John Deere 3720 bucket won't lift much weight

[sawyer22]

I bought a 2005 JD 3720 - I have a compost pile of leaves about 12 feet high + wide and with the bucket on I am unable to lift the leaves from the ground - am I expecting too much of it. This is my first tractor with a bucket which I bought since I grow giant pumpkins weighing over 1300 pounds and I want to lift with the bucket or pallet forks. Thanks

 

[J_J]

Type: open center
Capacity: 6.8 gal [25.7 L]
Valves: 5
Pump flow: 8.6 gpm [32.6 lpm]
Total flow: 13.9 gpm [52.6 lpm]

Have you done all the hyd maintenance on the tractor, such as hyd filter, screens, correct type fluid, etc.

You might check the relief pressure using a 3000 psi hyd gage in the FEL valve IN port using a tee.

 

[BigMike50]

what size bucket is it? is the loader a 300cx or a 300x. others posting will want to know this.

 

[9973720wb19]

will the bucket push down? it should be able to lift the wheels off the ground. if it can, check to make sure the lines are hooked up on the correct connect. then i'd change the hydo fluid and all filters - there should be two - canister and magnetic filter that should be clean.

 

[sawyer22]

All fluids and filters changed at 400 with JD materials

300cx loader, 73 inch bucket

 

[sawyer22]

Yes, it will easily lift front wheels off ground

 

[BigMike50]

I think you may be asking too much of the loader. Is the bottom of the pile compacted? In other words, are you trying to breakout at the bottom of the pile compacted underneath 12 foot? Yeah, I think yOu may be asking to much of the loader with that big of bucket. the lift capacity is only around 1500 pounds at the bucket so it sounds like your trying to lift 5000 pounds of compost. Try going into pile with bucket on the ground and curl back. May be able to squeeze out another 5-600 pounds of break out force. Lift your bucket up in the air and drag the pile down a few times till you get loose material at the bottom and scoop that up other than that, if that machine wont pick up a bucket of LOOSE compost than I would definatly investigate further

 

[J_J]

If you have a hyd gage installed and know the relief pressure, you can tell at a glance if the tractor hyd is working at the limits.

If you are trying to lift a load and the relief is going off, or pressure is showing max and you are not lifting, then you are overloaded.

Curling the bucket up may help some by transferring the load center point.

 

[sawyer22]

Thanks for the info guys - I'm thinking maybe the problem was that I was only at 1500 rpm's.

 

[Willl]

300cx loader, 73 inch bucket

Here's what the specs say.