Bucket / Forks for L3400 opinion

chaser012001 · Jul 7, 2020

So now that i have the ssqa coming for the LA463 on the 3400 (hydraulic pressure set at 2500psi) i'm looking at adding toys to the front end of it. One of the top priorities is a set of pallet forks to move some building materials as well as small logs (mostly cedar). There's a local company that has a set of 2800lb rated 48" tine forks that weigh in around 325lbs. I was wondering if that is going to be too much for this tractor or would I be better served finding a 42" set saving almost 100lbs off the front?

They also have a 60" lo pro smooth bucket that I've been contemplating seeing if they would do a package on but again I wonder if it'll be too much weight. It's at around 350lbs. The prices on both of these things is pretty reasonable and I could pick them up to avoid shipping. I would be converting the current bucket but itd be nice to have a smooth one and another with a toothbar.

They also have a 60" root grapple sitting at 450lbs give or take. I'm guessing that's probably out of the weight class for this little girl but you guys educate me on that. If it is, i'd probably fall back on the EA one.

The other thing in the back of my mind is that we might be adding a bigger tractor (probably a mx series 5200 or 5800/6000) to the fleet within the next couple years and these would be a reasonable fit for that one too.

Thank you in advance fellas.

CoyPatton · Jul 7, 2020

What are the lift capacities of your loader?
Every pound of attachment is a pound you can not lift. I understand the ssqa decision, but understand that forcing your bucket/ forks, out further in front on the loader makes the same load seem heavier. Yes it still is the same pounds, but takes more force to lift it.
My suggestion is to go with lighter weight forks that match or slightly exceed your lift capacity. For a larger bucket, plan to use it with lighter material and it should be ok. If wanting to lift the same materials you current do with pin on smaller bucket, expect frustrations.
Bigger tractor purchase would be the time to consider attachments designed to work with it, not compromise its performance with attachments selected to work with a smaller tractor.

chaser012001 · Jul 7, 2020

With the ssqa this is probably still accurate given the pressure increase.

Lift Capacity (500mm forward), lb (kg) .......... 853 (387)
Lift Capacity (Pivot pin), lb (kg) .......... 1142 (518)
Lift Capacity (Bucket center), lb (kg) .......... 1014 (460)
Breakout Force (500mm forward), lb (N) .......... 1858 (8267)

No matter what I get it'll be "bigger" than the machine regardless. I've read mixed reports of folks using "heavier" implements on the 463 without issue hence starting the thread for potentially more clarity. Even the LA1065 which comes on the 5800's would still be classed fine with a 2200lb fork attachment. The temptation is that this stuff is local to me (which i like giving my patronage to local business) and about 30-40% more cost effective.

CoyPatton · Jul 7, 2020

chaser012001 said:
With the ssqa this is probably still accurate given the pressure increase.

Lift Capacity (500mm forward), lb (kg) .......... 853 (387)
Lift Capacity (Pivot pin), lb (kg) .......... 1142 (518)
Lift Capacity (Bucket center), lb (kg) .......... 1014 (460)
Breakout Force (500mm forward), lb (N) .......... 1858 (8267)

No matter what I get it'll be "bigger" than the machine regardless. I've read mixed reports of folks using "heavier" implements on the 463 without issue hence starting the thread for potentially more clarity. Even the LA1065 which comes on the 5800's would still be classed fine with a 2200lb fork attachment. The temptation is that this stuff is local to me (which i like giving my patronage to local business) and about 30-40% more cost effective.

Since you have no way to calculate what the increase in pressure will give you, you need to go off of what you provided above!
500mm in front if the pivot point, if that is where it refers to the 853 lbs (lower bucket pin center) is just shy of 19.75 inches. Now realize that your ssqa conversion has taking up more than 1/3 of that 19.75 inches, as well as taking up some of that 853 lbs. (Again I totally understand wanting the ssqa.
All of that to go back to the previous post statement that every pound you put into the attachment is a pound less that you can lift in material.

Jmckone · Oct 3, 2021

chaser012001 said:
So now that i have the ssqa coming for the LA463 on the 3400 (hydraulic pressure set at 2500psi) i'm looking at adding toys to the front end of it. One of the top priorities is a set of pallet forks to move some building materials as well as small logs (mostly cedar). There's a local company that has a set of 2800lb rated 48" tine forks that weigh in around 325lbs. I was wondering if that is going to be too much for this tractor or would I be better served finding a 42" set saving almost 100lbs off the front?

They also have a 60" lo pro smooth bucket that I've been contemplating seeing if they would do a package on but again I wonder if it'll be too much weight. It's at around 350lbs. The prices on both of these things is pretty reasonable and I could pick them up to avoid shipping. I would be converting the current bucket but itd be nice to have a smooth one and another with a toothbar.

They also have a 60" root grapple sitting at 450lbs give or take. I'm guessing that's probably out of the weight class for this little girl but you guys educate me on that. If it is, i'd probably fall back on the EA one.

The other thing in the back of my mind is that we might be adding a bigger tractor (probably a mx series 5200 or 5800/6000) to the fleet within the next couple years and these would be a reasonable fit for that one too.

Thank you in advance fellas.

Do you recall the part number for the ssqa you bought? I read in another forum it should be L2230 but my local dealer said he couldn't find that part. So I took a chance and bought the L2216 that fits the l525 fel on the L3901. Fits good but loader doesn't dump when fully raised so need to return it. Thanks john

chaser012001 said:
So now that i have the ssqa coming for the LA463 on the 3400 (hydraulic pressure set at 2500psi) i'm looking at adding toys to the front end of it. One of the top priorities is a set of pallet forks to move some building materials as well as small logs (mostly cedar). There's a local company that has a set of 2800lb rated 48" tine forks that weigh in around 325lbs. I was wondering if that is going to be too much for this tractor or would I be better served finding a 42" set saving almost 100lbs off the front?

They also have a 60" lo pro smooth bucket that I've been contemplating seeing if they would do a package on but again I wonder if it'll be too much weight. It's at around 350lbs. The prices on both of these things is pretty reasonable and I could pick them up to avoid shipping. I would be converting the current bucket but itd be nice to have a smooth one and another with a toothbar.

They also have a 60" root grapple sitting at 450lbs give or take. I'm guessing that's probably out of the weight class for this little girl but you guys educate me on that. If it is, i'd probably fall back on the EA one.

The other thing in the back of my mind is that we might be adding a bigger tractor (probably a mx series 5200 or 5800/6000) to the fleet within the next couple years and these would be a reasonable fit for that one too.

Thank you in advance fellas.

LD1 · Oct 3, 2021

The only issue I see with the longer forks is that they are not required for moving pallets or totes. And on smaller pallets....they will stick out the other side. So if you have pallets stacked tight.....you may not be able to go all the way in....and not doing so because of fork length may mean the difference between lift or not.

The factory bucket is somewhere around 300#. So even a 400# grapple wont be a significant loss of capacity.

And also, keep in mind that those lift specs are to MAX height.loader geometry is such that the higher it lifts, the less capacity you have due to the angle of the lift cylinder. The breakout force is a closed representation of what you can lift at ground level. Which is about 1800#.

So at max height...you can lift 850...at the ground 1850. So mid way like truck bed height....you should still be good to around1300-1400#.

So don't let the literature fool you. They are quite strong loaders