Smallest/least expensive tractor with closed center hydraulics.

[strantor]

Could you make a closed center system with a PTO pump and tank?
Or switch your forklift mast to open center valves?

I've looked into it and all the PTO pumps I found were fixed displacement, lending them once more to use in open center systems.

I had not strongly considered switching the forklift valves, because they are already paid for, and already matched in flow & pressure to the cylinders they go to. However since you make me say it out loud, it does seem silly to trade in a whole tractor to match some $500-$1000 worth of valves. It is definitely worth looking into. Thank you for helping me pull head out.

 

[strantor]

My 3 point fork lift is from an old mast and I use it on both my tractors which are open center and it's been used at the farm and all but 3 of those are open center hydraulic.
I use a hydraulic toplink to tilt the forks running that off of one of my remotes, I run the mast off another remote and I can use the 3 point if needed as I'm usually only running one cylinder at a time. On my loader on the open center system if I'm trying to curl and lift at the same time I can do so by just feathering the joystick for what I want to do.
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I am borderline inappropriately aroused by this. Very nice forklift attachment! My setup will be a bit different. Your tractor is much bigger than mine. I'm sure the 3pt rating is plenty sufficient to carry the weight of the mast plus the load. Mine isn't. The forklift is is rated 5000lbs and I want to be able to carry every bit of that. Mast probably weighs 1000-1500lbs. My 3-pt is rated 2,700lbs, so subtracting the weight of the mast I could only lift maybe 1000lbs. So I'm going to keep the forklift axle and wheels under the mast. That's what will bear the load. The tractor's 3pt will keep the mast pointed toward the sky and basically just drag it around like a trailer. There will be some side load in tight turns so I'll have to be careful, but I'm optimistic about it.

I also plan to use a hydraulic toplink for tilt. Or maybe make my own hydraulic toplink out of one of the forklift tilt cylinders; wouldn't that be ironic.

I will give some more thought to what you said about running it open center. Thank you for sharing.

 

[strantor]

Just about any John Deere Tractor built before the model ID痴 were changed to 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx. Utility or rowcrop tractors commonly known as 20, 30, 40, 50 or 55 series.

Thanks! I wonder why they went away from closed center?

 

[LouNY]

Most of the larger Deere are still closed center, also some of the newer Case IH and New Holland are also.
They don't specify them as closed center they go by load sensing. To have enough 3 point capacity to do your loads you would need to look at some of the larger older tractors 125 HP and up. My lift arms are rated for 3300#'s is all, I have lifted and carried more using the mast cylinders then my 3 point is rated for, not a recommended procedure.

 

[strantor]

Most of the larger Deere are still closed center, also some of the newer Case IH and New Holland are also.
They don't specify them as closed center they go by load sensing. To have enough 3 point capacity to do your loads you would need to look at some of the larger older tractors 125 HP and up. My lift arms are rated for 3300#'s is all, I have lifted and carried more using the mast cylinders then my 3 point is rated for, not a recommended procedure.

My 40hp tractor is already a bit larger than ideal for maneuvering around inside my shop. I haven't ever sat on a 125hp tractor but I'm guessing it's going to be impossible.

The loads i need to move might actually weigh a full 5,000lb and I'm not even going to think about trying to hang that off the 3-pt using the mast cylinder. If for some reason I can't get the mast to work with the axle under it, then this whole tractor ownership situation is going to need revisiting.

 

[RickB]

Thanks! I wonder why they went away from closed center?

Cost would be my guess. Larger models morphed from pure closed center to CCLS systems as did most mainstream premium Ag tractors.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Cost would be my guess. Larger models morphed from pure closed center to CCLS systems as did most mainstream premium Ag tractors.

Just go and look at the YTO rough terain forklift !

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Just go and look at the YTO rough terain forklift !

It is a reversedrive tractor with a forklift atach to the bigwheelside

 

[strantor]

Just go and look at the YTO rough terain forklift !

It is a reversedrive tractor with a forklift atach to the bigwheelside

JD beat them to the market by a few decades. I saw this at a place that builds trailers, shortly after I purchased my tractor with plans to build a forklift attachment. When I saw it I felt totally vindicated in my silly idea. That was before I discovered this forum and the fact lots of people have already done what I wanted to do.

 

[RickB]

It is a reversedrive tractor with a forklift atach to the bigwheelside

That’s quite the 1955 design.