DEON
Bronze Member
I have been modifying my CK25 loader.
My purpose is to do 5 things. I wanted better visibility, more lift capacity, more curl strength, eliminate the sloppiness of the QA loader and end up with a self leveling bucket. Unfortunately I ran out of time so I did not complete the self leveling parts. The snow will soon be here so I put it together as is until spring.
I used the boom lift cylinders for the curl. As they are longer, I was able to space the curl pins farther apart to gain over 40% in curl strength.
I replaced 1.77" ID boom cylinders with 2" ID cylinders and spaced the boom pins farther apart to gain about 50% more break out force. I lost about 3" height at full lift but I seldom lift the bucket all the way to the top as most of my loader work is dirt and snow, no hay and no fork work. I also spent a good amount of time reinforcing the loader frame bass so as not to break the tractor transmission/engine assembly. I compared my front axle and pivot assembly with other tractors with much stronger loaders like the L 3940 Kubota and LA724 loader rated at 3403 lbs. breakout force. The CK25 is built almost identical if not stronger then the much larger L3940 with a longer loader that extend much farther forward so I felt comfortable with my added loader capacity.
Anyway, I did not take any photos while building but you can see the old loaders towers in the background in one of the photos. Have fun looking. I will post again when the self leveling is completed. Oh, I put it to the test today in an old pile of pit run and did a little driveway grading. I am amazed at the added strength, stability and precise control. Feels like an industrial tractor.
My purpose is to do 5 things. I wanted better visibility, more lift capacity, more curl strength, eliminate the sloppiness of the QA loader and end up with a self leveling bucket. Unfortunately I ran out of time so I did not complete the self leveling parts. The snow will soon be here so I put it together as is until spring.I used the boom lift cylinders for the curl. As they are longer, I was able to space the curl pins farther apart to gain over 40% in curl strength.
I replaced 1.77" ID boom cylinders with 2" ID cylinders and spaced the boom pins farther apart to gain about 50% more break out force. I lost about 3" height at full lift but I seldom lift the bucket all the way to the top as most of my loader work is dirt and snow, no hay and no fork work. I also spent a good amount of time reinforcing the loader frame bass so as not to break the tractor transmission/engine assembly. I compared my front axle and pivot assembly with other tractors with much stronger loaders like the L 3940 Kubota and LA724 loader rated at 3403 lbs. breakout force. The CK25 is built almost identical if not stronger then the much larger L3940 with a longer loader that extend much farther forward so I felt comfortable with my added loader capacity.
Anyway, I did not take any photos while building but you can see the old loaders towers in the background in one of the photos. Have fun looking. I will post again when the self leveling is completed.
Oh, I put it to the test today in an old pile of pit run and did a little driveway grading. I am amazed at the added strength, stability and precise control. Feels like an industrial tractor.
