Tractor Sizing How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift?

[jenkinsph]

I would assume the final verdict would if the tractor/loader combination can/or can't lift, move and dump the load.

Empirical observation at work. Few folks can look at a potential load and get it's real weight within a pounds.

Good points Egon, either it works or doesn't work.

 

[gladehound]

I would assume the final verdict would if the tractor/loader combination can/or can't lift, move and dump the load.

Empirical observation at work. Few folks can look at a potential load and get it's real weight within a pounds.

You mean you don't measure the volume and take a sample to get a density estimate then calculate the weight of objects you want to try to lift before doing so??? You just go and try to lift them!!! I wish I would have known this earlier. It would have saved me a ton of time!!! :laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

What tractor does a 524 loader fit? Who lifted 2k with one and clamp forks? How much you figure that log weighs? Dimensions and.species?

I can't find the member who said he lifted it. The log is 25" on the small end 30" on the big end and 8 feet long. The species is soft maple. Log weight calculator says 1,700 pounds. The LA524 fits several models. The tractor used in my test was my Grandpas L3800.

 

[davesl708]

I would assume the final verdict would if the tractor/loader combination can/or can't lift, move and dump the load.

Empirical observation at work. Few folks can look at a potential load and get it's real weight within a pounds.

Agreed. Never looked at my FEL specs till this thread. I poke it and if it lifts I lift. If not I make the load lighter or smaller.

 

[gladehound]

Getting back on topic... How much can a sub-compact tractor lift?

I must say that the GC1715 tested at the beginning of this thread lifted more than I thought it would (I didn't know the specs when I started reading the thread). I am still curious to see what other brands / models of SCUTs lift. I have to admit that I am one who believed these things could lift ~500 pounds and if the newer ones are now lifting ~1000 pounds that seems much more usable. There is an arms race with loader capacities in SCUTs and CUTs. Newer ones tend to lift more.

I am also curious as to what the 3pt. will lift in real life. I was under the impression that SCUTs were also very limited in this area. And my impression is probably dated and not applicable to newer SCUTs.

I'm not in the market of a SCUT. I'm just curious about how much they have improved in the last decade.

 

[davesl708]

Getting back on topic... How much can a sub-compact tractor lift?

I must say that the GC1715 tested at the beginning of this thread lifted more than I thought it would (I didn't know the specs when I started reading the thread). I am still curious to see what other brands / models of SCUTs lift. I have to admit that I am one who believed these things could lift ~500 pounds and if the newer ones are now lifting ~1000 pounds that seems much more usable. There is an arms race with loader capacities in SCUTs and CUTs. Newer ones tend to lift more.

I am also curious as to what the 3pt. will lift in real life. I was under the impression that SCUTs were also very limited in this area. And my impression is probably dated and not applicable to newer SCUTs.

I'm not in the market of a SCUT. I'm just curious about how much they have improved in the last decade.

For reference my 03 BX2200 states; FEL 950 break out, 460 at max height at pins. 3pth rated 1210 at lift point and 680 24" behind lift points.

 

[jenkinsph]

For reference my 03 BX2200 states; FEL 950 break out, 460 at max height at pins. 3pth rated 1210 at lift point and 680 24" behind lift points.

That is a reasonable capacity given the fact that it allows for moving and transporting the materials or implements in actual use. Big difference between picking a load up and creeping around at a snails pace and driving all over the property at a reasonable speed. The 3ph on my mower will lift my 425 lb. land plane and transport with no problems. The mower will also pick up more weight tried it with a 200 lb. helper on the lpgs for about 625 lbs. total but I would not try to drive around with that much weight on it.

 

[AxleHub]

Big difference between picking a load up and creeping around at a snails pace and driving all over the property at a reasonable speed.

Exactly right . . thats why when i mentioned my testing . . I included driving my tested load at normal speed over hundreds of feet of rolli g lawn and then also went up snd down a steep hillside slope. I felt test results are only good at normal uses . . not rigged conditions.

 

[LD1]

I took a picture of the lift vs height graph in my manual and figured I share.

All loaders will have a similar curve, weather or not there is one in print somewhere.



Notice that at ground level, lift at the pins is in the 1200kg range (2640lbs) Which is over double its 1100lb rating to max height.

And the 500mm forward point (bucket edge) is in the 850kg range (1870lbs), again, alot more than its 850lb rating to full height.

To a height of about 1000mm (40" truck bed height) it looks to still be good to ~650kg(1430lbs) at 500mm bucket edge and ~800kg (1720lbs) Not hard to see why I can lift a 1200# pallet with clamp on forks to load in the bed of a truck, especially with my relief set 300psi over spec. And able to lift some pretty good logs just high enough to be out of the dirt to cut.

All this on a loader only rated for 850# at the bucket edge to max height.

Loader underrated? No. Just the geometry of the design and where the ratings are taken from. The MFG ratings IMO are probably pretty close. Just understand that it is able to lift alot more at lower heights.

This image shows the difference in angles from ground level to max height.


Since the formula for cylinders on an angle is the power of the cylinder times the sine of the angle

My cylinders are 1.77" diameter and factory spec is 2347psi each cylinder can push with 5775# of force, or 11,550# for the pair.

On an 20 degree cylinder to arm angle, only 0.342 (or 32.4%) of that is used for vertical force. That gives 3950# upward push at the cylinder mounts at ground level. (Loader cant actually lift that obviously, cause factors such as the dead weight of the bucket and frame, plus the leverage effect. Bucket is pretty far out in front of the cylinder pushing points.

At max height, the angle is closer to 5 degrees. Thats 0.087 (8.7%). So that 11,550# available translates into 1006# pushing vertically.

Those of you questioning the fact that as the loader goes higher, the movement becomes less vertical and more horizontal (travelling around the arc) and "should not" cause a reduction. THIS is your answer. The lift height vs capacity curve accounts for that. Notice that on the curve the lift capacity at the pin goes from ~1200kg down to 500kg. Thats a reduction of 58%. You have 58% less capacity at the top than at the bottom of the loaders range of travel.

All that was done though, while loosing 75% of its push from the cylinders.

So...loose 75% power out of the cylinders, only loose 58% of the lift capacity.

Any questions?

 

[k0ua]

No that pretty well covers it. Those of us that have operated for some time with heavy loads have all experienced the ability to get a heavy load up off of the ground, but often seem to run out of "power" to lift some of these heavy loads very high. You have just put to paper and pencil what we have all experienced and have learned from that experience.