Loader bucket hydraulics

[Iceman214406]

Hey all - my buddy has a Ferguson TO20 with a loader on the front (unmarked but looks like it may be a Wagner). He wants to install a shorter hydraulic cylinder on the bucket so it curls back more. I want to be able to help him with this but hydraulics is not my area of expertise. Is this an advisable task or does it present issues? Any recommendations? Current cylinder has a length of 23? (cylinder case) with a 1.5? shaft diameter and I am guessing probably 15? or so stoke. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Iceman214406]

 

[Jim.ME]

Look at the geometry when curled back now. If the two cylinder pins are in plane with the bucket pivot pins, he won't gain anything. When those are in a straight line it is just pulling against itself. Look at how close to the arms the back of the bucket is when curled back, once they touch its done curling back. Remember if it curls back more with a shorter cylinder, it will dump less.

 

[Steve@Advance]

It might be easier and cheaper to move the mount and keep the same cylinder.

Establish the exact extended and retracted length of the cylinder, take it off to get it out of the way. Then use a tape measure, or make 2 wood mock ups of the cylinder at each length, manually operate the bucket taking careful measurements.

Moving the cylinder mount closer to the pivot will increase the degree of curl.