How high should it lift?

[Cutty]

How high should I be able to lift my fairly heavy 5' bush hog? Should my system lift as high as without the load on it? My hydraulic system seems to work pretty well but it doesn't seem that it lifts as high with the load on it.

 

[JMOR]

If working perfectly well, it should lift all the way to limit as long as attached implement is within the lift's capacity.

 

[Tom N MS]

Yes, should lift full range with full load on it.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Load or no load, the lift range should be the same.

The standard 3-point lift arm "balls" should lower to about 8-1/2" above ground and raise to about 34-1/4". Total lift range is 25-3/4".
50 Tips

 

[Cutty]

Well it doesn't lift that high. What is the lift capacity anyway? It does lift that high with something light like a boompole on it. I can hang my 280 pounds off the end of the boompole and it doesn't seem to drop any. Not sure how much the bush hog weighs but I can only lift it about a foot if I'm lucky. So what is the likely cause of not being able to lift it fully?

 

[John Bull]

Is anyone going to say what the problem might be?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 19:38:25 03/16/10) Well it doesn't lift that high. What is the lift capacity anyway? It does lift that high with something light like a boompole on it. I can hang my 280 pounds off the end of the boompole and it doesn't seem to drop any. Not sure how much the bush hog weighs but I can only lift it about a foot if I'm lucky. So what is the likely cause of not being able to lift it fully?

Hydraulic leaks under load. Possibly an over pressure relief valve that's popping off to early. The drill is simple - remove the inspection cover(s) on the sides of the center section and look for signs of internal leakage as you operate the lift with a load on it. Keep hands and fingers clear of internal moving parts at all times.

TOH

 

[Anonymous-0]

the top link control spring and assembly must be good and fit. usually worn bad

 

[Cutty]

I suppose actual load capacity depends on the distance from the load arms, correct? is there a rated capacity?

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Yes. See tip # 44
50 Tips

 

[JMOR]

DIRECTLY OVER the drawbar , about the best any will do is 1100+/100 pounds and to drive home the impact of extending the load behind the draw bar, a direct 10 foot extension of lift link will just about lift a 230 pound man. You should also realize that lift capacity will very likely NOT be the same at any particular height due to the rather drastic geometry changes that occur among the lift arm, lift connecting rod and lift link as the parts travel through the lift range.
Also, besides the leaks mentioned, the pump must also be in good enough condition to produce a minimum of 1600 PSI (with no leaks in system) in order to achieve maximum lift capacity.

 

[Cutty]

Well I'm not sure what this bushhog weighs but it must be pretty darn heavy because I have noticed the steering is very light with it attached. I'm thinking of filling the front tires (16") the rears are already filled. I also have an old JD front weight that I'm thinking about attaching to the front bumber. Not sure what it weighs, maybe 80 lbs or so. Thanks for all the good info.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 21:01:35 03/16/10) Well I'm not sure what this bushhog weighs but it must be pretty darn heavy because I have noticed the steering is very light with it attached. I'm thinking of filling the front tires (16") the rears are already filled. I also have an old JD front weight that I'm thinking about attaching to the front bumber. Not sure what it weighs, maybe 80 lbs or so. Thanks for all the good info.

Well, Cutty...

Look over Hobo's lift relief valve topic.

http://www.theviperr.info/hobo_dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=114

 

[Cutty]

Thanks for that link Dunk and thanks all for all the replies

 

[D.B. in Mi.]

Mine lifts it all the way.

Dennis
'49 8n

 

[D.B. in Mi.]

Mine lifts it all the way.

Dennis
'49 8n

 

[heybusdriver]

That sounds reasonable, same question other end. How much would you expect a hydraulic pump plumbed , rear arms chained down , should a front end loader lift?
Can anyone answer this as I am asking for a good friend, We ( mostly me) cleaned out the 8N pump & adjusted to Zane's jig, replaced gaskets ( very little drip) clean 134 oil, plumbed to frontend loader empty bucket lifts high , bucket chained to blueberry bush 5 ft high , lifts quessing 2-3 feet, weight unknown.
I don't know all details but he says not much lift power, my quess it should lift 600 - 800 lbs. Am I expecting too much?
Stan
1949 8N146710
1949 8N179555
1949 8N197904
1950 8N254079
1951 8N362039

Many spare parts off a 1950 8N

 

[lha]

My '41-9n lifts a bush hog all the way,as it does with almost no weight.---lha

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 01:43:42 03/17/10) That sounds reasonable, same question other end. How much would you expect a hydraulic pump plumbed , rear arms chained down , should a front end loader lift?
Can anyone answer this as I am asking for a good friend, We ( mostly me) cleaned out the 8N pump & adjusted to Zane's jig, replaced gaskets ( very little drip) clean 134 oil, plumbed to frontend loader empty bucket lifts high , bucket chained to blueberry bush 5 ft high , lifts quessing 2-3 feet, weight unknown.
I don't know all details but he says not much lift power, my quess it should lift 600 - 800 lbs. Am I expecting too much?
Stan
1949 8N146710
1949 8N179555
1949 8N197904
1950 8N254079
1951 8N362039

Many spare parts off a 1950 8N

I do not believe you are expecting too much. I haven't seen specs on some of the older N loaders, but some of the next generation or so were 1000, 2500, 3000 # lift, so expecting 800 seems reasonable to me, especially in light of 1600 PSI then vs newer 2500 PSI and that even 9 cubic feet of soil ( 1/3 yard) would be in vicinity of 800 pounds.
Dave's rig looks like it is lifting about 1400 #, but also uses a front hydraulic pump (probably more pressure).

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 08:15:32 03/17/10)

(quoted from post at 01:43:42 03/17/10) That sounds reasonable, same question other end. How much would you expect a hydraulic pump plumbed , rear arms chained down , should a front end loader lift?
Can anyone answer this as I am asking for a good friend, We ( mostly me) cleaned out the 8N pump & adjusted to Zane's jig, replaced gaskets ( very little drip) clean 134 oil, plumbed to frontend loader empty bucket lifts high , bucket chained to blueberry bush 5 ft high , lifts quessing 2-3 feet, weight unknown.
I don't know all details but he says not much lift power, my quess it should lift 600 - 800 lbs. Am I expecting too much?
Stan
1949 8N146710
1949 8N179555
1949 8N197904
1950 8N254079
1951 8N362039

Many spare parts off a 1950 8N

I do not believe you are expecting too much. I haven't seen specs on some of the older N loaders, but some of the next generation or so were 1000, 2500, 3000 # lift, so expecting 800 seems reasonable to me, especially in light of 1600 PSI then vs newer 2500 PSI and that even 9 cubic feet of soil ( 1/3 yard) would be in vicinity of 800 pounds.
Dave's rig looks like it is lifting about 1400 #, but also uses a front hydraulic pump (probably more pressure).

To expound on Jesse's answer a bit - 1600 PSI will lift a lot if the cylinders are large enough - but the larger the cylinders the longer it's going to take.

Two 4 x 30 cylinders will "lift" 20 tons but at 2 GPM it will take in excess of 1.5 minutes to fully extend the cylinders!

Two 2 x 30 cylinders will only "lift" 5 tons but the time to extend them is reduced to less 30 seconds.

Plus a FEL doesn't lift directly at the ends of the cylinders - they are actuating a lever arm and depending on the lever geometry the lifting force and height will be modified accordingly.

TOH