Bigger boom cylinder

[radman1]

Has anyone considered putting a larger boom cylinder on the TC? The current one is 3000 psi, welded, 2.5" bore, 1.5" rod and 22.89" stroke. I am considering putting on a 3000 psi, welded, 3" cylinder with a 1.75" rod and 22.75" stroke. The new cylinder is about .75" longer retracted but I can cut a little off of the base end to make almost the same length. However, the 3" cylinder will push about 50% more force. I am correct in assuming if the TC can lift 2000 lbs currently (although rated for 1500#), it will now lift nearly 3000 lbs with the 50% increase in force?

 

[DEWFPO]

I think it's a matter of balance. If you can lift 3000 lbs instead of 1500-2000 lbs, then you will need to add weight to the bed to be able to handle that load safely. As long as you don't exceed the GVWR then the question may be can the arm pins/mounts and suspension A-arms can handle it? But I am no expert by any means.

DEWFPO

 

[radman1]

I can counter balance some of the weight with a 400# boxblade on my 5610 3 pt. I don't really need to lift 3000 lbs, but more like the rare 2200-2500 lbs of a tree spade with tree. A 3" cylinder is all I can find in the right dimensions. I can lift the tree spade (1400 lbs) now, but I don't think it will with the tree and dirt ball since the weight hangs far out front. I think the boom can take the weight with a straight lift of about 3-4 ft. The question is can the A arms take it? The rear blade counter weight should take some of the weight off the A arms and maybe the boxblade will be enough to make up for the weight of the tree/dirt. I talked with a bobcat rep once, and they (bobcat) thought the arms were actually overbuilt. I have not heard of a failure.
I would also like to lift seed pallets that weigh around 2200 lbs.

 

[DEWFPO]

I guess it is possible that the A-arms are overbuilt on the newer models. Since yours is a 5610 that would qualify. When I was looking at the 5600 earlier this year the salesman said they had been having a problem with a particular front suspension part breaking under certain circumstances. He didn't elaborate only to say the breakage was predictable under a particular circumstance. I thought he said it was a tie rod but I'm not positive now. He said they were replacing the broken part under warranty for anyone that had the problem. It make's sense that Bobcat would redesign the part to handle all situations it would encounter.

DEWFPO

 

[yellowdogsvc]

It's about $500 bucks to replace a shock if you overload it and bust one. I had one fail it is was no fun replacing it. I have to load a 2300lb mower often and I don't recommend lifting 3000 lbs. The tires aren't designed to handle that extra weight either.

 

[3Bladz]

Mine picks up pallets of fertilizer and ice melt. 49 bags at 50#each.

 

[radman1]

Mine picks up pallets of fertilizer and ice melt. 49 bags at 50#each.

Thats about 2500 lbs. Can you lift that weight 3-4'?

 

[DEWFPO]

Add to that, the weight of the pallet forks attachment. Typically around 250 lbs.

DEWFPO

 

[3Bladz]

Thats about 2500 lbs. Can you lift that weight 3-4'?

Hmmm, thats a good question. I lift them up out of the back of my F450 which is about 4 foot high. But I have not tried to lift them from the ground back up there. I usually carry them in to the shed and put them under the pallet rack. It is pretty cool having the reach of the boom though, I can even reach far enough into the bed of the dump truck to reach the second pallet. I do have the bobcat forks so the weight of them prolly is around 250#. The roll back cyl. doesn't hardly have enough power to tip it back so I try to have the forks tipped as afar as I can before I pick the pallet up. Other wise the pallet will be tipped forward too far when I lower it to the ground and I dont really want to spill the bags off. You do want to have plenty of air in the tires.

 

[SP6x6]

Radman, Why would you want to even consider this when you have a A300. That is the big dog!

 

[radman1]

Radman, Why would you want to even consider this when you have a A300. That is the big dog!

90% of the time, they are in different locations, 90 miles apart. In the past, I have had to load the S300 and haul it for heavy lifting. My brother has withdrawl symptons every time I take it for a few days - even though I know he doesn't need it. The 2 main uses would be storage of seed corn (pallets about 2200-2400 lbs) and using tree spade. The S300 can be a little damaging to grass/lawns and the TC is more turf freindly. If doing digging or dirt work, I would just haul the S300. I have a job coming up this spring to move 25-35 trees and shrubs. I need to transplant them 50-75 away and them put them back in the fall. City is rebuilding the road and needs to lower the grade and then I will transport them back.

I am not concerned about blowing out a shock or spring. The rubber mount isolators will bottom out before the shock or spring would be overloaded. I could see suspension issues on the non-D series units.

 

[speedy67]

Maybe you could 'tweak' the hydraulic pressure a little bit to give you the lift you need, instead to going to the trouble of changing the cylinder. I have done that in the past with a Caterpillar wheel loader. But then I found that the boom would put overpower the bucket curl and I had to tweak that as well. Another thing, once you start going over-spec then you start finding other weak links. Usually hydraulic lines and pins and bosses. If you do either, you will want to be cautious that you don't corner load the bucket and twist the boom.

 

[SP6x6]

My mason traded his SS IN on a AWS MODEL because of the turf issue, having to work and cross lawns and such, skid steers do tear it up.

 

[radman1]

Maybe you could 'tweak' the hydraulic pressure a little bit to give you the lift you need, instead to going to the trouble of changing the cylinder. I have done that in the past with a Caterpillar wheel loader. But then I found that the boom would put overpower the bucket curl and I had to tweak that as well. Another thing, once you start going over-spec then you start finding other weak links. Usually hydraulic lines and pins and bosses. If you do either, you will want to be cautious that you don't corner load the bucket and twist the boom.

Tweaking the boom is one of my bigger concerns and I would need to be careful about lifting in the center. I though about increasing the psi to 3300 like most newer skid loader but the 10% increase in pressure won't quite get me where I want to be - 2500 lbs. 10% increase should get me about 2200 lbs lift (based on the TCs known ability to lift 2000 lbs). If I increase the pressure to 3500-3600 psi, then all my attachments and TC run at higher pressure and potentially more problems. How expensive can new front A arms cost?