Increasing the lift capacity of a FEL

[jigs_n_fixtures]

before making the cyl upgrade, etc, ensure the gpm flow of your tractor will handle the added cyl capacity. & of course, safety is also a primary concern.
may want to inquire w/a hyd shop or your service dealer to determine the new gpm flow requirements
good luck

The flow rate will just affect how fast things move. Unless you're in a high production environment, the loader moving five or even ten percent slower won't be an issue.

Edited to add: The change in volume is proportional to the increase in cylinder diameter. Pi x r-squared. Pi is constant and drops out. So, if you increase the cylinder diameter by 10% the volume of the cylinder increases by 1.1 squared, which is 21% more volume. And at a given flow rate it will move 21% slower.

 

[Redlined0002]

I have an M7040SUHD with an LA1153 loader. For all practical purposes, this loader does a fine job. Occasionally I need to lift something that is closer to the max limits of the loader, and the lift cylinders just won't pick it up. Most of the time, I figure it is the distance from the pin, since the loader is rated at 24" from pin. Push it either further out, or push it right up against it's RATED limits, and it just won't do it. I can usually compensate by using the curl, but sometimes that isn't enough.
A friend has the same issues, and we talked about putting larger cylinders on the loader. My clinders "may" fit his smaller loader, so we could go together and just buy one set for my tractor. Another option is for me to buy a set and keep my originals in case the new ones have issues. A local hydraulic shop can be tasked into making new cylinders to fit, somewhere in the range of 1/4 to 1/2" larger in diameter. I am considering 1/4" larger, because I know me, and if I need to pick up something, I am probably going to push the limits right up to the max. 1/2" might be just enough to do the FEL frame in, so I am going to be a little more conservative.
Has anyone ever increased the size of their loader cylinders, and what was the outcome? Was it worth the expense, and just how much did it slow the hydraulics down as far as normal useage?
This is pretty much a pipe dream right now, but we are going to look into it, unless someone has already done it and can explain why we shouldn't.
David from jax

You can break your tractor in half at the mid section. Don't do it.

 

[Lavender Valley]

2,326 lbs lift (full at 500mm)
2,536 lbs lift (full at 500mm)
The items I have been picking up with a lot of difficulty are in the 1500 pound range, so I need to look at the pressures and go from there.
David from jax

It looks like it should have no problem lifting that weight. Check the pump's pressure, and then, if that's Okay, check the relief valve. When lifting weight, do the cylinders creep down? If so, the cylinder seals may be leaking internally.

 

[m5040]

1st check the pressures at the cylinders. Hydraulic control valves can have circuit reliefs, meaning along with a main relief valve that will have control over everything, a circuit relief only controls that circuit. So if either relief valve is out of adjustment, you will have poor performance.
Before you increase your lift capacity you may want to check the front axle rating and see how close you are to exceeding it, they can be very expensive to fix.
Try to imagine when, even with the stock pressures, you lift a load and the back wheels come off the ground. When this happens ALL of the weight of the tractor, wheel weights, 3pt attachment is on the front axle!

 

[aircommuter]

How are you lifting? Inside the bucket, with forks or with a chain?

 

[MoArk Willy]

In addition to increasing the lifting ability of the loader you should determine how much weight the frame of the tractor itself is designed to handle. It would be a shame to lift the larger load only to destroy the tractor frame.

I believe that 'most" machines frames could handle a loader with a larger capacity.
My concern would be overpowering the existing loader itself.
I would think it would be easy to fold up the loader arms if you increased the cylinders and working capacity before damaging the tractor frame.

 

[sandman2234]

How are you lifting? Inside the bucket, with forks or with a chain?

To move the heaviest, I use the forks. When it doesn't matter, whatever is on the tractor.
David from jax

 

[zzvyb6]

Make sure your cylinders are correctly oriented....

 

[newbury]

C'mon David, check the pressure, it's been 10 days now.
Like already stated - it has been reported on here years ago that for a while some dealers routinely set the pressure low. My B7610 is on the low side of specs. But I've got to remove my backhoe subframe to fix it, so not worth the effort to me.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I'm not sure what you're trying to lift but I did two things to increase the capacity of my MX5800 with LA1065 FEL.

First, I checked the pump pressure and found it to be 10% under spec. Dealer says they do it on purpose for consumer safety reasons. Boosting it to spec gave me a +/- 300# increase in lift.

Second, I took off the bucket and put on a blank SSQA plate with a hook welded to it. This eliminated most of the bucket weight and brought the lift point closer to the pivot pins than it was with bucket mounted hooks. This gave me another 200# of lift.

The second isn't much help if you're moving material with the bucket. In my case. it let me move 2000+# concrete blocks with no trouble. I did find that regularly carrying that much weight caused both front axle seals to start leaking. I switched from UDT2 axle fluid to 90/120W to minimize the leaking.