How much is too much for BX23 Loader?

[ultrarunner]

I was able to get delivered free about 100 yds of mixed crushed rock from a construction site up the road. It is the same base material that the state used when they opened a quarry to build the interstate 50 years ago.

I'm on a down slope and the mound is about 12' high when measured on the low side.

I drive my BX into the bank while raising the loader. Because the mound is tall, it is easy to get a heaping load in the loader. I notice my front tires look almost flat even though I've got 20 psi in each one.

So far, I moved about 30 yds, nice and easy, without incident. I'm wondering if I'm risking equipment damage by the weight I'm carrying. On the other hand, the BX23 TLB is designed so that all the parts work together and the loader will still SLOWLY go up with full throttle.

 

[rpoage]

Front tires should be around 22 lbs for serious FEL work. I suspect you have a weight limit around 500lbs if your FEL is like mine. I strongly suggest you beg, borrow or steal a ballast weight if youæ±*e going to do heavy lifting. A "pucker" moment is likely in your future if you don't.

 

[escavader]

aint gonna hurt nothing.If it fits in the bucket you can lift it,at least mine can.Im suprised you need full throttle.IVe moved many yards of crushed stone,sand ,gravel,loam etc never have to be above 1/2 throttle to lift it.Are you talking about breakout force? If so go in as far as you can then reverse slightly.It will still be fullas you can muster,without spilling half of it along the way.Never noticed my tires looking flat,mabey mine are different,i got loaded ag tires.
ALAN

 

[ultrarunner]

I always keep the Backhoe on for Ballast and yes, I was referring to breakout force when throttling up.

Thanks for the tip on backing out slightly... It took me awhile to stumble onto the technique. With the pile being as high as it is, I imagine the weight of the rock above the bucket is substantial.

I will up my air pressure 10% to 22-23 and see how that works.

Any idea what a wet, heaping load of crushed rock weighs in a BX23 Loader Bucket? I'm thinking 4 to 5 normal buckets, not heaping, to move a yard?

My neighbor from across the road stopped by this afternoon. He was really impressed at the amount of rock the BX has already moved. He confessed that he didn't think much of my BX when I brought it home due to it's small size.

 

[Egon]

I usually have at least 30 psi in the front tires on my Kubota B7100. Makes for easier steering.

 

[escavader]

I always keep the Backhoe on for Ballast and yes, I was referring to breakout force when throttling up.

Thanks for the tip on backing out slightly... It took me awhile to stumble onto the technique. With the pile being as high as it is, I imagine the weight of the rock above the bucket is substantial.

I will up my air pressure 10% to 22-23 and see how that works.

Any idea what a wet, heaping load of crushed rock weighs in a BX23 Loader Bucket? I'm thinking 4 to 5 normal buckets, not heaping, to move a yard?

My neighbor from across the road stopped by this afternoon. He was really impressed at the amount of rock the BX has already moved. He confessed that he didn't think much of my BX when I brought it home due to it's small size.

I think if kubota keeps their breakforces down so you dont start picking up tractor rears,or breaking something.Isometimes just inch back to get it to lift.
dont know what crushed rocks weigh,only thing i think seems heavier are a bucket of solid rocks,like from a stone wall,at least seems that way.
My manual says 6.1 cubic ft per heaping bucket.So [im thinking out loud] if a yard is 3 by 3 by 3 or 27 cubic feet you can do it in 5 buckets i think your right on that
Alot of folks snicker at the little TRACTORS[i did too] until you see one work.Alot of hydraulic power in a little package.Great for us homeowners and hobby farmers.
ALAN

 

[TalonDancer]

....Any idea what a wet, heaping load of crushed rock weighs in a BX23 Loader Bucket? I'm thinking 4 to 5 normal buckets, not heaping, to move a yard?...

Here's an interesting site that lists lbs/cuft for lots of stuff you might fit in your FEL like: limestone, gravel, beans, coffee, potatoes, platinum, ....

Talon Dancer

 

[Jimbrown]

I have moved hundreds of yards of dirt, gravel , and sand with my BX22. Would not guess how many, Over 100yds of sand into my horse arena, hundreds of bucket loads of sand from the sand wash to the horse stalls and barn area, drive way 800ft, and landscaping mounds. All of the dirt from the hole for the swimming pool, That was a lot!!. And it still works great. My manual calls for 25 lb in the front. I just run into the pile, start my breakout and let it roll backwards about an inch and it comes up with a full bucket maost every time.

 

[drtydeed]

Your BX 23 is designed for that sort of work. Keep 22 psi min for serious loader work. You can figure on 4 heaped buckets/yd. Closer to five buckets/yd if carried low (which I know you are doing for stone)

 

[ultrarunner]

I increased the front tire pressure to 24 psi and the tires no longer look flat with a full loader. Had two more neighbors take a look at the BX in action today... both left very impressed.

For me, the biggest benefit of owning my BX is the convenience of being able to work around my schedule without having to deal with everything involved in renting one.

I plan a lot of my work a couple of days after a good rain... the ground compacts well, zero dust and my exposure to poison oak is greatly reduced...

TBN is a great resource... my thanks to everyone

 

[RayCo]

Here's an interesting site that lists lbs/cuft for lots of stuff you might fit in your FEL like: limestone, gravel, beans, coffee, potatoes, platinum, ....

That is a great list! I can haul GIANT piles of carbon monoxide in my BX24!

 

[ultrarunner]

Looks like my BX had close to 700 pounds in the loader bucket based on the heaped bucket capacity of 6.1 cu ft and the 125 lbs per cu ft of wet gravel from the chart.

 

[TalonDancer]

The main thing I found interesting in the chart is the _range_ of densities for raw earth materials depending on whether they are loose, packed, dry, wet, crushed solid, etc. If you scan the chart you'll find that most raw earth materials run between roughly 80-160 lb/cuft. And for some odd reason our Kubota FEL/buckets are sized to lift about that many CuFt in that density range

FWIW I've been moving a lot of limestone in various forms lately: pulverized -> solid blocks with a density range of 87->163 lb/CuFt -- nearly double!

If you look at refined earth material densities you'll discover why Kubotas are not the vehicle of choice for bank heists. Not only are they bright orange and slow -- they can't lift a full FEL of gold or platinum Well that's one project off my list

Talon Dancer

 

[ultrarunner]

I've always remembered my shop teacher said a 1' x 1' x 1' block of steel weighs 470 lbs.

We used 500 lbs per cu ft to estimate the weight of steel plate so as to not overload the lift truck or overhead crane at the tool and die shop where I worked.

Now I can add wet gravel weighs 125 lbs per cu ft to my bank of knowledge.

Thanks for posting the resource TalonDancer

 

[Yankee Clipper]

FYI

The BX23 uses a LA210 loader - the 210 means 210 kg or 462 lbs - that is what it is rated for to full height. Breakout is 950 lbs or twice the lift capacity.

ASAE and SAE rating usually is 50% of breakout - meaning the tractor will remain stable (with rear ballast) and still raise the load to full height.

FYI - this model numbering system applies to most of the newer Kubota loaders to determine the rating.

 

[tommu56]

That is a great list! I can haul GIANT piles of carbon monoxide in my BX24!

I can get more helium in mine!

tom

 

[Jay4200]

Any idea what a wet, heaping load of crushed rock weighs in a BX23 Loader Bucket? I'm thinking 4 to 5 normal buckets, not heaping, to move a yard?.

If memory serves (no guarantee of that) stone typically weighs ~1.5 ton per yard. A heaping scoop should weigh about 600 pounds.

If you aren't blowing your front tires off the rim, you're fine. Besides, if a load is too heavy for the bucket, the the bucket's hydraulics saftey blowoff won't allow the bucket to lift.

JayC