Upgrade to self leveling loader?

[FF117]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of self leveling loaders? I have priced a new Branson tractor and can upgrade to a mechanical self leveling loader for about $300, but I can't decide if I want to. I've been told that you loose some rollback, but gain a little lifting capacity. Is this true? The Branson website lists the specs as nearly identical. I understand how the concept works, but have never operated a self leveling unit so it's difficult for me to decide. It would be nice to hear from owners who have operated both. Thanks for the help.

 

[LD1]

I am not sure on the rollback and lift capacity differences. Though I think this would very by brand/model.

The self-leveling is nice for pallet forks. You dont have to keep fiddling with the dump to get them level at different heights.

They are also nice for loading materials up high. Like loading a truck with dirt. With a Non-self leveling loader, if you scoop dirt a load of dirt, and then raise all the way without curling forward, a lot of material may end up on you/your hood.

I really cant think of any disadvantages of them other than more moving parts/grease points. But I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[oldnslo]

Only two disadvantages I know of are:
1) The leveling links will potentially reduce some of your visibity.
2) More pivot points to grease and maintain.

3) I have known some people to bend the leveling links by the bucket. They get rocks, branches etc. stuck between the bucket and the links and then when they curl the bucket back these links get bent.


If you are going to be using this loader for moving hay bales, I would definitely get the self leveling.

Roy

 

[TripleR]

We removed them from our tractor last year after putting up with them for years. It increased the amount of material we could haul as stuff just fell out during transport. The feature just did not fit our needs as we did not use pallet forks or anything that would benefit from it.

 

[radman1]

The biggest drawback to self-leveling is the lack of roll back as you raise the bucket. At the ground surface, the roll back on a nonself-leveling (NSL) and self-leveling (SL) maybe a few degrees different but usually not significant. However, as you lift the FEL bucket, a NSL will roll the bucket back further due to the geometry of the lift. The makes it easier to transport heaping loads in the bucket without spilling the contents. (However, if lift load high, the contents may spill out the back of the bucket and onto the tractor.) The SL, will not roll back as the FEL is lifted and maintains the same degree of roll back as if it was on the ground. People who do a lot of bucket material work want the increased roll back as the FEL lifts, and therefore prefer NSL.
For other attachments such as pallet forks, man lift ect, the SL really shines because you don't need to make adjustments in the rollback as you lift or lower the FEL.
IMHO, wear, more grease zerks or bending of the SL arms is not an important factor to not purchase a SL loader. I have both SL and NSL loaders and it is a matter of choice depending on your tasks.

 

[ddivinia]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of self leveling loaders? I have priced a new Branson tractor and can upgrade to a mechanical self leveling loader for about $300, but I can't decide if I want to. I've been told that you loose some rollback, but gain a little lifting capacity. Is this true? The Branson website lists the specs as nearly identical. I understand how the concept works, but have never operated a self leveling unit so it's difficult for me to decide. It would be nice to hear from owners who have operated both. Thanks for the help.

I have one self-leveling one and I would not do it again.

It is more money.

Roll angles are different

I can compensate for non-level loaders just fine.

D.

 

[Reg]

To miss-quote an old saying;
If Ya need to ask, you would most probably LIKE it (-:

MOST folk without a LOT of hours running loaders would find self leveling easier/nicer for most tasks, ESPECIALLY pallet fork work.
I often think that someone could start up a nice little basement business making kits of what ? the triangular swing plates, linkage rods, etc.
The design has usually been done by the factory, commonality of parts, etc.

Oh Ohh, patents and copyrights, DANG !!!
(-:

 

[rd_macgregor]

Surely self-leveling loaders have been around for more than twenty years? If so, then at least some designs should be off-patent.
BOB

 

[Ken45101]

I have the self leveling on my Kubota B21 and do not like it, although it's not a huge deal, I usually don't lift the bucket that high.

On the B21, it "self levels" in jerky steps. That tends to shake material out of the bucket if it's loose and dry.

I agree, there are times that I want more roll back than the SL allows.

I don't use pallet forks a whole lot (on my skid steer and M5040), but I have never missed the self leveling there. Again, I don't lift all that high usually and when I do, I can handle it manually if need be.

Ken

 

[AndyG]

I think that it is a great feature at that price. Especially handy when doing pallet type work with. Self leveling will make all operations work a little easier. There is a reason that all industrial loaders and backhoes are made with self leveling buckets.

 

[Sweden-Art]

I have only used self leveling bucket so i dont have anything to compare against. But i like the feature of using self leveling and the bucket level indicator when moving snow on my driveway.

After i have plowed and filled the bucket I drive to a snow pile to dump it, usually quite large snow pile so i need to get the FEL high up. After I have dumped the snow I shift to reverse gear and while going reverse I roll the bucket back to the level mark on the level indicator, and I move the FEL joystick all the way forward for float position. So the FEL is minding his own business going down while i am reversing and getting ready for a new pass, and the bucket is already in right angle position for the job when its time to go forward gear again.

 

[Sweden-Art]

We removed them from our tractor last year after putting up with them for years. It increased the amount of material we could haul as stuff just fell out during transport. The feature just did not fit our needs as we did not use pallet forks or anything that would benefit from it.

Just courious. Where did you re-attached the cylinders to the FEL after you removed the self leveling stuff?

 

[savageactor7]

Save your money and cobble one of these for $30.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Does anyone have/used the Kubota Self Leveling FEL? I haven't seen one yet so I don't know what added equipment is added to the FEL and/or valve to make this work.

According to Kubota, you can disable the self leveling with a push of a button. Does the self leveling FEL in non-self-leveling mode operate any differently and/or have any different capabilities than a standard FEL without self leveling?

Also, what are the restrictions and/or restricted abilities with the Kubota self leveling loader?

Thanks.

 

[TripleR]

Just courious. Where did you re-attached the cylinders to the FEL after you removed the self leveling stuff?

I really wish I had taken pictures. Ours is a Westendorf and it had plates on top of the lift arms that hooked into the linkage via a rotating elbow type plate at the junction of the upper and lower arms as well as the bucket. The plates made it hard to tell much about how it worked. After it broke several times and had to be welded and patched, I told my sons to "fix it" one way or the other. They said the easiest way was to take all of the connections and plates off and use it as a regular loader. I wasn't there when they did it. From what I can tell, the pistons did not have to be moved as the linkage is what kept it level. It looked like a poor design to me and I am sure it has been improved. I just checked their website and couldn't find one. We bought it in 1998.

I can get a picture of it "as is" if that would help.

 

[Stonehaller]

Does anyone have/used the Kubota Self Leveling FEL?

I have a Kubota L39 with self leveling loader that you can turn the self leveling on and off with a small lever. It's hydraulic not mechanical so there is nothing different about the loader other than the valve. I love it for pallet forks but do not generally use it with the bucket unless I know I will be rising the bucket near max height.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I have a Kubota L39 with self leveling loader that you can turn the self leveling on and off with a small lever. It's hydraulic not mechanical so there is nothing different about the loader other than the valve. I love it for pallet forks but do not generally use it with the bucket unless I know I will be rising the bucket near max height.

Glad to hear it. I kind of agonized over this option when I ordered my M8540. The literature was pretty vague on the subject and I could not find anyone at the local dealership that had experience with it. I went ahead and ordered it, hoping that when turned off it operated the same as an FEL without that option.

Thanks for your info.

 

[ddivinia]

I have the self leveling on my Kubota B21 and do not like it, although it's not a huge deal, I usually don't lift the bucket that high.

On the B21, it "self levels" in jerky steps. That tends to shake material out of the bucket if it's loose and dry.

I agree, there are times that I want more roll back than the SL allows.

I don't use pallet forks a whole lot (on my skid steer and M5040), but I have never missed the self leveling there. Again, I don't lift all that high usually and when I do, I can handle it manually if need be.

Ken

That is a nice feature if you can turn it on and off. Many skid steers have it like on the CAT.

My JD loader is a mechanical self leveling one.

D.

 

[FF117]

Thanks for all the input. Opinions seem to be pretty divided on this issue and I guess it depends on what you are using the loader for that determines what you really need. I ordered the tractor today and the dealer basically threw in the self leveling feature for the originally quoted price, but offered another upgrade to a new loader offered by Branson for about $100 more. This option included a loader with 400lbs more lifting capacity and a third function remote built in, but not self leveling.

Since I don't really "need" self leveling I got the new loader with the third function remote. I figured I will get more use out of the increased lift capacity and remote than I will get out of self leveling. Again, thanks for all the help, this website is great.

 

[ddivinia]

3rd function rocks

D.