Loader Question

[JordanMarina]

I have a 1988 Ford 2120 tractor with a Bush Hog 2246 loader. I need the loader to lift about 200 more lbs. Can I put bigger hydraulic cylinders on it or increase pump pressure? Or do I have to buy a different loader? Thanks for any help.

 

[SteveInMD]

On many loaders you can adjust the pressure that the release valve opens up at, but I don't know anything about that loaded specifically. My loader was adjusted under the pressure spec. when I got it. You need a pressure gauge to check / adjust it. Your dealer can probably do that.

While there is probably a safety margin designed in, going above the pressure spec. can be dangerous. You could break your loader or tractor. If you burst a hydraulic line and you get sprayed with oil at high pressure it can penetrate your skin and kill you. Hydraulic oil in your blood stream is bad thing.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Since your cross-post got closed, I'll copy my answer over to here.
I don't know how you have the tractor set up, but if you don't have sufficient counterweight on the 3pt hitch, you're missing out on some more lift.

Make sure you have several hundred pounds on the back, and the loader can lift more, up to it's max.

Mine requires something like 650# or more on the rear to get max lift.

Now if you have sufficient weight, I'll defer to the hydrualics guys to answer about changing things out.

I will say though that the engineers that designed the loader didn't intend it to handle heavier loads and that's why it has the equipment that it does. Adding more to the max could end in damages.

 

[twobigdog]

I agree with the counterweight solution.
ALSO, if you tractor is a hydro drive, I have found that if I put the transmission in neutral, I can get a touch more lift, after the lift, I then put the tractor in low gear and proceed SLOWLY and with caution.