Illusion or reality...curved loader arms/hood...?

[Henro]

We keep hearing about how the curved hoods and loader arms on the New Holland and Kioti tractors are superior.

Now they may be. I really don't know. But I do know the I can't see thorugh my loader bucket, and if the tractor was not there at all, things would be about the same.

So I must ask, do the curved loader arms and dropping hoods make any real, practical difference when using the loader?

Heck, I even added a guard above my tractor's hood to protect it from falling objects... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...and that does not seem to matter much to me.

Regardless of where the hood is...the bucket is still there.

So you guys with experience...do you think the sloping hood REALLY makes a difference? For me I doubt it would...

Attached is a picture of what I am using now...really don't notice much difference if any from what it used to be like...

 

[Henro]

Here is a second shot at that photo. If history repeats itself, later both will be visable...currently the first one is not... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[SCB]

Henro,
I can see both pictures. I sure like the mods you made. I have been hit by a dead falling branch a time or two. As for the sloped arms and hood, I can't compare. My BX is the only tractor I have operated. But I have to agree about the bucket being there even with curved arms.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I sure like the mods you made. )</font>

Yeah, Henro's tractor has a great "Mad Max" sort of look.

As to the curved loader arms/hood question: I've wondered that myself. When I test drove the TC24, it didn't have a loader on it, much to my dismay.

Cliff

 

[KiotiJohn]

Bill, I think it goes to more than just total frontal visibility. There are so many times when I'm trying to see something off to the side that with the squared loader arms would be in the way. The sloped arms on my Kioti allow for the arms to be at a lower level right in that line of sight off to the side.
Yes, the bucket is still there, and I can't see through mine either, but the lack of the arms being in my way, and the lack of squared sides blocking some of my lateral frontal view makes it much easier to use.
I'm sure than anyone who is used to the "regular" loader and hood probably have adjusted quite well to using them. However, I think if they used a tractor with sloped hood and curved arm loader, they would instantly see the difference.
I think it's rather difficult to verbalize just exactly what the benefit is, using is everything. John

 

[SCB]

Good point John

 

[SacandagaBrad]

As John said, it is the side visibility that is improved for me on my TC-24. Its funny you started this discussion as I was just thinking about it from a different angle. I do think the boomers (my only experience with sloped hoods and curved loaders) have better visibilty, but wonder if it more a function of seat position. Mine seems high, especially when looking at other brands of similar size. I started thinking about this from the standpoint of the boomers feeling tippy as many have said in the past. I look at yours, some of the green machines, etc., and the seats seem to be positioned further down between the fenders. The high seat is only due to it being built up on a lot of sheet metal with the tranny and rest of the guts of the tractor being low. So I have been wondering if it just a feeling of being tippy when in fact the center of gravity is really where it belongs while I sit well above it enjoying a better view of operation.

I have considered drilling my loader arms for peep holes, but won't start the drill or not to drill discussion all over again /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Brad

 

[8561]

Great post Henro, I agree.

I have adjusted to the regular loader arms quite nicely. I'm not sure exactly what it is I'm missing by not being able to see through. I have sat on curved arm machines, although I would be the first to admit, I have not done any real work with them. I'm sure I could ride one around a parking lot at a dealer, but riding around a parking lot is not an adequate guage for any assessment of any feature of a tractor, in my opinion. Anything my loader arms are blocking, my bucket has already passed by. In those rare, rare instances it might be an issue, I'll stand up and look. Hasn't happened yet.

 

[slowzuki]

The loader tractor I use has very poor visibility. It is an older ag tractor. On the left hand side I can see some of the front tire and a touch of the bucket but on the right the hydraulic hoses completely block the view.

You get good angling the bucket from the feel of how is dragging on the ground, the sounds it makes and/or guessing the angle before lowering the loader arms.

The hood is much higher than most cuts and blocks everything up to about 30 ft away from view. You learn to turn into things so you have a view before losing sight of them.

You learn to adapt while sitting there thinking, there is nothing under the first 2.5 ft of hood except a pair of headlights, what were they thinking? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[To20Chris]

"If history repeats itself, later both will be visable...currently the first one is not."

WOW - invisible loader arms! now you just have to learn to control when they come in and out of visability!

Seriously, I've got big old square loader arms too, but with the 60" bucket, I can usually see the back side of the bucket ends. I just can't see the front edge. I painted an orange band on the end of the indicator, and with practice I can judge it pretty well. Now if I had a shorter bucket, it might be harder to see the ends of it, and I wonder if the distance between the arms on smaller loaders is not proprotionally narrower. In other words, the problem might be worse on smaller loaders?