3616 needs just a bit more loader lift

[moparrob]

Hello-

I have a 3616 with loader and backhoe and so far I love it. We're buying a lot more hay than we did when I bought the tractor, so I bought a set of ssqa forks to lift big bales, since the loader is rated at 1650 lb and the big bales are supposedly 1200-1400 lbs. When the truck showed up with 3 bales, my poor little tractor could barely lift the bales off, and only after I pulled them back against the fork uprights so they were as close as possible to the pins. The truck driver was fairly perturbed, and I hated having to wrestle with the bales and a ratchet strap.

Is there any way to bump up my lifting capacity just a smidge, or should I stick to 2 string bales? A bigger tractor is not an option as I'm still making payments on my little one.

Is it possible that the relief valve is set too low?

 

[mike69440]

Make sure you have plenty of counter weight first. Loader tires, plus about 800-1000 Lbs on the hitch.

Next, get a pressure gage and tie it into your Loader valve.

As is my Max28XL, I suspect you pressure relief is non adjustable, so you have to shim to adjust pressure at the main pump. My loader valve is adjustable.

Set the main pump 50-100 psig higher than the loader relief.

Small thin 0.030" thick stainless washer work well enough. One may be enough.

Someone on the Forum must have a service manual for your tractor. Ask for the pages that apply, I've attached what I have on the Max28XL as an example.

Up the pressure 10 to 15% and call it a day. Note that a 15% increase will give you more than 15% extra lift, as the pressure has to lift just the loader first. Usually this eats 250-300 psig.

I run both my L39 and Max28XL 5-10% over spec.

 

[moparrob]

Thank you! I'll look into this. I'm not trying to lift anything crazy, just bales one at a time. Seems like it shouldnt strain so much.

 

[Navasot]

The bales are putting the weight to far infront of the pins... your loader lift is measured at the 4pins that connect to the quick connect the further you go infront of that the quicker the lift cap. drops.. try to go in the bale at a down angle and curl it back to you... make sure your giving the engine plenty of fuel and not trying to do this at 1,000 rpms also. it will lift it but with a 3616 its going to strain bad with 1400lb round bales