Kubota "Shockless Ride", SoftDrive or equivalent accumulator?

[Smokeydog]

I have 3000psi gauge, glycerin filled to try. Added to the accumulators and valves stack with a tee to monitor pressures with the accumulators on or off.

Piping large enough to need extra support.

 

[Smokeydog]

Modified one of the KSR OEM brackets to support the accumulators on top the 3rd function cover guard. Supported by three existing bolts.



Assembled to bracket.
Needle valve for flow control option. Don’t know if needed but needed a couple of inches height to put the ball valve in easy access.

 

[ptsg]

That's a fancy mount, yet very nicely made! Great work Smokey.

I actually saw a neat accumulator setup on a tractor here in my country. So the guy took a double acting cylinder, used a big spring over the rod, and a nut and washer holding the spring in place. Pretty much like a coil over shock absorber. He then connected the rod end port of the cylinder to the extending side of the lift cylinders with a ball valve, making it his version of "Shockless ride".

The tricky part of that, would be to get the right spring for it.

 

[Fallon]

That's a fancy mount, yet very nicely made! Great work Smokey.

I actually saw a neat accumulator setup on a tractor here in my country. So the guy took a double acting cylinder, used a big spring over the rod, and a nut and washer holding the spring in place. Pretty much like a coil over shock absorber. He then connected the rod end port of the cylinder to the extending side of the lift cylinders with a ball valve, making it his version of "Shockless ride".

The tricky part of that, would be to get the right spring for it.

Some of the gravity tilt tilting deck trailers i was looking at a couple years ago used a 2nd cylinder mounted on the frame as a reservoir. Same basic idea, only no spring. Valve in between to secure or slow the deck (transport lock elsewhere).

 

[mcfarmall]

Recently I used the tractor to load my winter ballast into the bed of the truck. I loaded up 8pcs of concrete cap blocks on a pallet and ran them up to the house to put in the truck bed. The Kubota Shockless Ride system worked very well. I could see the loader float as I ran across bumps and ruts in my yard and there was no bouncing and banging like on my FIL's tractor without KSR. I'm a happy customer so far!

 

[Smokeydog]

Unit installed on tractor. Tucked in nicely and should be well protected. Have to get a line and tee to the tractor loader. It’s a U bend much like the curl and backhoe stick hoses. I’ll get the hydraulic shop’s advice. Might need a swivel fitting?

From the driver’s seat. Can operate the ball valve by leaning forward from the driver’s seat. Shortened the ball valve handle 1/4” to clear the engine sheetmetal.

From the front looking back.

The gauge is not required but a added feature. Hoping to guesstimate the weight of the load. Try the mechanical gauge first then a cheap digital.

 

[ptsg]

Very nice. I like the gauge there.

If you don't mind, could you share some of the pressures once you get it connected?

 

[Smokeydog]

View attachment 676910

Got the KSR plumbed in. $45 digital 10,000psi gauge.

630psi with empty grapple.
Bounced empty grapple down would spike and hold up to ~1800psi. That’s a big hammer.

Valve in KSR.
Bounced empty grapple 700-800psi. Sooo much smoother. Greatly reduced the hard knock jar. The loader reaction is very subtle. Going to be nice. Only drove a little ways to put up but smooth.

Pinch point of the new hydraulic line teed to lift cylinder with the loader tower gusset. Just a bit of grinding and file work will fix that. Still some work to do to finish and play with. Diffidently a worth while option that should help. Total cost about $350.

Got some work to figure out using the gauge for weight. Empty grapple I think weighs 850# with 630psi is about the same ratio of 3960# max lift @2850psi max psi. Factor in distance from lower bucket pin might be a real trick. Notice that end loaders at the quarry, which use a gauge, always use full bucket dispensing 1-10 tons.

 

[Smokeydog]

Test 1

Grabbed a load of firewood logs.



1480psi static.
Bounced with KSR off up to 2150psi
Bounced with KSR on up to 1650psi

Drove around barn lot with load trying to bounce.
KSR off, 1500-2230psi
KSR on, 1100-1650psi. Noted about 2” of cushioning of the load. Notably smoother, improved control of the ride. Got to be easier on tractor components and help rear traction.

Static psi changed a lot just by curl position.

Dead head into brush pile with KSR on. Lift max 2600psi. Lift with curl max 3700psi. As others have speculated you can get feedback pressure buildup in excess of pump relief pressure by external force between cylinder and control valve.

Pinch point.

Ground notch in loader frame gusset to give clearance for connection line. OEM was el from loader frame. KSR replaced as a tee.

The digital gauge is kind off cool. Batteries supposed to last a year if I don’t turn it off. Has back light. Records max/min. Can zero and change units. Rubber outer boot for protection. Can easily understand why permanent gauge is not OEM. From operator distraction to understanding relative readings would be a challenge. With my background it is entertaining and insightful of the mechanical operation.

Like the simplicity of a operator station ball valve to turn on/off. Too early to tell but suspect it will be on majority of the time.

 

[Thunder chicken]

That’s really neat! You’re right, it would be a distraction and useless info for a lot of people but not for you, and once you figure out the PSI/weight ratio it will be neat to know what you’re lifting.
I thought I’d turn mine on and off, the only time I’d ever think about turning it off now is loading something very precise like in a 1/2 ton box..... otherwise always on, and I’d forget to turn it off anyways.