Kubota loader specs question

kybota · Oct 14, 2004

The literature the Kubota dealers gave me state the "lift capacity" of the their loaders, but don't mention if it is to maximum height or not like all other loader specs I have seen. Does anyone know if they just omitted the lanquage or if this is a misleading bit of data?

I have literature for Allied-Buhler and Rhino loaders and they describe lift capactiy at both maximum height and lower heights. The lift below maximum height is much higher, so the Kubota figures could be very misleading if they are not to maximum height.

_RaT_ · Oct 14, 2004

I have never understood just how this applies in everday use. As one who has used my loader to death the last year (my shiny steel scratched bucket can attest), I have yet to pick up a bucket load at ground height and then not able to lift it to full loader height. In other words, what fits in my bucket and can be lifted from ground height to full height. I think when one looks at loader specifications, it's easy to become to reliant on the specs as a means of measuring their ability. Providing the various manufactuers loaders are within a few hundred pounds of each other, I just don't think it matters. I find things like roll back angle, loader lift height to be far more important. In theory it sounds great to have a loader with the most lift ability, in practice, I just don't personally find it something I give a second thought. I find loader work to be more of a finesse operation. The ability to break a load out of a pile more often then not, requires a joint combination of bucket roll and loader lift then anything else. Getting a full bucket in stubborn material often requires a combination of bucket dump/roll and loader down to fill it. If you get the oppourtunity to experiment with a loader, it may well be far more telling then any manufactuers specifications. I look for several things. A loader that is easy to remove, a loader with large rollback angles 40 deg or more, as high a lift height as possible and I love having fast cyle times as very rarely if ever do I operate the loader at full RPM. Using my LA 723 on my Kubota L3830 and then the loader on our NH 2120 shows where the stronger NH 2120 is weaker, it is incredibly slow at my normal operating RPM when compared to the newer Kubota. Rat...

SeymourBota · Oct 14, 2004

I agree that is hard to picture a load that you start to lift that does not make it to full height. If the FEL is being used to lift something from a higher starting point, however, this might come into play.
I was using my FEL to lift an empty propane tank and the lift was done from the top by strap, so it began with the bucket near full lift height. It was a challenge.

Rolando · Oct 14, 2004

I haven't seen any Kubota literature on loader specs that DIDN'T list the loader capacity at full height. They give several numbers that aren't the same: "Lift Capacity at Full Height at Bucket Pivot Point", and "Lift Capacity at Full Height (Bucket Center)"

The capacity number is bigger at the pivot point than at bucket center. They also list the breakout force, which is the biggest and doesn't relate to height.

If they gave you a number without defining it, it could be confusing. You want to make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

DanR67 · Oct 15, 2004

( I agree that is hard to picture a load that you start to lift that does not make it to full height. If the FEL is being used to lift something from a higher starting point, however, this might come into play.
I was using my FEL to lift an empty propane tank and the lift was done from the top by strap, so it began with the bucket near full lift height. It was a challenge. )

Yep - SeymourBota nalied it! I also haven't had anything I couldn't lift from the ground to full height - but with some rocks, etc. I really didn't want to try!

I recently purchased an old Lincoln welder - she's a brute:

Bigger Pic

While I estimate that it weighs @ 600 lbs - and my LA352 FEL is rated at 925 lbs - I didn't think I'd have any problem lifting it - WRONG! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The picture shows the welder on its back - when standing it's nearly 4' tall - so my bucket is raised fairly high to get a chain through its' top lifting eye and onto my bucket hooks.

Using just the FEL lift cylinders - I can *just* get it off the ground?!?! However, I have found if I leave some slack in my chain - I can easily lift it high enough for transporting with the "bucket curl" cylinders - it comes right up (and the FEL lift arms hold it up fine - they just can't raise it).

I too had puzzled previously about the various FEL lift ratings - but then this experience showed me clearly why there are differences: the *leverage* provided by the hydaulic FEL lifting cylinders changes (decreases) the higher the bucket goes.

********************

Maybe this example can help explain: have you ever worked out with free weights and done bicep curls?

When you are either at the end of a set - or trying to set a *personal best* with a heavy weight - it is difficult to get the weight started upwards from the bottom position where your arms are fully extended. This is because your bicep muscle doesn't have enough *leverage* yet to lift the weight.

But if you use *poor form* ( /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) - and jerk the weight forward & up (using some combination of shoulders / hips etc.) a few inches - then the bicep has more leverage and you can finish the curl.

*****************

HA! I decided to search Google for "moment arm" - here's the first hit:

moment arm

Just imagine the diagram shown *upside down* - and the "bicep muscle" is a hydraulic cylinder of your FEL - except that the hydraulics *push* where the bicep *pulls* - mechanically, the FEL will have the same leverage limitation when lifting. Read the first paragraph - I think that sums it up nicely.

******************

Finally - in retrospect of my last 6 months or so of tractor ownership - I've had a couple *pucker-factor* moments - all of them, if I remember correctly - occurred when I was lifting something heavy - no real steep hilly areas here. I think I had the bucket raised up also - so I was lifting something from one of the chain hooks on the bucket.

It's all well and good that your FEL can lift something *a little* - it doesn't have to move far to get back to the ground. But once you raise something heavy up high - the forces keeping all four wheels on the ground can quickly get shifted WAAAYY out of whack!

This latest experience helped me realize that *when my FEL is struggling - take extra care & precautions*. In a way then - this inherent "leverage limitation" provides *built in safety* - so you can't put yourself into a dangerous situation too easily.

Happy lifting! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dan

_RaT_ · Oct 15, 2004

In a way then - this inherent "leverage limitation" provides *built in safety* - so you can't put yourself into a dangerous situation too easily.


Actually, when your on a side slope, just the empty bucket raised up high will get the tractor in a fairly unstable situation. With a load in it, it is very, very easy to tip over. I frequently curl large boulders into my bucket that the loader cannot lift. When lifting really heavy items, like welders can sometimes be, try lifting from behind the bucket.

slowzuki · Oct 15, 2004

Attached is a detailed spec sheet for a Kubota loader (LA853), this is available somehow from Kubota.

MessickFarmEqu · Oct 15, 2004

(

While I estimate that it weighs @ 600 lbs - and my LA352 FEL is rated at 925 lbs - I didn't think I'd have any problem lifting it - WRONG! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )

FYI - That loader is 925 at the pins, its under 800 in the bucket and 670 at the end of it.

DanR67 · Oct 15, 2004

( (

While I estimate that it weighs @ 600 lbs - and my LA352 FEL is rated at 925 lbs - I didn't think I'd have any problem lifting it - WRONG! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )

FYI - That loader is 925 at the pins, its under 800 in the bucket and 670 at the end of it. )

MessickFarmEqu -

I was just trying to illustrate what I think everyones (at least new tractor owners - O.K. at least my) misconception / misunderstanding of what the FEL specs mean. When I was evaluating different CUTs - I too noticed variation on the way that the specs were presented.

That being said - I am completely satisfied with the capabilites fo my B7610s' LA352 FEL - it's done everything that I *reasonably* expected it would - and then there's this rock:

Big Pic

The picture doesn't do it justice - it's huge - I'm guessing 1400 - 1600 lbs!. By I dug it out of the ground and moved it about 30' - all using just the FEL (no toothbar).

So my final point is: while all the specs are great - some like lift height are valuable - they don't necessarily tell you what work you can get accomplished. (Either that - or my welder weighs alot more than I think!)

**********

RaT -

I agree - on a slope a tractor can get unstable even with an empty bucket - luckily my lot is fairly flat.

In regards to your point about *lifting behind the bucket* (which would put the center of lift closer to the lifting pins! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) - I hadn't thought of that before.

Of course, the hooks on my bucket face *backwards* - so I'll have to see about getting some hooks / chain that I can hook over the top edge of the bucket.

Hydraulically speaking - I will have even greater lifting capacity at the *back of the bucket* because the area of the hydraulic pistons is larger in the *dump* direction. For example - I have no problem lifting my front wheels when *dumping* the bucket while on the ground.

Thanks for the tip!

Dan

5030tinkerer · Jul 5, 2014

slowzuki said:
Attached is a detailed spec sheet for a Kubota loader (LA853), this is available somehow from Kubota.

Just to unearth an old thread as I was looking capacities up. I have the L5030 with the LA853 loader. I have picked up a 'pallet' of rubber mulch that weighed 2000 pounds with my tractor. The 'pallet' had straps that necessitated it being picked up from the top using loops at about 8' off of the ground. I wouldn't want to do it again. The bottom of the pallet was kept hovering just an inch or two above the ground, but the whole time I was concerned about snapping my front axle. I have loaded tires, had a 6' bush hog on the back and needed 4-5 180-240 guys standing on the deck of the bushhog for counter weight. I moved this VERY slowly (thanks HST!) on flat ground for a church playground project. Never again will I want to lift so much weight.

I have also used my forks to lift 3/4" 4x8 plywood sheets that were stacked onto a pallet. I could lift 24 at a time IIRC, and then only could get them to lift at increased engine RPM's and then could only lift them as much as 18" or so off of the ground.

I am taking delivery on an 1150# pallet off of an 18 wheeler next week and will report back if I get the time, but things with that should be fine. The concern is the pucker factor lifting a load and holding it off of the ground at the elevation necessary to get it off the truck.

Hope this helps someone!

Ed