loader limits

[6sunset6]

I have a TC34DA with a 240TL FEL . I had forks on it 132#. I was lifting a banded load of steel roof panels . 877# Total load 1009#.
I could lift it about 5 ft off the ground, no higher. This was a bummer as I could not get it high enough to set on the staging for passing up to the roof. We got the panels up one at a time by hand. My question is why could I lift 5ft and no higher. I did check the oil level and it was at the low mark with the forks 4ft up. Low was probably due to adding snow blower cylinders . I don't think that was the problem. Anyone have a clue?

 

[6sunset6]

Forgot picture

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Have you ever lifted anything this heavy higher before? I would think if you could lift it 5' you could lift it all the way up. Could you hear the pump bypassing? If you have more steel to put up you could make smaller bundles.
Bill

 

[6sunset6]

Roof is finished. I have not lifted anything this high. I think I have lifted heavier just off the ground. I did not hear the pump bypassing. It would just not go higher , either lift or curl.
Now that I think about it I may have had the throttle at idle . Sometimes when I am inching up to something I forget to crank it up. I was inching up to the scafold and trying to raise the load and not have an accident.
I did have my seat belt on though.

 

[4runner]

Those forks look like they weigh more than 132 pounds... maybe 400 lbs?

 

[jinman]

The lift capacity of the 240TL supersteer loader is 1,250 lb at the pivot pins and 1,183 lb about 19" forward of the pins. Your load is centered over that 19" point since your roof panels are 36" wide. That means 1/2 your load was beyond 19" out where the loader's lift drops very quickly down to a few hundred pounds. I think it's easy to forget with a wide load like your panels just how much of our load is way out front.

Our loaders have their maximum lift up to about 3' above the ground and then because of geometry, the lift drops off. While you can probably get 1,400 lb up to about 2', going higher would be impossible. I used to think like you that above about 6', the load should lift easier, but I was wrong and just the opposite is true.

About the only thing you can do is remove some of the panels to make a smaller load for lifting. . . or move up to a 3045 with 250TL loader.

 

[6sunset6]

I think you are right about the geometry. The only good news about that is the limit on how high a really heavy load can be raised. Probably helps to keep the machine from turning over.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Not to hijack the post, but why is it on the newer tractors they seem to put the bucket so far out in front of the tractor. This would seem to decrease the lift capacity.
Bill

 

[DocHeb]

...Now that I think about it I may have had the throttle at idle...

I think this has a lot to do with it. You will not generate maximimal hydraulic force unless you are using maximal engine power.

 

[jinman]

Not to hijack the post, but why is it on the newer tractors they seem to put the bucket so far out in front of the tractor. This would seem to decrease the lift capacity.
Bill

At least in the case of SuperSteer New Hollands, you have to have the bucket far enough out front that the rotating front axle will not cause the tires to rub. However, turns sharp enough to cause the tires to rub are probably pretty rare when doing loader work. Other than that, I think the farther out the bucket, the easier to see what you are doing over the hood. In the case of the 240TL loader as compared to the previous 7308 for Class II Boomers, the 240TL has higher lift capabilties even though it's a modern curved-arm loader. What I've found with my 16LA loader is that no matter what it can do, I always want it to do more; however, to get more I have to have a bigger tractor and I love the size of my TC45D. I'll settle for the loader's limitations because that's what fits my needs the most. That won't stop me from glancing with envy at owners of larger loaders.