Why are Kubota FEL's so weak?

[clarkharms]

Many people think this....but just dont understand the rating.

The loaders arent "rated" to lift a certain amount.

They give a spec......at a distance.......and a given height.

Most give this spec at pins and to max height.

The LOWER the lift occurs....the loader is MUCH stronger. Thats why kubota publishes curves.

So its not that the loader is under-rated. Its just rated at a different point than most people normally use them at.

I have attached the load curves for the LA 525. I assume all manufacturers provide these, if so I would appreciate someone with a KL-4030 scanning the curves for the Kioti. This would be the best way of comparing the lift capability. From the Kubota curves it is clear the higher it goes the less it can lift and that is a very safe way to design this type of equipment, for the Kubota I will see less than half of max lift ability at full height.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Some loaders are rated at the pins, some at 500 mm, and some at 800 mm to different heights. One needs to compare where those capacities are taken at to more accurately reflect lifting ability.

Back in the day, the dealership my father worked at would set the hydraulic pressure up to the specs called for by the tractor and FEL manufacturer. Take in mind this was for farm tractors as the compact market was not yet developed. Every once in a while a farmer would come in complaining about FEL performance. They would up the pressure to the max. The FEL would lift more and the farmer was happy. Back then FEL's were used mostly to load silage or manure and typically the FEL's would not over stress the front axles. The first FEL's that I remember on some Allis Chalmers had trip buckets.

Kubota knows what they are doing. I can't think of a better engineered product on the market. Just size the tractor for your tasks.

 

[BrokenTrack]

A lot of this is about weight transfer.

If you want to match what other lifting equipment does, go by the rules they go by. A bucket loader for example has 60% of the weight on the back end when it is empty, and 40% on the front end. A machines capacity is based on that weight shifting to 60% on the front end when loaded, and only 40% on the back.

Most equipment is this way. Skidders, bucket loaders, forklifts... Ultimately tractive effort and drawbar pull also comes into play, but this is a basic principal.

If you want to correctly set the weight, figure out what you are going to routinely be lifting, and then calculate out the 60/40 weight transfer rule; you will be quite happy with the results.

 

[BrokenTrack]

As a side note: I always felt what contributed to the longevity of my Kubota tractor was that it was actually quite light. It does limit its drawbar pull and tractive effort, BUT typically when I hook onto something I really should not, it just breaks traction and spins.

With our old Ford 900 (a nice tractor), it was far more heavy and seemed to break more.

BUT...for me the Kubota earns its keep by being quick and nimble, and having multiple tractors, I can use my bulldozer or skidder when tractive effort and drawbar pull really matter. For those that are one tractor owners, I could see where a heavier tractor would be more conducive to their lifestyle and usage.

 

[oosik]

When I considered buying a new tractor - I DID look at the loader lifting weight charts. I knew to a pretty high degree of accuracy - how heavy the heaviest things I would be lifting would weight. They are - big rocks and chunks of Ponderosa pine. Both can have their weight calculated to a fair degree of accuracy.

My tractor will lift anything I need lifted on my property and still be well within an acceptable margin of safety.

Currently - I have no need for anything greater than that.

 

[Garandman]

KL410 Loader | Kioti Tractors

 

[Msamt]

You better have at least 1100 lbs on the 3point and loaded tires before you tie on to a good buried root, or you will find yourself over on your side in a heartbeat. My 35 horsepower Kioti weigh considerably more (3668 lbs) and you can raise a wheel almost instantly without proper ballast on the 3pt

Truer words were never spoken...

 

[JWR]

Both of my Kubotas can lift over their rated amounts. I get nervous anytime that I am anywhere near maximum rated lift, and I certainly do not lift anything heavy any higher than I have to.

No surprise. In doing a lot of shopping for tractors in the 2011 time frame, comparing specs, taking a large # of photos, etc. I found 2 things: 1) Kubota loaders LOOK stronger than their Deere and Massey competitors. And 2) Kubota apparently rates their lifting capacity lower/more conservatively than the others.

Apples to apples. Same described specs. Kubota's front end loaders are not at all "so weak." Anyone ever see a side by side test ? Does the Nebraska Tractor Lab publish comparative loader data ?

 

[Thomas]

Maybe its a safety factor to void law suits.

 

[mikester]

Interesting to compare the 60HP models

The slower loader cycle times would drive me nuts. I'd be interested to see if the Kioti and L60 can move the bucket and boom at the same time - not all tractors can or are really slow.

I guess you buy what you need most of, the comfort level you want, and what you can afford.

If I was in the market for a CUT I'd definitely take the Kioti for a test ride. I have no local dealers though.

The Deere 4066R w/CAB is really sweet and has the best HST I've ever driven. If they had more loader capacity and an integrated backhoe I really would have considered one of those instead. Lift capacity is similar to the Kubota but the Deere only has a class 1 3PH. I ended up with the M59 because 1. No Tier 4 crap, 2. it's a brute, and 3. it fits nicely between the CUT and commercial Loader Backhoes. I just wish Kubota had included a nice seat and cab with sound proofing considering the prices they charge. And did I say the Deere's have really nice cabs and seats?