Front-End Loader Self Leveling Loaders

[AustinTX]

Can someone explain these to me like I'm a 10 year old girl?

What are the advantages? How do they work? Is it mostly a safty feature or is it helpful in productivity? What tasks might they be important for?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[dex3361]

A Self leveling loader makes the big shovel thingy on the front of the lifty thingy not spill scooped up stuff back onto to your little noggin and causing a big bobo.

 

[AustinTX]

A Self leveling loader makes the big shovel thingy on the front of the lifty thingy not spill scooped up stuff back onto to your little noggin and causing a big bobo.

ok... I asked for it.

As far as usage- would it assist in more precise loader work- or is it strictly a safety feature?

 

[jinman]

Let's say that you have forks on your loader and you pick something up off the ground. A self-leveling loader would hold that load level as you lifted it so that you didn't have to stop and relevel. If you lift something off a high spot, you don't have to worry about it sliding off the end of the forks as you lower it to the ground. Consider how useful this would be if using a bale spear and loading or unloading round bales off a truck. Self leveling can surely provide a safe and efficient way of doing many loader tasks. My examples are just two of them. Not having to touch up curl while lifting or lowering is a great feature.

 

[dex3361]

Good description Jim. My previous post was my feable attempt at humor.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

There are mechanical and hydraulic self leveling loaders. Some makes offer both types and some offer one or the other. Hydraulic are a bit less bulky, but do not always work properly. After you get use to having a self leveling loader, it becomes an inconvenience to operate a std type loader. It has for me anyway.

 

[piller]

My loader has the hydraulic self leveling feature. I have a little lever below the FEL joystick that actuates the feature. Some loaders use a mechanical system for self leveling.

If the feature is engaged, then it will maintain the angle of the FEL attachment (bucket, spear, forks, etc.) to the ground as you raise and lower the FEL. You can still use dump and curl to get the angle where you want it and then the self leveling feature will maintain that angle.

Self leveling makes it easier not to drop or spill materials as you raise and lower the FEL. You just pull back or push forward on the joystick to raise or lower the load. Without the feature you need to use curl and dump as you lower and raise the FEL to keep from spilling or dropping materials. Dump and curl functions still work while in self leveling mode.

I like the self leveling loader feature and use it almost all of the time.

 

[jinman]

Good description Jim. My previous post was my feable attempt at humor.

I read it two or three times and smiled each time I read it. I especially liked the "bobo" part. I could just picture my 10 year old granddaughter saying exactly what you said.

 

[kidr]

Thanks for asking the question austin. I run a square bale grapple and it's a big pain adjusting the curl when stacking. A self leveler would be a lot easier. Does anyone know if they're available after market?

 

[schmism]

ok... I asked for it.

As far as usage- would it assist in more precise loader work- or is it strictly a safety feature?

i see them most used with guys that work hay bales with a FEL. just reduces the amount of time spent trying to get the stupid spear, or grip lock catch or FEL forks level twice per bale move.

 

[Mousefield]

Think I learned something today. After reading the different posts regarding self leveling I will go out tomorrow and give it a try. Let you know how I made out.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I wonder if the OP is talking about the bucket returning to level automaticly after dumping.I can't think of the correct term at the moment.
Bill

 

[MJPetersen]

Self leveling loaders refers to a mechanism, either mechanical linkage or hydraulic, whereby the bucket maintains its relative angle to the ground throughout the loader lift range. I have not seen a hydraulic system on smaller tractors, but I have seen several examples of mechanical linkage designs. I thought some pictures would help the discussion.

The pictures will be in order 1) theory of mechanical linkage, 2) small Yanmar, 3) small Ford, and 4) a commercially available (Trima) self leveling loader.

5-6) In my opinion the coolest loader is a high lift version from Frey--They make the linkage type and conventional also. The High lift version is a linkage type with a twist in that the loader arm straighten through the lift range moving the load more forward and higher than what conventional loader arms would be capable.

When I find it again I will post a link for the hydraulic leveling system.

Mike

Mike

 

[Sweden-Art]

Here is a link to a European FEL brand with all the different features to read about. Mechanical Self leveling - Hydraulic self leveling - Hydraulic anti bounce etc.

http://www.sigma4.it/en/depliant.pdf

 

[Country1]

My question is about loader performance with a Hydro self level feature?
Does it hurt loader cycle times and or lifting capacities?
Kubota gives you a lever to engage and disengage the self leveling feature. Why if it doesn't take anything away from its performance? Seems to me it would...

 

[MJPetersen]

Not so much of a performance hit as without the self leveling feature you have more range of motion for the bucket. more curl when raised and more dump when down low.

Mike

 

[Jerry/MT]

Can someone explain these to me like I'm a 10 year old girl?

What are the advantages? How do they work? Is it mostly a safty feature or is it helpful in productivity? What tasks might they be important for?

Any help is appreciated.

if you've ever loaded a trailer or a barn with large round bales, you'd know why you'd want a self leveling loader! The self leveling loader holds the orientation of the bucket or the bale spear as you raise and lower the load. If you don't have that feature, you have to constantly adjust the curl cylinders to maintain the correct bucket orientation as you raise and lower the load.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My question is about loader performance with a Hydro self level feature?
Does it hurt loader cycle times and or lifting capacities?
Kubota gives you a lever to engage and disengage the self leveling feature. Why if it doesn't take anything away from its performance? Seems to me it would...

First off, yes it slows cycle times down. You have fluid going to 4 cylinders instead of just 2. On mine, (Mahindra 7520) it supposedly cuts the lift capacity by some, but no one knew how much. As far as Kubota having an on-off lever for their hydraulic self leveling loader, I sometimes wish that mine had that option. (mine is on all the time, no way to turn it off) It would be nice to have it off when you are using the loader at lower levels. That way when you lift the bucket to say transport height, the bucket does not have to be curled again to keep the material in. Each type of system has it's quirks I suppose, and we get use to them.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Not so much of a performance hit as without the self leveling feature you have more range of motion for the bucket. more curl when raised and more dump when down low.

Mike

Mike, how is the range of motion altered with a hydraulic self leveling system? I know that range of motion can be a problem with some of the mechanical types, but I don't see how it affects a hydraulic type.

 

[Country1]

First off, yes it slows cycle times down. You have fluid going to 4 cylinders instead of just 2. On mine, (Mahindra 7520) it supposedly cuts the lift capacity by some, but no one knew how much. As far as Kubota having an on-off lever for their hydraulic self leveling loader, I sometimes wish that mine had that option. (mine is on all the time, no way to turn it off) It would be nice to have it off when you are using the loader at lower levels. That way when you lift the bucket to say transport height, the bucket does not have to be curled again to keep the material in. Each type of system has it's quirks I suppose, and we get use to them.

This sounds about right to me. Thought there would be a "catch" to hydro self leveling. Thanks for the post.