FEL Lift capacity

[CMV]

Neal (Messick's) recently did a video on it describing how different companies advertise their loader specs differently and how that can make X look better than Y on paper. Would be a good one to watch.

Anyway, yeah, sounds like you got it....what are they measuring and from where to get that # on the spec sheet. If not apples:apples, that # doesn't really tell you which one will/won't do your task in the real world.

Geometry plays a part too - in general a loader that can't go as high or reach out as far can move more weight. It's a tradeoff. Best thing you can do is if you know you need to lift a pallet of widgets to 6' height or move round bales of X diameter is to test that out when shopping. Either the machine can do what you need or it cannot regardless of what the marketing guys had printed in brochure.

 

[Jcoon]

I have always considered my weight ratings on my tractor to be everything loaded, I should be able to lift my max front loader weight with the max 3 point hitch weight on at the same time, and visa versa. And I should be able to safely operate the tractor fully loaded on both ends, manual doesn’t say I cannot.

 

[Beltzington]

Here are some older ASAE FEL Lifting specs for Ag tractors and I do not see any reference to "tipping factor"

 

[crashz]

Tipping load is a specification on every skid-steer, track loader and wheel loader. In nearly all cases the loader hydraulics are more powerful than the chassis weight/ balance and therefore the tipping load is the actual working load. On articulated wheel loaders, the tipping load changes based upon full articulation, substantially less than straight ahead.

From the factory, these machines are designed with a fixed ballast (some have removable/optional rear weights). But generally not as "changeable" as a tractor.

I believe they are designed to provide that power so that they have the needed breakout force to dig effectively.

 

[mbohuntr]

I'll bet you could take the cylinder pressure, multiply it times the area of the cylinder face, then take those foot/lbs, and slide it out from the pin and get a close number.. ie... 2000 ft/lbs over 5 ft = 400 lbs of lift (times 2 cylinders) = 800 lbs total lift

 

[kthompson]

Tipping Factor is real term used with machines that lift loads. I think you will find the term is used rather widely by many. There are many things I think of as tipping factors: ballast can be one depending on the machine such as tractor can have additional ballast added to it where as fel (the machine not the attachment) cranes and such are not normally design for removing or adding ballast so they are firmer on some numbers.

On a tractor with fel on it low air pressure in a tire, hitting the brakes when driving forward, taking a dip into hole or ditch, load shifting, sudden stopping of load being lower some have been mentioned and others are all "tipping factors". One thing that has been pointed out in talking about load being measured from pins is as a load moves out the lift capacity or the tipping changes greatly.

I use to run test (load capacity and tipping) on cranes and a machine that would lift 20,000 pounds would tip with say 4,000 with just moving the radius out maybe 40 to 50 feet.

 

[CMV]

I have always considered my weight ratings on my tractor to be everything loaded, I should be able to lift my max front loader weight with the max 3 point hitch weight on at the same time, and visa versa. And I should be able to safely operate the tractor fully loaded on both ends, manual doesn't say I cannot.

Manual probably doesn't say you shouldn't light yourself on fire before operating either so not sure I get the point you're trying to make? No one is saying you can't lift max loads or do it safely. But your manual most likely does - in multiple places - caution about how to work with loads.

What we're talking about is how specs can be advertised vs real world performance and the confusion that can cause comparing spec sheets. Attached are NH loader specs for example. IF you had the 110TL loader and read those specs you'd think "I can lift 1843 lbs". But since that's at the pivot pins and to a ~5' height, someone needing to lift a 1700lbs pallet and put it on a 7' high rack might read that and think 110TL loader can do it. In reality, it might not since that weight would be centered a couple feet beyond the pins and needing to go a couple feet higher. However a competing model may only say it can lift 1700 lbs, but that number is taken at full height and 500mm forward of the pins, so even though it is rated "lower capacity" by the spec sheets it is actually more capable of performing the task.

Also attached is example from Kubota LA1055 loader specs - it is an excellent example and from it you can really gauge what the machine can do vs something like mine that only give X lbs at max height at pivot pins and breakout force - leaving you to guess what you really could do with a load.

 

[Jcoon]

My reference to the manual was strictly for the weight specs, I’m not saying to be one of those “the manual says this so i can’t do that” types.

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is a picture of my tipping load.

 

[majorwager]

The maximum capacity of a loader is when the operator unceremoniously ends up w/ a TWO piece tractor. Consult Humpty Dumpty self help videos for corrective remedies.