FEL vs front bumper weights.

[VroomVroom]

Looking at the geometry of the FEL, its attached near your feet and on the front bumper of the tractor. So from I interpret, when the bucket is full the front bumper is the fulcrum. The bucket of weight wants to go down, while the connection point back by your feet would want to go up should the bolts let go. Being that the FEL which is rated for 11 or 1200 lbs. on the small tractor I have............that would be quite a bit of down force on the front bumper. But if you didn't have the FEL attachment, they would only recommend much less weight to be hung on the front bumper.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Looking at the geometry of the FEL, its attached near your feet and on the front bumper of the tractor. So from I interpret, when the bucket is full the front bumper is the fulcrum. The bucket of weight wants to go down, while the connection point back by your feet would want to go up should the bolts let go. Being that the FEL which is rated for 11 or 1200 lbs. on the small tractor I have............that would be quite a bit of down force on the front bumper. But if you didn't have the FEL attachment, they would only recommend much less weight to be hung on the front bumper.

Actually the front axle is the fulcrum. The limit on front weights may have more to do woth the bracket capacity than the front axle capacity. With a full bucket of gravel and no counterweight the front axle has to carry the majority of weight of both load and tractor. A counterweight adds weight behind the fulcrum but front axle loading wouldn't change much

 

[VroomVroom]

I picture it as a teeter totter, the point bolted near my feet wants to go up, with the bucket wanting to go down while the c channel on the bumper being the pivot point. The loaded bucket would put more force on that bumper then hanging say 250 lbs on the front bumper using suit case weights.

 

[VroomVroom]

 

[VroomVroom]

Actually looking at this photo I may think differently and could almost divide the full load of the bucket by half only putting a few hundred pounds on that front bumper, closer to what the manual said about the suitcase weights.

 

[ptsg]

The main point here is that nowadays pretty much all the tractors come standard with power steering. If you experienced using a tractor without power steering, you would definitely notice the difference on the weight between having a loader or the front weights.

The loader will put much more weight on the front versus just the front weights even with an empty bucket.

From factory, I believe they size the counterweights to work with the average weight implements for the size tractor, like mowers, tillers and so on.

 

[PILOON]

The main point here is that nowadays pretty much all the tractors come standard with power steering.

I WISH !

My Mt180D, nice CUT otherwise, but came with 'Armstrong steering'.

 

[ptsg]

As I said, nowadays.. Your tractor is probably from the 90's. Not really a tractor made recently.

I had a Kubota B7000 with an homemade loader, I also understand the "armstrong steering" very well. I'm mean, it really made my arms stronger but also aggravated my tendon problems. Now I have a 2017 Branson, it is just not comparable. I'm glad they fit power steering on pretty much everything now.

 

[skipmarcy]

I'm not sure but I think the lift rams put some of the weight back at the bottom rear framing which would put some of the load in the near center of the tractor, especially the higher you lift the load. Of course the lift arms pivoting at the top of those rear framing members would put some of the load towards the front framing as you say but not all of it.

 

[VroomVroom]

I'm not sure but I think the lift rams put some of the weight back at the bottom rear framing which would put some of the load in the near center of the tractor, especially the higher you lift the load. Of course the lift arms pivoting at the top of those rear framing members would put some of the load towards the front framing as you say but not all of it.

Yeah. There’s something going on like that. Seemed odd to me is all.