Curved VS Straight Loaders: PHOTOS

[thcri]

Henro,

Your right. You get use to things the way they are. But it is kind of like, well, electric windows, electric seats or air conditioning in a car. Once you have it, it is tough to go back. I don't have the curved arms and won't trade my tractor in for them. But if I ever do buy another I sure would look into it.

New tractor, I guess I would have to have a new CEO first and I love the one I have /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

murph

 

[To20Chris]

<font color="blue">"The increase in productivity is not ONLY related to how much I can scoop up when I dig into a pile. It is also related to how LITTLE I can disturb what I don't want disturbed. It is also related to many other tasks that don't require the full strength and force of the bucket but perhaps require a lighter touch. I found the difference when I was cleaning out a field and needed to pick up debris. I was not digging at all, I was picking. And when you try to pick up what you cannot see, then you are simply doing no more than shooting at targets in the dark." </font>

But how do the curved arms help in this regard? You still cannot see the front of the bucket at all. And you cannot see the front corners either. This is exactly why and how I use the indicator - so that I can be as precise as possible even though I can’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, I rather like the look of the curved arms, and I think it is probably a marginally better design (provided there is no compromises in the geometry, which I haven’t even thought about!). It’s just that you still can’t see through steel, no matter what shape the arms! I do think a sloped hood would be a significant advantage.

Also, I keep thinking I might be able to rig up a mirror system so that I could see the front edge, at least in one position. One of these days I may give it a try. How about a small camera and LCD screen?

 

[To20Chris]

You mean that glasses holder? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> Amazing thing is that even with the extra clutter of the "hood protector" I still seem to find operating the loader a pleasure and do not really have any difficulties. I am able to shift my head to the right or left and see up between the side of the tractor and the loader arms pretty well.
</font>

I think I have always stated that anyone can get used to anything and for the most part I think we are all capable of becoming proficient with whatever it is that we have. When I started complaining about the B2910 versus the TC24 it was based on the RELATIVE differences and how one machine is easier to be productive with. I don't believe that I am unproductive with the B2910, I just think I am MORE productive on the TC24. And if I only had one then I would have never noticed any of this. But the fact that I would not have noticed, does not negate the advantage of the sloped/curved design. It simply means I would have not been fortunate enough to have seen what is better.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> But how do the curved arms help in this regard </font>

I think it goes to the overall increase in visiblity, and is not simply limited to the curved arms themselves.

 

[MadReferee]

Interesting experiment, but there appear to be some flaws in its execution. For example, how far is it from the top of the bucket to the center of the seat on both tractors (straight line level distance)? Are the distances the same? Probably not. If not then the viewing angle to the front will be different which will influence the distance viewed forward thus skewing the results.

I take this whole experiment to be a nice effort at showing that a sloped hood will give better vision forward (on which I think everyone agrees), but lets make sure the experiment uses valid parameters. The two tractors used here are different in many important aspects related to distance, angles, etc. that would make the experiment results null and void.

Not to say that you didn't do a good job, but it's just not scientific enough to be presented as fact, especially in the manner in which you have been gung ho preaching the results.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Tdog]

Very systematic approach, Bob.

Now, how are you going to get the diesel fuel smell out of Melen's clothes??

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> I take this whole experiment to be a nice effort at showing that a sloped hood will give better vision forward (on which I think everyone agrees), but lets make sure the experiment uses valid parameters. The two tractors used here are different in many important aspects related to distance, angles, etc. that would make the experiment results null and void.
</font>

Mad, you will get no arguement from me that this is not a scientificly valid comparison. I admit the distances you ask about are not the same, the viewing angles are also going to be different, but the fact is every brand of tractor is going to be slightly different, that is why the same operator must be used as the control factor. With the operator being used as the control factor, then the frame of view remains realisticly valid.

Also, this is a "real world" valid comparison using 2 loaders of different brands & designs that are both very common, and they are nearly statistically identical in terms of capacities.

I think your concern for a scientific method is bascially much ado about nothing. The reality is when we go looking for tractors we are typically limited to only the loaders that fit those machines so anyone looking for a tractor with the basic loader capabilities of either of these two loaders is going to be placing his rear end in these two seats, or the seats of other similar, but never identical machines. So if I am shopping for a tractor with some level of capabilities, I am going to find a few possible choices and none of those choices is going to have an identical seat to ground or seat to bucket or any other measurement. In the real world that just doesn't happen. And as these are real world tractors, and people like you & I have to make real world choices, based on the brands that are available to us, I think that while this is not scientifically valid, it is still very valid in terms of real world usability based on tractors that we can actually purchase as opposed to theoretical tractors that don't exist that would make this comparision scientifically accurate in your eyes.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Hi Cliff,

I based my statement on wondering about the seat height off ground not affecting the view on the basis that no one, (except maybe me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) would try to change the seat height.

I was just wondering if NH had designed a higher seat, maybe for that reason, in addition to the sloped hood.

Now I may come by the being different, honestly. I remember my dad lowered his 1949 cub, maybe 6,8 or 10" one time, after he was about my age now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Bob that was an excellent follow-up in my opinion to Henro's original post. I'm sure it must have made a few believers who might have had some doubts as to visibility issues before your comparison pictures.

Now if you want to really get some sparks flying why not do a story on the HST vs manual transmission? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif