Lifting capacity

[MossRoad]

Just some observations. Has anyone thought why the 425 get off balance fairly easy. Consider this, the 425 is listed at 1387 lbs. I believe the balance point, or fulcrum is the front wheels center line. I am guessing that the forks weigh about 150 lbs, so if you try and lift close to the lifting capacity of the 425, that would be 800 lbs, but you have to add all the weight of the metal forward of the center line of the front wheels. You are adding another 2 to 3 hundred lbs of weight. It sounds simple to me that at the moment of tipping, or PT pucker, The PT is on a fulcrum with the front wheels, and you have met equilibrium, or a balance point, and if the steering cylinders are not equal, the balance is shifted to the front. You probably noticed that if you straighten up. the balance is shifted, maybe in your favor.

You can exceed, or increase your lifting capacity by adding extra weight to the backside. I am not recommending this , but it is an option that one can use in an abnormal situation. The lifting cylinders probably can handle every thing you can put on the front.

When you are using a boom, it is a good idea to bring the load closer if possible, by tilting the the boom up, which will decrease the lifting distance. Instead of lifting an object at 6 ft out, you can lift more at 3 ft.

J_J,
You are correct about the pucker and turning the wheels. Many times I have been on the verge of tippiness and attempted to turn the steering wheel. The front tips slowly down. I straighten out the wheel and it tips back. Kinda fun!

I have also seen the lever/fulcrum effect when stacking blocks on the bucket. It gets to a point where you can push it with your hand to make the rear wheels go up and down.

The forks weigh well under a hundred pounds, as I can easily pick them up and carry them around my garage.

 

[BobRip]

I got the 422 stuck this weekend. I ended up wrapping my tow strap around the 2 inch receiver tube and the cast iron weight, kinda wedging itself between the two. I put just about everything the 4000 pound boat whinch would do on it and then got back in and backed up a little. I got out and retightened the strap and repeated. It took about three tries to get loose. Today I welded a connection point for the strap to the back of the weight assembly (no cast iron was killed during this welding).
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Attached are pictures of the tow connection on the back of the weight assembly. I now have two weights. The back one sits on a shelf and is bolted to the front one.