Testing a 300 FEL / 3320

[pokerboy57]

Got a FEL question for all of you. I was reading a post from another 3320 owner and he had several pictures of a pallet full of cinder blocks that he was moving around. I know my 3320 cannot lift that so I was wondering if there was some kind of test I could perform that would settle my "unfound or found" suspicion whether there is a problem with my FEL "strength" or not. I have addition evidence to add.... at no time do I need rear weight when lifting anything. I can't lift enough weight with the FEL where rear weights are required.

BTW: I purchased the 3320 used last June (vintage 2005 with 480 hrs on it), it is my first tractor. I've used it primarly to clear land and cut grass it's a good machine and I am very happy with it. Without having any kind of reference (except Tractorbynet post and pictures) I have no frame of reference whether I have a weak FEL or this is the limit of what this machine is designed to lift . I have 3 pallets of spare red brick on the back of the property was thinking of adding a few at a time just to see how many I could lift.... But I'm not sure what that will ultimately tell me....

I wonder if there is a test that the dealer could run ? Or do any of you have any suggestions of a test I could perform that might tell me whether it's lifting what it's suppose to or whether I have a problem....

 

[Gator6x4]

I don't know if I would run a test or not. I have a larger tractor than the 3320 and it will not pick up a pallet of blocks with or without weight on the back.

 

[lwalsh]

Got a FEL question for all of you. I was reading a post from another 3320 owner and he had several pictures of a pallet full of cinder blocks that he was moving around. I know my 3320 cannot lift that so I was wondering if there was some kind of test I could perform that would settle my "unfound or found" suspicion whether there is a problem with my FEL "strength" or not. I have addition evidence to add.... at no time do I need rear weight when lifting anything. I can't lift enough weight with the FEL where rear weights are required.

BTW: I purchased the 3320 used last June (vintage 2005 with 480 hrs on it), it is my first tractor. I've used it primarly to clear land and cut grass it's a good machine and I am very happy with it. Without having any kind of reference (except Tractorbynet post and pictures) I have no frame of reference whether I have a weak FEL or this is the limit of what this machine is designed to lift . I have 3 pallets of spare red brick on the back of the property was thinking of adding a few at a time just to see how many I could lift.... But I'm not sure what that will ultimately tell me....

I wonder if there is a test that the dealer could run ? Or do any of you have any suggestions of a test I could perform that might tell me whether it's lifting what it's suppose to or whether I have a problem....

A cheap hyd gauge with the proper male Qd. can verify hyd pressure. Are your rear tires loaded? If so you have around 700lbs ballast. With the 61 in. bucket you should effortlessly lift a heaped bucket of sand, rock, etc.

 

[foggy1111]

You can look up the loader specs on the JD website. I have a similar tractor and have the 300 CX loader (not sure if you have the X designation in the model you have). IIRC....mine can lift 1600 lbs at the pins on the loader. So....if you calculate your bucket weight and some material like blocks or bricks...you could run a test to see what your loader will lift.

Keep in mind you need to be properly ballasted to lift max loads. I keep fluid in my rears and an implement that weighs about 600 lbs on the 3 point. Still....I have had the rear end come off the ground under some circumstances (makes me wonder about the max I can lift at times). That is allot of load on the front axle....not a good thing.

 

[beenthere]

Having the ballast cantilevered out behind the rear wheels helps take a lot of that load off the front axles. Weight just at the rear wheels does not.

I would agree with getting a hyd. oil pressure check to see if there are problems. kennyd has a "kit" he put together with coupler and pressure gauge. I followed his lead and made one up too.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I must be the poster your refering too. Those blocks were retaining wall blocks.
I will tell you first hand that lifting something off a trailer/truck bed is alot different than lifting off the ground. Geometry plays a huge role here.

I really wish I had a video of me lifting those pallets. You guys could have seen my technique. As I said my dealer did bump up my hydro pressure to deere max spec when my 448 hoe was installed.

I've read alot of post claiming there 3000 series couldn't lift there hoe's up and were using the stabilizers instead. To me that's a give away that there dealer didn't set there hydro pressure correctly.

When I lift something real heavy I put the forks into the pallet and then attempt to dump the load until the side closest to me rises about 4" to clear any obstacles I may encounter. I then curl the forks and 9 out of 10 times the load will rise with little issue. I'm then extremely cautious about slowly and delibertly backing up and lowering the load.

As I said, I wouldn't have been able to lift the 1900lbs back to trailer bed height and was only able to lift it about 6" off the ground. I only needed to place it close to the wall being built so that was fine.

The lighter pallet I was able to lift to full height but didn't feel the need. Again make sure you properly ballasted. I have loaded rear and should have used the back hoe as counter weight.

Lifting this kind of weight is not as a good thing, I very rarely would attempt such a feat but the need arose and my gut feeling was it would work out. I'm would not expect to lift that heavy with any kind of frequency.

Matt

 

[charleyfarmall]

Two weeks ago I moved a McCormick grain drill and an 8' cultipacker to my new farm. All I had to unload with is my 3320 with 500 pounds on the hitch and the wheels set out an extra 8 inches.

I do not know what those two weigh but it was more than the loader could lift.

Basically, I was unable to lift either one of the implements with the main cylinders, but I was able to lift them with the bucket curl cylinders. The main valves held the load and i used the curl to raise them off the trailer bed then carefully backed up and lowered them down.

Neither one of them should weigh more than 1600# but they were way out in front of the pins. Nevertheless, I don't recommend over loading the loader. Of course, I loaded all that stuff with a tractor that is rated to lift 4,000 pounds and is much larger.

 

[zr2blz]

I also have the 3320/300cx with 61" bucket. I get a couple pallets of pellets each year for pellet shove. I did a test and put 1,600 lbs on (couldn't get any more on). It picked it up to 6' ok, so I lowered and moved to door way. My rears are loaded and all wheels pushed out with small R4s. So, when I'm moving big moss rock around with chains and straps, I also pick up one wheel sometimes if not centered on my two hooks. If I can't move rock by lifting, I drag it on its bottom side thru the woods.
Some pictures of the rocks.

 

[mjncad]

zr2blz:

Nice to see another Colorado guy on board.

 

[pokerboy57]

You all got me thinking. So I went out to the shed tonight and took some pictures. Please take a look . I'm not even sure what model forks I own... Hope I uploaded the pictures directly

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I've never seen a 300 model on a 3320 before. I thought they were for the econo line. I don't believe they have the same cap as the 300x or cx. Corrrect me if I'm wrong.

Matt

 

[jwinner]

Your photo illustrates your problem. The 300 loader is really only supposed to be used on the 790/3005 and one other economy line tractor. It was meant for tractors lighter than the 3000 twenty series. You shouldn't have that loader on there, and if a dealer did that, they messed up. You should have a loader that says either "300X" or "300CX". The good news is you won't have to worry about tractor stability issues

I assume your hyd pressure runs at 2500psi max. The bad news is, if it's like my 790 and 300 loader that I modified to 2500psi, you could lift ~1000lbs a few inches off the ground. I'm not sure what the capacity to max height would be for that. I'll guess 700 maybe?

 

[jimgerken]

Another difference I see is that your loader in the pictures has the direct-attached curl cylinders. My CX has the linkage in there for more bucket curl angle travel. I assume my linkage REDUCES the force I have since it INCREASES the roll angle.
Here's a handy chart for comparison...

 

[pokerboy57]

Well I guess that will be my first quest to determine if the 3320 ever shipped with a 300 loader.... I purchased this unit used about a year ago from a used tractor dealer in Ocala. I think it's vintage 2005. Had it repaired at a JD dealer once when the tachometer went on it. You would thought that someone would have said "hey stupid" that 300 loader isn't suppose to go onto the 3320.

I'll find out and let you all know.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I not sure if the 300 was available in 05. If it was it was for the 790. I remember reading a post of a guy with a econo model putting a 300cx on it even though deere didn't approve. So obviously it can be done. But it specs alot lower than even the 300x.

Matt

 

[lwalsh]

Well I guess that will be my first quest to determine if the 3320 ever shipped with a 300 loader.... I purchased this unit used about a year ago from a used tractor dealer in Ocala. I think it's vintage 2005. Had it repaired at a JD dealer once when the tachometer went on it. You would thought that someone would have said "hey stupid" that 300 loader isn't suppose to go onto the 3320.

I'll find out and let you all know.

I believe the 300 and 300x and 300cx all have the same frame,boom, etc. I believe deere just put smaller diameter cylinders on the 300 so as to not overload the tractors they were put on. I would be investigating the option of larger lift cylinders. See if the dealer can confirm my theory if you wish.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

The masts are the same but the mounting frame is different.

Matt

 

[pokerboy57]

Is there somekind of VIN# on the 3320 ? I will write Deere and ask what was the factor configuration that was originally sold.

Would one of you be so kind to post the URL of the 300 loaders specifications ? I can't find them on the Deere site.

THanks for your help.
Ray

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Is there somekind of VIN# on the 3320 ? I will write Deere and ask what was the factor configuration that was originally sold.

Would one of you be so kind to post the URL of the 300 loaders specifications ? I can't find them on the Deere site.

THanks for your help.
Ray

Jim's attachment already listed the loader specs. Are you looking for a parts break down? If so go to jdpart.com and login. Then just search 300 loader. I doubt the serial would tell you much about the loader as I believe it's considered a dealer added attchment. I'm willing to bet a dealer had a 300 loader sitting around trying to unload it. The previous owner was likely swindled by an unscroupulos dealer. IMHO.


Matt

 

[pokerboy57]

thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the advice. I've accomplished a lot of work with the 300 loader so I guess I'll keep it for a while.