KL120 Loader Flexing

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But share with us your drink recipe. Obviously been having too much fun this morning. )</font>

Can't do it. I drank every last drop and then ate the recipe for kicks. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif And, the recipe didn't get caught on my toothbar.

 

[5030]

Steve:

Took a couple of minutes and tested the M9 with the LA1251 loader. This is a much bigger unit than what you guys are fooling with here, but I wanted to see just how much flex there was. It's not apparent in the cab at all but is when viewed from the front. I believe the QA is contributing somewhat. I can't get the tractor on a concrete surface, It won't fit in the pole garage, it's too big so I settled for the gravel drive and a level spot. I used a heavy cinder block so I have 12" of height. Actually, the weight of the tractor sunk the block somewhat so probably about 10". You'll get the idea.

Specs:
Loader:
LA1251 with QA and 84" bucket
ASAE Rated lift capacity: 2,755 pounds
Loader weight: 1984 pounds

Tractor:
M9HDCC3
Weight: 6175 pounds + Loader=8159 pounds (4+ tons)
3ph Cat II lift capacity at ends: 5560 pounds

I had nothing on the TPH and the brakes were locked.
I lifted the front wheels off the ground and you can see the flex. I'd expect some. This is a heavy (compared to you guy's) unit. However, the bucket at the opposite corner isn't touching the ground.

I have 41 hours on the unit, all FEL work including popping stumps last weekend and destroying my neighbors yard.

Yes, those tires are big compared to my old 5030. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[5030]

Here is another picture:

I took this one a little lower down so you can see the angle of the crossmember on the loader in relationship to the grille.

 

[5030]

Another one:

This is from the left side of the tractor so you can see the wheel is well off the ground. You can also see the bucket lip is off the ground on the right side.

 

[5030]

Another one:

This is the right side of the tractor looking across at the left wheel. You can see the bucket flex. I believe some of the flex is in the bucket itself and some in the QA. If you look back to the previous pictures, you will note that the loader arms are parallel to the tractor at all times. There is a lot of weight bearing down on the bucket and concentrated in the corner. You don't need a toothbar to dig with this puppy. Late last fall I dug a 8' wide x 8' deep hole in the pasture for an expected loss that never happened. That was in clay, but it seemed like sand.

This sucker is big. I worry about a nosebleed while riding so high. It rides like a car with the air ride seat.

My crossmember is like the 5030, round, with no interruptions anywhere. The hydraulic lines across the crossmember are solid steel lines. My 5030 had a cover on them , my M9 don't.

This loader has a cross bar right in front of the cab. If I remember correctly, the 5030 didn't. It's still a 2 pin loader though I haven't had it off yet. I will when I'm running the hay tools.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I worked the CK20 again today, taking out some more stumps, and using the toothbar to clean out roots roots and more roots, and load them for disposal, and just didn't have the time to take any pictures, but I don't really need the test to be able to detect the flexing.

I imagine that I would get the same results as Steve did on his were I to put a block right on the corner and power down onto it.

I'm not sure if this is good or bad, as I've said, the loader works great, and so far so good as regards the cracks, none.

I figure that some of the flex is coming from the natural spacing in the bushings in the loader. Of course, if they were completely tight, there would be no room for all that grease I pack them with!

Where the rest of it comes from, I don't know, and I hope it continues to not be a cracking problem.

Daryl aka 5030, that new tractor is just too nice. When did you get rid of the 5030? It didn't have a lot of hours did it?
John

 

[5030]

KiotiJohn:

I traded the 5030 in late last fall. I looked at Kioti's (there is a dealer in Manchester, Michigan about 30 miles from the farm). I even went there twice and fiddled with a DK65. I love Perkins engines. They are real fuel efficient and have a good torque rise (My 1085 Massey has a 318 Perkins) but the DK65 wasn't quite big enough in the PTO power department. I'm looking at a side mount hydraulic Woods ditch mower and a township contract for roadside and ditch mowing in the future in addition to making hay (so much for retirement).

Anyway, I listed the 5030 here on TBYNet classifieds, got a few bites, but nothing solid. Meanwhile I priced a NH TN90 against the Kubota and the Kubota came in at around 3K less and the NH was "A" plan.

I settled on the M9 because it's turbo'd and charge air cooled but I didn't want the new M95S. I don't particularly like the sloped hood. I ordered the M9 on Kubota's promo 4.99% plan in November last year. It came in in January and it's been here ever since.

It's way more tractor than the 5030 in every way including size and somehow, I wound up with the M95 engine. Funny thing, my wife is very intimidated by the M9 but runs the 1085 which is physically bigger than the M9. Both have the same size rears but the 1085 is TWD instead of FWA and no loader. Maybe it's the loader that bothers her.

If you look at my photo's you can see the apparent weight on the bucket. That is a HD bucket and if you look at the cutting lip, it's got a curve to the left as it takes the weight of the tractor. I was surprised it didn't crush the cinder block!

It's a beast with a flexible FEL.

I was somewhat disappointed when I heard that Kubota was discontinuing the M9000. I always considered the M9 to be the 4020 of the Kubota line. The M9 has been in Kubota's lineup for many years and has (in my opinion), been refined and improved to an ideal utility/ag tractor. I was just on Kubota's website and I see that maybe they had a change of heart. The M9 is still listed along with the 85 and 95 new style tractors.

John:
I'm sorry. I re-read yopur post and I forgot to put the hours in. The 5030 had 625 hours when I traded it. It offset the M9 at 24K

I considered changing my signature picture as well as my forum name but the 5030 picture looks like the M9 only I sit much, much higher and I've used 5030 for so long, I'll just leave it. Sort of like tradition. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Steve_Miller]

Daryl,
That things a brute, I could put my little Kioti in the bucket of that thing! Like someone else said, you need some dirt or dust on it to make it look more at home. As far as roadside mowing, do you need extra insurance to do that?. I know an older fellow who use to do it and the insurance (if I remember he said about $1500-2000 extra to cover for liability), made it not feasible to do unless he got 20 or more hours a week through the summer to make it a break even venture. The DOT (highways division) states that insurance is mandatory to be able to bid on the work.

John,
Your right, the test proves nothing, but it was interesting to see some results. It is something to watch for (the cracking). Did you notice in the picture Don posted that his loader has reinforcing around the access cover. I found that as maybe a suitable fix when the time comes.

Steve

 

[5030]

Steve:

Is that reinforcement factory or added?? All those hose ends in there, not much room for tightening up things.

You should have seen it last Sunday. I destroyed my neighbors yard popping stumps. It was covered in wet sticky goo. Couple of times I had to lock both diff's and even then thought I was getting the Massey to pull it out. It took 3 hours to get the mud and goo off.

Finally, yes, I need contractural liability insurance over and above the limits of my farm policy, but the contract is pretty lucrative. It's a 4 year contract and I calculate a break even in 2 years. Folks around here will do a double take. They are used to seeing only Deeres doing anything.

I think next week I'm going to borrow my other neighbors Michigan 12 yard articulated quarry loader and do the flex test on it. I have a chunk of 12" thick x 12" wide die plate that will stand the strain. The loader weighs around 35K and I can park my car in the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif That will be the ultimate flex test.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I considered changing my signature picture as well as my forum name but the 5030 picture looks like the M9 only I sit much, much higher and I've used 5030 for so long, I'll just leave it. Sort of like tradition. )</font>
Hey, I'm glad you didn't change your name. I might not then have been aware, and wouldn't have been able to be civilized with you after such a long time since we loved to hate on another! LOL

I'll be keeping my name even if I buy another brand. After all, I can be obstreperous no matter what color I own, so may as well keep my first TBN handle.

Believe it or not, around here, I rarely see a Deere with the power cutters, you know, going around cutting limbs out of trees and majorly tearing up the roadsides? They are usually bit NHs. I see a lot of Deer on the interstates hogging though, and some Kubotas, but contractors around here seem to be favoring the NHs.

I understand completely about the DK65. You have to have what will do what you need it to. While the DK65 is a "hot" tractor to me, if it doesn't do the work you need, it's not too hot.

Anyway, I was surprised to see any flex in your loader, and still thing some of it comes from the articulations, bushings etc.

STEVE: I think I said that I'm not sure it proves anything, at least that's what I meant, and didn't at all mean to belittle your thread. I find it interesting, and only wish I knew more about engineering as regards loaders.

I haven't pulled my loader cover to see what's inside yet, but I see no cracks at the borders. I could see how a lot of flex could cause some cracks in that area, twisting right in the area of openness and just letting go.

I don't care what anyone says, steel of the like that used to come out of US Steel MFG was the best there was, and nobody makes it that way any more. The man I did a job for yesterday and today gave me an old Kerosene tank that I'm going to use for my diesel fuel. When we went to cut the legs at the ground, just beneath the surface, that steel was as shiny as the day it was made, and it had been in the ground for nearly 40 years.

The tank has no rust through, not even close, and the saws-all went through two new blades before we could get all 4 legs cut. Hard as steel as it used to be is no longer as far as I'm concerned.

Oh, we cut the legs because there was a 4" concrete pad holding it in the ground that we didn't feel like destroying.
John