400x vs 400CX ... Help!

[MaineBob]

Help! ... I was about to pull the trigger on a 4320 cab with a 400x loader, but several folks (thanks, guys!) suggested I consider the 400CX. Funny .... the dealer never mentioned it, even when I asked "is there anything else I should be considering .... I do not want to get this home and realize I should have bought option abc but didn't know about it?" Perhaps it is because the earliest availability date from the factory is 5/12 ??

Anyway .... I need to decide. I'll be using the loader a lot with an 800+ lb Horst root grapple rake to clean up brush, roots, etc. While the 400CX does have considerably more capacity out at the end of the bucket, the capacity near the pivot pins is about the same. When I inquired about this with the dealer, he raised the question (besides cost and the wait for delivery) of the dump angle at the ground .... 86.5 vs 130 degrees for the CX vs X, respectively. He thought the lack of dump angle with the grapple may keep me from rolling the grapple all the way back and picking up, for example, a pile of brush from the top. As I think about it, though .... if 0 degrees is with the grapple perpendicular to the ground, an 86 degree dump will get the grapple almost parallel to the ground, at least when the loader is near the ground, right?
As I raise the loader, I'll loose dump angle ... but will it matter? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Could someone with more loader experience help me out? I want to settle this with the dealer one way or the other tomorrow, before I (or the boss) change my mind on the whole deal!

Thanks!

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Here is the early info on it...

400CX Info

Do a search in the forums, I read at least one that had issues with the rollback angle....

 

[ddivinia]

I have a 400X on my 4720 and it has worked fine. I would consider the 400CX due to the extra capacity. Now I have a 542 SL on my 5525 with a grapple and it sure is nice to go right on top of a pile and start picking stuff up.

D.

 

[tom30519]

I have a 400CX on my 4520. I wanted the extra capacity as well as the self-levelling, as I'm used to having that.

I also have the JD 4in1 bucket, and there's no problem rolling the fully-open bucket forward enough so that the upper jaw is touching the ground well before the lower jaw. I can bring it down flat on top of a pile of brush.

Of course, the 4in1 doesn't pick UP the brush like a grapple or rake would, but that's another problem entirely! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tom.

 

[ddivinia]

Grapple buckets are awesome. I have one on my 5525 and it is so handy. For me, the self leveling thing is not that big a deal, the extra capacity is the big deal.

D.

 

[MidGALandscaper]

I would definitely go with the 400CX. The self leveling feature is really nice. plus you will be able to lift a couple hundred pounds more (with some good ballast of course). I am going to test mine today or tomorrow on a pallet of sod (close to 2000+ pounds). I hope the 400CX will get them off the ground at least a couple of feet so I can move them around.

 

[tom30519]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As I raise the loader, I'll loose dump angle ... but will it matter? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif)</font>

Actually, you gain dump angle as a CX raises up - the parallelogram rolls the bucket forward relative to the loader arms to keep it at the same angle relative to the ground. What you lose is curl (rollback).

I've attached 3 photos of my CX with the 4n1, you can see the angles at level, fully dumped and fully rolled back. Hope these are of some help.

I am re-roofing some sheds, so the self-levelling was of moderate importance as I use the loader to lift shingles and stuff up to where I'm working. But I agree with others that the increased capacity is the biggest reason to go with the CX.

Tom.

 

[tom30519]

400CX fully dumped

T.

 

[tom30519]

400CX fully rolled back.

T.

 

[ddivinia]

Nice pics - that rocks. I wish they had the 400CX when I bought my 400X - oh well.

D.