Technically maximum permissible mass

[AWSubie]

The LS site says ur loader has a maximum capacity of 1609 pounds at the pivot pins. I don’t think you need to worry about overloading ur axle.

 

[Waffles]

1600 is at full height. Down low is 2700 at the pins.

 

[ptsg]

In the US, it's not that common to have see those permissible mass specs, but in Europe, all tractors will have a tag put on, listing the Max permissible mass along with the towing capacities.

Since we don't the OEM loaders here, the aftermarket loaders will have to be rated just under the max permissible mass of the front axle at max height.

Pretty sure these numbers are just a way to manufacturers kinda save their butt in case someone overloads the crap out of the tractor and breaks it in half. Either over loading the loader or the 3 pt, by doing something stupid. Of course the axles will handle much more that those numbers, but it's also not good to work constantly at and above those max permissible mass specs.

Oh and these weights on the tag shown in the picture, are also listed on the title of the tractor. If I get pulled over by the police and they want me to go on weight scales, I can get a fine if I'm overloaded above those specs.

Here is an example of the tag on my tractor:

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have not had a problem lifting or carrying full humped buckets of dirt or road base gravel with my loader, (LL 3300) on my late XG3025. I do not think you can even get 1600 lbs of weight filled in the bucket unless it was lead pellets.....

The ballast I use on the 3point is usually my heavy box blade (645 lbs), only one time did I feel the back end get "light".... I had a full bucket of roadbase stone about 3 feet off the ground, I was still moving forward while I was raising the bucket.... when I started to stop where I was going to dump it, it felt light in the back end. I truly believe it was how I was operating it that caused the shift in COG / mass forward.

I think the relief valves will take over before the bucket would become "overloaded". Without anything on the back, even just wood chips in the bucket will make the backend light.

 

[milkman636]

I started with a guess of the bare tractor (no loader) at 40/60 distribution. Center of mass height is a complete guess, but not critical in these measurements on level ground. Wheel base and loader arm dimensions captured well in the manuals. 3PH is a guess from photos that I believe to be within 2 inches which I played around with and the front axle load is not that sensitive to a few inches of rear ballast location.

My largest room for error is my starting assumption of bare tractor weight distribution. If anyone knows what it should be for a MT225E I will make changes.

Ultimately I would like to know how cautious y'all are of over loading the front axle, or do you think there is a large safety factor on the published maximum rating. I'm scared because of the stories of cracking cases.

If your manual is that detailed with specifics, there should be a section about proper ballasting to achieve maximum lift. If you have the specified ballast on the tractor, you should be well within axle limits at full rated loader capacity.

The higher permissible front axle rating would be specifically for traveling at low speed with a full loader. That’s why is specifies a maximum travel speed..

The hydraulic relief valve works in conjunction with lift cylinder sizing and loader geometry to limit the loader from lifting beyond its rated capacity with proper ballast. Without proper ballast it is possible to get outside of safe conditions though. You can essentially put 100% of your tractor’s full laden mass on your front axle if you’re motoring along and hit a dip or obstruction that creates enough disturbance to raise your back tire off the ground. At that point in time 100% of your tractor’s weight is on the front axle. The forces will actually even be greater when you consider that the obstacle is trying to suddenly stop your tractor’s forward momentum with the impact on your front axle, the axle that happens to be carrying all the weight at that moment in time.

So the morals of this story are 1) never skimp on ballast. Use the full amount specified to do maximum lift loader work. And, 2) travel slowly when you have a heavy load in the bucket.
The tractor’s maximum ratings are engineered around the assumptions that you will properly ballast, and travel at low speed. If you’re doing those two things you should have no concerns about breaking your front axle.

 

[Walter L]

I crank the hydraulic pressure up on my machine, use the larger "light material" bucket, load it with heavy material until it is heaped over and spilling out and I never give two hoots about axle loads or manual wording. If the rear tires stay on the earth, it's all set. Others may be far far more conservative, but I make mine work for it's paycheck and if it snaps in half or blows up... I'll go buy a bigger one. 500 hours and so far... so good.

I operate about like Rock Crawler, if it can lift it i go with it. I use a grapple to lift logs quite often and have at times lifted logs that the tractor could barley clear the ground the only thing i am careful of is not turning the front wheels without moving when heavy loaded on the front.