16la upgrade?

boomer4snow · Oct 11, 2005

Was wondering If it would be possible to get a little more lift capacity out of the 16la. According to NH, my TC40DA puts out 9.8 GPM and can lift 1759lbs. 19" from the pins 5'high.

A 18la on the TC48 puts out 12.3 gpm and can lift 2213lbs the same distances as above. The 16la weighs 748 w/o bucket, and the 18la weighs 820 w/o bucket.

Is the difference in lift capability all due to the GPM rating, or the hyd cylinders being larger? any inexpensive way to "buff up" the capacity, they made the 48/55 after I bought the 40, or I would have gotten one of them.

I would like more lift/breakout force for using a grapple, not everyday as the rest of the tractor wouldnt like it much.

have_blue · Oct 11, 2005

Pressure and cylinder diameter, not GPM, determine lifting power.

Pump pressures, orifices, and cylinders being equal, a bigger pump will actuate the cylinders faster , but the lifting power will be the same.

Pump pressures being equal, bigger cylinders generate more lifting force.

I found out the 16LA buckets are easy to bend. If you use increased breakout force on dirt or snow, it will be fine. If you use the maximum breakout force on a localized area of the bucket lip (like a stump!), it will bend like a bananna. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

jinman · Oct 11, 2005

( Is the difference in lift capability all due to the GPM rating, or the hyd cylinders being larger? any inexpensive way to "buff up" the capacity, they made the 48/55 after I bought the 40, or I would have gotten one of them.
)

As have_blue said, the flow has very little to do with the maximum lift capability. It's the pressure of the hydraulics that determines maximum lift and the physical size of the hydraulic cylinders.

The TC40/45 hydraulics is factory set to 2,500 psi. There is a pressure regulating valve under the right side of the platform that has shims which can be removed to change the regulating pressure, but I'd strongly recommend that you do not exceed the manufacturer's specs. I have also reached the limits of my 16LA many times (actually, almost constantly when doing dirt work or using my rock bucket). In my opinion, our system is designed to limit itself before we do damage or expose the tractor to dynamic shock loads while travelling with a load near the loader's maximum. Because the relief valve is out of the loop when the joystick is centered, the spikes in pressure on the cylinders and hoses is tremendous when travelling with a load.

So you could increase the pressure above recommendation and get more lift out of the 16LA and your 3PH, but you put yourself out in that "test pilot" range where failure may show up. If you have to have more power, I'd say a bigger tractor is your safest route. I can empathize with you, but I've decided to just live within the recommended limits and hope my little tractor holds up for a long, long time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

IH3444 · Oct 11, 2005

Agree with all said, Amsoil synthetic may help a tiny bit, and if you are daring, increasing the shims. I was quoted the exact same price for a TC45 hydro with loader, and a TC48DA 12/12 SS gear drive. I chose the TC48 gear drive for many reasons, but the extra loader lift was one of them.

boomer4snow · Oct 11, 2005

Great replies thank you!! I don't think I want to "tinker" with the pump and its shims, but maybe a swap from the 16la hyd cyl. to the 18la size may give me what I want. I am not super concerned with bent buckets, so far I have been very satisfied with the stocker after I built a tooth bar. I would make a really heavy duty "grubbing" style bucket maybe 2' swelling to the size of the quick attach with a slightly short length to keep the weight close to the pins for heavy digging.

I notice the lack of lift capacity most when using pallet forks, and I am sure once I make a grapple, it will really be apparant that I cant lift as much as I need/want.

Any ideas on the difference in hyd cyls. between the 16la and the 18la?

I bought my lil 40 in feb of 04. the 48 and 55 was not out on the market yet, and I needed a tractor then. The 45 had no more lift cap, was quoted at 2k more, and with the relief valving really couldnt pull much more than the 40. I really don't use that much pto implements where the extra 3-4 pto hp would have made any diff. I do need a tractor with the 48-55's lift capacity, but with the size of the class III.

IH3444 · Oct 12, 2005

The cylinders as I measured then on the outside diameter was 2.38" on the 16LA, and 2.80" in the 18LA. The 18LA has about a 38% increase in cylinder area according to my calculations. Corrections welcomed.....

boomer4snow · Oct 12, 2005

Thank you, Now if I can find a friendly NH dealer that will let me measure em both, I dont suppose the mounting areas are the same for the cylinders, port size for the Hyd lines etc.? any idea if the stroke is the same for the main loader arms? This might actually be a possible swap for a lil more lift capacity.

hazmat · Oct 12, 2005

I wouldn't "upgrade" your loader cylinders - good way to void your warranty & possibly hurt yourself if something breaks.

If you require more capacity, I suggest you look at construction grade equipment vs. agricultural/homeowner.

A skid steer or if you prefer tractor type - bob cat TLB or a jcb

Osconda · Oct 12, 2005

I agree with HAZMAT. The mechanical engineers that design these system take all the stresses into consideration. The loader arms may not be strong enough to take the extra load. The mounting system to the tractor could prematurely fail. The front end could also prematurely fail due to the extra loads. Be nice to your lil' 40. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

If there is a particular item that is heavier than your loader can lift, maybe it's a better idea to devise something just for that purpose. I myself have a root grapple on my tractor and I would like to pick up larger rocks that I can now. I know the 720lb. grapple is limiting my lift by the same amount. I'm working on an attachment for the big rocks that just uses some chains connected to a quick attach plate. The whole setup should be less than 100lb.

Good luck on your quest /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

jinman · Oct 12, 2005

( I'm working on an attachment for the big rocks that just uses some chains connected to a quick attach plate. The whole setup should be less than 100lb.
)

Me too...for the same reason. I can't give up 1/3 the lift of my loader to an attachment. I need all my power to lift the big rocks. It's either that or put hydraulically actuated guage wheels on the sides of my rock bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif