DIY Mechanical Self leveling loader

[ptsg]

Hate when my implement gets floppy! ;-)

I see Orange and Green seem to have some self leveling options. Although when I was shopping these options did not seem common out in the real world. Had I known about this option, It might have changed my purchase decision.

Tested | B1671 Self-leveling loader kit | Performance Impact? - YouTube
Loaders | Front End Loaders | John Deere US

And looks like they pretty much did it as an add-on to the original loader and they can also maintain the stock curl cylinders.

That might also give you something to work out from. You can possibly copy the linkages and adapt to your loader.

 

[The Highlander]

I'd be interested in a setup if you make it happen.

 

[scarlo101]

Roger,
Any luck on building your own self leveling loader. I am also interested in possibly adding one to my (Stoll HDPM8) loader. I am just wondering about your progress and if you have encountered any challenges. I would also model it in AutoCAD but fab it up all manually. I have built a FEL for my small Kubota garden tractor (18HP) and it works well.
Also I am not understanding the need for a crossover relief valve (AS per ptsg) on the curl circuit, so the cylinders give under a certain condition and won't bend stuff. Under what condition will the cylinders need to give?
Thanks

 

[pmsmechanic]

Under what condition will the cylinders need to give?

In the real world things are not always perfect. If the cylinders get out of sync there needs to be a way to protect metal from bending.

 

[4570Man]

In the real world things are not always perfect. If the cylinders get out of sync there needs to be a way to protect metal from bending.

The cylinders aren’t in sync. They rely on the loader frame to keep them together. If you removed the pins you could move the cylinders independently by hand.

 

[pmsmechanic]

The cylinders aren’t in sync. They rely on the loader frame to keep them together. If you removed the pins you could move the cylinders independently by hand.

I guess I didn't explain my point well enough. What I was talking about is the synchronization between the leveling cylinders and the bucket cylinders.

 

[ptsg]

Roger,
Any luck on building your own self leveling loader. I am also interested in possibly adding one to my (Stoll HDPM8) loader. I am just wondering about your progress and if you have encountered any challenges. I would also model it in AutoCAD but fab it up all manually. I have built a FEL for my small Kubota garden tractor (18HP) and it works well.
Also I am not understanding the need for a crossover relief valve (AS per ptsg) on the curl circuit, so the cylinders give under a certain condition and won't bend stuff. Under what condition will the cylinders need to give?
Thanks

Imagine that you have fully dumped your bucket near the ground. Basically, till it hits the hard stops on the loader arms. If you then lift the loader, the self leveling linkage will try to push the dump/curl cylinders forward but it can't go because of the stops. That is where the relief valve is important, as it will allow the dump cylinders to give before something breaks or bends.

 

[CoyPatton]

Imagine that you have fully dumped your bucket near the ground. Basically, till it hits the hard stops on the loader arms. If you then lift the loader, the self leveling linkage will try to push the dump/curl cylinders forward but it can't go because of the stops. That is where the relief valve is important, as it will allow the dump cylinders to give before something breaks or bends.

Many misunderstand that on a ‘self leveling’ loader, it does not level, but constantly adjust the hydraulic cylinders to maintain the same position of attachments. This means there is constant fluid flow within the hydraulic system. Since this is done independent of valve operation, there is the need for a pressure relief system to be present.

 

[scarlo101]

Thanks for the clarification ptsg, I now understand. I realize that as you raise the loader that there is a constant leveling of the the curl cylinders happening, and that it is possible that if they are at the end of their extended travel that something will need to give!! (I suspect the cylinders would probably bend) Is this cross over valve typically built into the loader valve, is it usually a visible part? I will need to be more observant when I see a loader on a tractor.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks for the clarification ptsg, I now understand. I realize that as you raise the loader that there is a constant leveling of the the curl cylinders happening, and that it is possible that if they are at the end of their extended travel that something will need to give!! (I suspect the cylinders would probably bend) Is this cross over valve typically built into the loader valve, is it usually a visible part? I will need to be more observant when I see a loader on a tractor.

Some more expensive loaders, usually for bigger tractors too, will have the relief valves built in at the work ports of the loader valve.

But most loaders will have the relief valve block connected to the hard lines on the loader arms.

Some loaders won't have hard stops and are built slightly different and can get away without the relief valve though. I've seen a couple without it.

Here is an example of one mounted on the loader arms.