Increasing Three Point Hitch Lift Capacity

[rambler]

I'd suspect a hyd issue as others have said, and you talked to your dealer.....

Does your 3pt allow you to adjust the vertical arms going from the lower 3pt arms to the yoke that lifts? On some of my tractors you have 2 (or 3) different holes on the bottom 3pt arms. If you use the ones closest to the tractor, the arm raise & drop a large distance, but it has less capacity. If you use the holes closest to the load, it does not lift as high, but increases the weight you can handle.

Perhaps some modification along those lines would work out more cheaply than modifying the hyds.

I have seen bigger farm tractors with optional or standard hyd assist cylinders on the 3pt as you are looking for. I haven't seen a 'univeral add-on' system tho, as you would need.

I'm a little unclear as to what is causing the problem as others are, so I hope we are helping some.

You talk about 12,000 tow, which would be a pull to the rear, not a lifting force - the lifting force should be pretty low on a 'tow' - how much 'lift' are you creating???? Is it possible your tractor has a draft sensing control like the old Fords & most of the new big tractors (older tractors had a simple spring on the upper link connected to a control rod; newer big tractors have some sort of electrical sensor on the lower arms), and your pulling force is putting too much (or an unexpected) 'pull' on that load sensor & faking the hyds into lowering the 3pt on it's own? If you have this feature can you switch it off?

--->Paul

 

[Bobvt]

Jerry,

I guess using the shut off is a bad idea.

Thanks

Bob

 

[Bobvt]

Paul,

No adjustment possible on the lift arms - onlt one mounting place.

With 7,000 lbs. of logs behind, I am probably lifting 3,000 lbs. The winch is about 700 lbs. and butt end of logs are probbly around 2,500 lbs. A 7,000 lb hitch is about 4 logs. Generally two will be hitched to the butt plate. When lifted the butt ends will be about 6- 8 inches off the gound (probably carring 25-30% of log weight). Two will be attached to the cable and will be 2 - 3 feet off ground (probably carrying close 50% of log weight). When take off the inertia of logs is probably adding another 20% of log weight to lift arms.

The draft control is in the off position.

Thanks.

Bob