Hi, FatCatGotHot.
You might be surprised at just how well the 988 would do - with one simple addition - 2/3 to 3/4 of a bucket of dirt.

When operating 4wd wheel loaders, the first thing I do when I get to the face is to lift the bucket a little as it enters the material to get some weight on those front wheels to aid traction before I start working the crowd - maybe with the hoist engaged - to fill the bucket.

If you look at all the 2wd, 4wd and/or front wheel assist farm tractors, the engine is always at the front, often well out in front. This is because there is a weight transfer from front to rear as the load comes on to the drawbar. It is this weight transfer which gives the rear wheels their 'bite'. There was a DowNunda manufacturer of heavier farm tractors, a company named Upton Engineering, who maintained that they could build 2wd tractors to around 350 horsepower that were just as good as 4wd tractors of the same power due to this weight transfer.

upton.com.au/about-us/history/

www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/machine/giant-...9b613602e63263a967b0

Just my 0.02.

Hi Deas,

I'm really glad to hear this.

I was thinking about that ballasting - here you could use some logs - when the Hi-ball I fabricated for the D9G came to my mind. Initially, I wanted to illustrate how to use a single tractor with a chain and ball clearing a slope - but now I'm pretty sure I will use it as ballast for the 988 log loader, too. The boys at the farm are quite enthusiastic about the proper use of their old ball, finally...
I noticed this early marginal lifting of a bucket watching experienced wheel loader operators - just 3 or 4 fingers of air between bucket bottom and ground level and you can already see how front tires are getting squeezed stronger and traction improves.

IMG_20200323_003213 by FatCatGotHot


Thanks for sharing the Upton story, I was not aware of them. Their design looks pretty unique to me. M.R.S offered a load shifting cylinder to transfer more weight from the towed scraper to the rear axle of the tractor - but that's the other way around, "stealing" weight from the towed load at the rear.


Best regards,
Max

D9 Wheel Tractor clearing