BX-22 FEL question

SBS · Jul 4, 2005

I have owned a BX-22 for about 3 years. It is an amazing machine. I have only One problem! Over the 3 years I have owned the BX-22 I have had dificulty sometime lifting a full bucket of material. The dealer tells me to make sure to put more hydro fluid in the tractor (over the full mark) because of the extra attachments. Even with the higher fluid level I still cannot lift a full bucket of dry gravel. I know there is a pressure releif valve on the loader valve body, I just don't know where it is or what it looks like. I don't want to lift more than the rated lb, but I know the loader can lift more than it does now. I just came across this site and it looks like there is a lot of knowdge here. Can anyone help?
Thanks

David_G · Jul 4, 2005

The bucket holds 1/6 cubic metres.
Gravel weighs 1.6 tonne per cubic metre
or 270kg for a flush bucket.
More like 300kg + for a heaped bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The rating is 210kg so the little girl is doing well.

copperhead1967 · Jul 4, 2005

I have lifted hundreds of loads of 2B gravel with my BX22, as long as i keep the load low I haven't had any problems. I also have lifted mountains of heavy wet clay doing various jobs around the property. I keep the bucket full as i can get it. I don't know if this helps you but for what its worth I haven't had any lifting issues.

JackIL · Jul 4, 2005

Are you keeping the engine at full RPM when working with heavy loads?

JackIL

jim_wilson · Jul 4, 2005

I believe the lift capacity of the BX FEL is 460 pounds at full height. It is higher at lower lift heights. I once tested the lift capacity of my BX23 by loading up the bucket with weightlifting weights and I was able to get 675 pounds up to waist height in the bucket. After having done extensive digging with my BX (see attached picture) I can say that you can load the bucket to the point where it won't lift. A lot of this is technique - I can overload the bucket (piled high to overflowing) with heavy gravel, wet topsoil, etc. and lift the bucket to a safe carrying height if I drive the tractor into the pile - the force of going into the pile forces the bucket up and the FEL hydraulics don't have to do all the lifting work. If you expect to be able just load the bucket up with heavy gravel or anything like that the BX FEL just isn't going to lift it. The one thing I do wish the BX had is a stronger FEL. Maybe when they come out with a new BX they will make a stronger FEL.

jim_wilson · Jul 4, 2005

Forgot the picture...

SBS · Jul 5, 2005

Yes I am running at full RPM's. I can understand overloading the bucket if the materail is wet, but not dry stone. The machine use to lift better!

davidseaquist · Jul 5, 2005

How big is the bucket on the back of the backhoe? I have a bx22 with 320 hrs on it and when my soil is wet it will not lift a full bucket. Sometimes when I lift at attachment at the end of the bucket the tractor feels kind of tippy. I like my bx22 tractor. sometimes I wish it would lift more. I lifted 600 pounds of cenent bags in the loader, so I know the loader is operating at capasity David.

jim_wilson · Jul 5, 2005

You might try changing out your hydraulic fluid. Use the Kubota Super UDT. My tractor is at almost 285 hours and it seems lately like it might be losing some of it's lifting power. I know I have read in other threads here on TBN of people who changed out their hydraulic fluid and used the cheaper stuff - and afterwards the tractor seemed to lose some lifting power. Replacing the fluid with the SuperUDT made it work better again.

The backhoe bucket is a 24" - I bought it off of a fellow TBN member who sold his BX23 to get a B3030. The hole you see in the foreground of the picture is a foundation hole I have been digging to put in a new garage. The big bucket helps quite a bit with making a level bottom to pour the footer on. I have to be careful though of snagging rocks and it does not dig as well as the 12" bucket in rocky soil.