How exactly do manufacturers rate these skidsteers for weight carrying capabilities? :beatsme For example, my SK714 is rated at: Operating Load - 1350 Tipping Load - 2860 Max. Hydro. lift capacity - 4070 What do these different ratings mean, and how are they figured? The tipping load for example, is it figured for a bucket height of a certain level? Thanks for any help.
As far as I under stood, they pile a load on the bucket or forks with the loader at it's max. reach and as soon as the rear tires come a bit off the ground (usually a piece of paper can be slid under them) they divide the weight by 2, that's the 50% ROC, tracked loader are done at 35%, same process, get to the tipping weight, and hack off 65% of that.
That makes sense. So there is basically a 50% safety factor in there, correct? And the max reach *should* be about 1/2 way through its lift path, correct? Thanks for the help.
From what I have read Ron is correct. They rate the CTL's at 35% because they are designed to operate on steeper grades and on more unstable soil. The actual standard was established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). I am also interested in the exact answer to this question. I found the following references, but I have to go to the Engineering Library at the local university to read the the SAE publications. I have it on my list of things to do when I get over there. Rated Operating Load for Loaders Document Number: J818 Date Published: April 2007 Issuing Committee: Mtc Sc1, Loaders, Crawlers, Scrapers And Mounted Attachments Scope: This SAE Standard establishes the definition of a normal all day rated operating load for loaders as defined in SAE J1057. This SAE Standard applies to wheel and crawler loaders taking only hydraulic lift capacity and tipping capacity into consideration. It is recognized that specific operating conditions may allow larger, or require smaller loads than the rated operating load. Some conditions could require more careful or restricted operation with the rated operating load. This standard is not to be construed as setting up test procedures or conditions. Tipping load rating shall be in accordance with SAE J732. The operating capacity of a compact loader is defined as half the load required to cause the compact loader to tip forward when lifting with a standard digging bucket according to SAE Standard J818.
One thing to bear in mind though, is that ROC is determined in a static condition. Just because the tipping load is X lbs doesn't mean the hydraulics will lift that amount.
Max reach can be anywhere in the lift path, actually, regardless of whether it's a radial or vertical-lift machine. For instance, I believe that the Deere vertical-lift machines generate maximum reach near or at maximum height, whereas Cat and Bobcat and Case generate theirs closer to operator eye-level. For radial machines, "mid-height" also isn't accurate -- just think of your arm. If you stand up and point your arm (kept straight) at the corner of the floor and a vertical wall facing you, it is true that the distance of your fingertips from your body increases until your arm is parallel -- but there's nothing saying that all manufacturers' radial lift paths travel an equal distance above that. (To visualize this last comment, if you have your arm pointed down at a 45° angle -- that is, so that it's pointing 45° below horizontal -- and rotate it so that it's 45° above horizontal, yes, max reach is halfway through the swing arc. However, if you rotate it so that it's, say, 60° above horizontal, max reach is no longer 1/2 the way through the swing arc.) True. The amount of weight actually achievable by hydraulic lift also changes through the lift path. Even though a hydraulic cylinder can achieve roughly the same extension force throughout its entire stroke, the geometry of the lift path and the location of pins will ultimately result in different hydraulic lift forces through the lift path.
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