensive parts flexing.

 

[ptsg]

My exact thoughts also!!! Those poor pivot points. Must be suffering so hard! Those bales look so heavy.

Having soft ride on the loader, which they offer, would help a lot in that situation.

 

[npalen]

I am always amazed at how the more complex machinery is accepted in Europe and not in the USA. It seems to apply to all types of machinery, not just to farm machinery.

 

[ericm979]

They get all the cool stuff!

 

[DavesTractor]

I'm not familiar with the Kubota option that they refer to as a spill guard, but one of the issues with many entry level hydraulic self levelers is that they only level on the way up or the way down not both. That is because the extra cylinders used to pass the oil into or out of the bucket cylinders (to keep level) have a different volume going one direction or the other. That is because one part of the cylinder always shares it's volume with the rod, the other side doesn't. Of course the bucket cylinders have the same issue, but apparently it is not equal.

If the Kubota spill guard system actually self leveled both up and down, that is pretty cool and a good value. I would think it might slow down cycle times a bit, but that would be worth it in many applications.

I have no idea how the self leveling system on my Takeuchi TL130 works but I sure like it for loading trucks or dump trailers. Great for pallet work also.

I like the option of self leveling, but honestly we sell hundreds of tractors per year and get asked about that feature maybe twice a year, and that'll be from a guy that runs heavy equipment at his real job. So it is not a need, but would be a cool option.