Loader question

[rentthis]

I have a problem with rental customers raising loaders to high and dumping debris on the hoods of my tractors. Is there a logical way to limit how high the loader will raise. I would like to limit it to about 6.5 feet. I doubt there is a way but I'm interested enough to ask. The machines are L-45 and L4600.

Thanks in advance
Mike

 

[nick2010tundra]

My Rental yard near me installed spill guards on the bx 25 buckets, basically just made a mesh guard on top of bucket. They got tired of replacing dashes

 

[RCW]

Mike - - You're much more experienced than I am.....I have no idea if possible, but could you figure out a way to connect check-chains (or cables) to limit lift height?

Would need both sides, to avoid racking the lift arms.....

Only other thing I can think is shorter-throw cylinders, and that'd be kinda pricey....but if they're doing $1,000 worth of damage each time on an L..... of course, if they really f#@ked up, couple be $1,000 many times over....

Just a couple thoughts......

 

[007kubotaguy]

Hello Mike
I work on a lot of grape harvesters. We have cylinders the have pipe spacers in side on the rod to limit the stroke. This is done we the stroke needs to be something odd .Don't you love those rental customers. The other option is to cover the hood with 1/2" steel plate (LOL).
Good luck Lance

 

[jdl25]

Can't you just document the condition of the tractor before and after and bill their cc?

 

[Bulldog]

Put a limiter on the bucket cylinders to keep it from rolling all the way back.

 

[boz1989]

I would think that you could take the cylinders apart and put a spacer inside. It's not exactly quick or easy.

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[kenmac]

My B26 came with a bucket leveling device that prevents bucket from tilting back too far. It is adjustable. Check with your dealer, but I would think if it's available for a B26, it certainly should be available for an L45.
The higher you lift, it automatically keeps the bucket level.

 

[maclean]

Bump stops and limiters...rubber or steel. Should be easy to rig up without too much modifications. I recently modified the tilt cylinder stop to shorten the throw by an 1/8" or so...kept blowing the tilt cylinder.

-Mac

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[lugbolt]

Auto bucket leveling is available for L45. Not sure on the L4600.

Wouldn't be real hard to rig up a mechanical linkage to the loader valve, a self-leveling device. Look at an old B20 or B21 for an example (TL420/TL421 respectively). It would take some rods and some ingenuity, but doable.

This is an issue I see often too. One operator last year nearly killed himself, using a BX to lift a round bale and it rolled off the bucket and onto the operator.

You'd think that (un)common sense would prevail; but the older I get the less I see anything common about it.

And yeah I hear stuff all the time. "Shoulda come with X device to keep it from happening". What happened back in the old days of the old Ford N tractors? Not a safety device one, open fenders, etc. Stupidity fixed itself in those days.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Is there a logical way to limit how high the loader will raise. I would like to limit it to about 6.5 feet.

Yep real simple, like others have noted, it's a heavy walled piece of pipe installed over the rod inside the cylinder and it will limit lift.

Can't you just document the condition of the tractor before and after and bill their cc?

All that does is get them to pay for damage, it doesn't pay for the rental time that the machines is down! Huge income loss!

 

[rentthis]

Auto bucket leveling is available for L45. Not sure on the L4600.

Wouldn't be real hard to rig up a mechanical linkage to the loader valve, a self-leveling device. Look at an old B20 or B21 for an example (TL420/TL421 respectively). It would take some rods and some ingenuity, but doable.

This is an issue I see often too. One operator last year nearly killed himself, using a BX to lift a round bale and it rolled off the bucket and onto the operator.

You'd think that (un)common sense would prevail; but the older I get the less I see anything common about it.

And yeah I hear stuff all the time. "Shoulda come with X device to keep it from happening". What happened back in the old days of the old Ford N tractors? Not a safety device one, open fenders, etc. Stupidity fixed itself in those days.

Yep real simple, like others have noted, it's a heavy walled piece of pipe installed over the rod inside the cylinder and it will limit lift.


All that does is get them to pay for damage, it doesn't pay for the rental time that the machines is down! Huge income loss!

The problem with charging these people for such damage is that's when you come to the "blood- rock" thing. It's easy to charge but only one out of ten have the money and only one out of a hundred are willing to accept responsibility and pay. Meanwhile my machines and parts bill look like crap.

From all the replies, it looks like a spacer is the best solution. Now, I need to establish bore and length for the spacer. One concern is, will a spacer in any way conflict with the hydraulics?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

One concern is, will a spacer in any way conflict with the hydraulics?

Nope not at all, it just limits stroke.
I have several factory cylinders that have the stops in them.

 

[Yooper]

Here is an example of what Wolfman is talking about. The reason it is discolored is because I machined it slightly smaller and then sweated it on the shaft so it wouldn't move.

 

[rentthis]

Thanks. that picture answers a multitude of questions. I'm assuming that the length of the spacer and the reduction in in lift are equal. Thanks for the info.

Mike.

 

[boz1989]

Thanks. that picture answers a multitude of questions. I'm assuming that the length of the spacer and the reduction in in lift are equal. Thanks for the info.

Mike.

That would depend on the geometry. Personally I would raise the loader to its max height, measure the ram, then lower to the height you want, measure again and make your spacer the length of the difference.

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[boz1989]

I would also put the spacers in both sides, or some clown would probably twist the loader frame trying.

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[North Idaho Wolfman]

I would also put the spacers in both sides, or some clown would probably twist the loader frame trying.

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Yes agree the same spacers are required in both sides!

 

[Daren Todd]

Ok, quick question that I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around.

How is a spacer on the shaft gonna keep it from being extended all the way??

I could see it preventing it from being lowered all the way.

Nevermind, I missed the post about the spacer being installed inside the cylinder

 

[2458n]

ok, quick question that i'm having a hard time wrapping my head around.

How is a spacer on the shaft gonna keep it from being extended all the way??

I could see it preventing it from being lowered all the way.

Nevermind, i missed the post about the spacer being installed inside the cylinder

asked and answered!