Loader bucket needs more curl

[mikester]

Nice job on retrofitting the loader @abwehrly42. It looks professionally done.

Not helpful at all. If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything. OP was not asking for advice on what to buy. Also not everyone has the money to afford or desire to spend their money on a nicer newer tractor.

 

[nyone]

I had an old 1957 ford 851 that had a old loader with geometry just like the OPs. I just lifted the bucket more when transporting dirt.

You can also lift the bucket and get some dirt to sit more at the back of the bucket, then lower it. Or you could extend the bottom of the bucket longer. Kind of like a skid steer bucket.

 

[rScotty]

The self leveling linkage does move the curl cylinders back when the loader is lowered, providing even more curl back.

Then at max height, it will move the cylinders forward providing more dump and limiting curl so it doesn't ever dump the load on the operator and the tractor.

Pretty much provides everything a loader needs: more curl at low height, more dump at higher height, safety by not letting the load being dump on the operator and helps a lot during operation since it really reduces the amount of "2 functions at the same time" one has to do. Often tricky with tractors that provide lower flow rates.

In the case of the OP, that would be a major major modification with lots of work behind it. Plus, it would add weight to the loader, thus less lifting capacity.

Explanation? Diagrams? Two of our tractors have self-leveling and both use different methods - both of which restrict the ultimate motion .... I think. But neither tractors self-leveling motion moves the curl cylinders. I've either not seen that method of self leveling on a tractor or not understood what I was looking at.

rScotty

 

[ptsg]

Explanation? Diagrams? Two of our tractors have self-leveling and both use different methods - both of which restrict the ultimate motion .... I think. But neither tractors self-leveling motion moves the curl cylinders. I've either not seen that method of self leveling on a tractor or not understood what I was looking at.

rScotty

Self leveling using a mechanical linkage, usually above the loader arms, sometimes even ran inside the arms, will move the curl cylinders back and forth as the loader goes up and down.

See the picture below. Note the linkage running on top of the loader arms and note the bracket in the middle where the curl cylinders attach to. As the loader lifts, the linkage will push that bracket forward and therefore moving the cylinder as well, this will give more dump angle at max height.

As the loader lowers, the bracket is pulled back and so is the cylinder, giving it more curl back angle.

Closer look:

And a video with a side view of the linkage working. Maybe it helps making more sense.

If the self leveling is done hydraulically, using a second cylinder mounted, usually, above the lift cylinders but tied into the curl circuit, the curl cylinders are fixed in place as a non self leveling loader.

 

[rScotty]

Self leveling using a mechanical linkage, usually above the loader arms, sometimes even ran inside the arms, will move the curl cylinders back and forth as the loader goes up and down.

See the picture below. Note the linkage running on top of the loader arms and note the bracket in the middle where the curl cylinders attach to. As the loader lifts, the linkage will push that bracket forward and therefore moving the cylinder as well, this will give more dump angle at max height.

As the loader lowers, the bracket is pulled back and so is the cylinder, giving it more curl back angle.


View attachment 1612579

Closer look:

View attachment 1612581

And a video with a side view of the linkage working. Maybe it helps making more sense.

If the self leveling is done hydraulically, using a second cylinder mounted, usually, above the lift cylinders but tied into the curl circuit, the curl cylinders are fixed in place as a non self leveling loader.

Thanks. I have seen those, and never did take the time to look at one long enough to work out the geometry.

 

[jkmfarmer]

In my mind, it seems like adding (say 6-8") to the bottom edge of the bucket might help. Not sure how it might work or what issues it might create...

 

[Smokeydog]

Adding a Piranha type toothbar would add some bottom of bucket length. Improve digging and brush clearing. Cheap effective option?

Piranha® Tooth Bar - Official Site

www.bxpanded.com

 

[Renze]

In the case of the OP, that would be a major major modification with lots of work behind it. Plus, it would add weight to the loader, thus less lifting capacity.

I got about 20% more lift capacity after i converted to self levelling: the arm you lift the bucket over, is no longer the fixed pin on the tractor, to the center of gravity of a full bucket, but from the fixed pin to the bucket pin. The lift cylinders have to do less work, thereby increasing the capacity.

On the loader pictured, the tilt cylinder angle is too steep to have decent breakout force anyways.

 

[Renze]

In my mind, it seems like adding (say 6-8") to the bottom edge of the bucket might help. Not sure how it might work or what issues it might create...

His tilt cylinders are already pulling the bucket into a dead end. Lengthening the bucket will worsen that, and not increase the rollback angle.

Only thing that works without worsening the breakout force is cutting a wedge out the sidewalls so the backwall gets a narrower angle with the bottom. That puts the cylinders at a better advantage so it actually improves breakout force.