2520 liftiting capacity

[smalltown]

I have seen posts of lifting capacity before, but quite frankly I didn't "get it": so may pounds at so many inches from the pivot point at such a height etc. I guess I am one of those people that understands pictures rather than written descriptions :confused3:

The wood pellets that I burn for winter heat generally arrive on pallets of one ton or more, but then I hand carry each 40 lb. bag into the garage. :thumbdown:
I was wondering just how many lbs. a 2520 would lift with pallet forks installed. I realize that the pallet forks themselves contribute to the equation so lets leave them out for the time being.

Assuming the pallet forks way zero (not sure of pallet weight maybe 25lbs?). I need to lift high enough to off load from a low trailer then lower the pallet and drive into the garage.

PS I guess I need a pictue of how to spell lifting ! Can't edit thread title

 

[Runner]

I have the Frontier 42 inch forks which weigh something like 385 lbs (on the heavy side for this tractor, but whatever) and I have lifted my 46 backhoe (minus the subframe and bucket) out of the back of my truck with it. I think the backhoe without the subframe or bucket is probably around 800 lbs. I have also lifted the entire backhoe, including the subframe, but just barely enough to move it, maybe a foot off the ground.

So, based on my experience, I would say around 800 lbs on a pallet would be pretty close to the limit. The "book" says 1027 lbs "at the pivot point".

 

[smalltown]

Thanks Runner that helps alot.

 

[General Lee]

What you could do is backup to the trailer and load up a carry all on the 3PH if you have one. Load it up with half the pellets then grab the pallet of remaining bags with the forks and head to the garage. Way less work then hand carrying each 40lb bag into the garage.

 

[LD1]

pics arent really necessary to explain...

The "pin" measurment is simply the pin where the bucket hooks to the loader booms at. this is the common place of measurment even though its number isnt real-world since you almost alway have the bulk of the load at some point forward of that. And due to leverage, the farther forward, the less you can lift.

The 500mm measurment is a point that is 500mm (19.7") forward of that pin. In the case of your loader, that would be about the cutting edge area. Notice that spec is less? Leverage. You just moved the point of the load forward more.

JD is one of the few who give you the rating to 59" AND the rating to max height. Let me explain...

Since the loader travels in an arc, the geometry is ever-changing. Mainly the angle of the cylinder in relation to the boom. What this means is...the higher you lift, the angle of the cylinder changes in a way that lessens the lift capacity.

This is really obvious in when you are lifting something near the max capacity, BUT, can only lift it about 5' in the air and no higher, that is a good illustration of the point I just made above.

Now...how does all of this tie into your tractor...simple....

As per the 200cx specs

You can lift 800# to FULL height at that pin where the bucket connects to the boom. BUT.....
you can lift 1031# AT that SAME point, but only to 59" off the ground.

Since those are mostly usless measurments, cause you almsot NEVER have the load centered there, rather farther forward, they give you the 500mm measurment. Which is more realistic in that point is where you load is most likely to be centered.

At 500mm (edge of the bucket)
you can lift 557# to your maximum height, and
you can lift 758# BUT only to 59" in height off the ground.

As to the pallet forks, if you are using clamp on style on your tractor, since that puts the center of the load even well beyond the edge of the bucket, the lift capacity is reduced even that much more.

If you are using a style that REPLACES the bucket your load will be centered more around the 500mm measurment. And the weight of pallet forks in this case is negligable because the bucket you took off most likely weighed more than the forks.

Another trick if you cannot quite lift a pallet, you can use the curl function, which is usually more powerful than just lift. So you may be able to curl to get a skid in the air, but not be able to lift it any higher than that.

Realistically (and I dont know for sure cause I dont own a 2520) I would guess that you could lift about 800# if you have forks that replace the bucket, and probabally in the 400-500# range if you use clamp on forks. But make sure you have pleanty of ballast, cause lifting near the max...the rear of the tractor will be in the air if you dont use ballast.

 

[General Lee]

Great explanation LD1, I had general understanding of how all this works, but your explanation helped me understand more and makes me think, maybe just maybe my loader pressure may not be under spec'd.

 

[LD1]

No problem:thumbsup:

Thats what we are here for right.

 

[C-Range]

Smalltown,

My own 2520 will lift between 1000-1100 lbs with the Artillian forks. As previously pointed out, the actual amount depends on your load center.

If you are moving bags of pellets on a standard pallet, evenly distributed, you would probably fall just short of moving a half of ton at a time. The more you can stack in closer to the loader, the more you will get on there.

Regardless, before trying to find out this limit on your machine, be sure you've paid close attention to what you have for ballast on the rear. Without proper ballast, you're just asking for trouble.

 

[HobbleCreek]

LD1, that is an excellent post and helps me a lot with the question I was asking in a different thread.

I also just asked in that other thread, but think it is just as relevant here, a question about ballast. Does anyone have any suggestions about determining the proper amount of ballast for a given load?

 

[LD1]

Ballast all just depends. Too many variables to put definate answer on it. But ballast enough that the tractor is stable, and that the loader will stall before the rear end comes into the air.

But some of them variables include WHAT type of ballast. Counterweight is ALSO needed as to not overload the front axle.

Ballast = wheel weights and/or filled tires

Counterweight = weight or implement hanging off the 3PH.

I'd say that IMO, all of these small tractors with front end loaders SHOULD have liquid in the tires.

In ADDITION to that, add counterweight. I find that 75% of loader rated capacity @ pins in the form of an implement is a good match, and 100% of loader weight IF in the form of a barrel or weight box. But it also matters which implement. IE: a 7' bushhog will put the weight farther back than a tiller will. So it all just depends, but none-the-less....

Implements put the weight farther back, so the leverages allows less weight to accomplish the same thing. If you have a 700lb rotary cutter, it will do more to counterweight the FEL than a 700lb barrel of concrete simply because the cutter puts the weight farther back.

These percentages are what I find works well for my (inherently light kubota). YMMV. With your 4720's loader, it can lift a tad over a ton @ the pins. By my logic and what works for me, would tell me that a ~1500lb implement (bushhog 406 or other HD rotart cutter) or a box/barrel full of ~2000lbs of concrete would work well for ballast.

What do you normally use when doing heavy loader work?? And does it keep the rear end firmly planted??