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Alberta, Canada | We currently have a New Holland TM tractor with (ALO) Quicke Q980 loader equipped with SoftDrive. We've never had it set up properly, it was impossible to turn off, it didn't work properly, and the dealer couldn't get it figured out. Finally I did. Turns out the SoftDrive was hooked up to the bucket cylinders, instead of the lift rams. This means that going down the road, the bucket and grapple would go up and crash back down onto a rigid loader. However, I have gotten it working temporarily, and loved it.
By having the loader lowered and TC level, you can start the engine, curl the attachment all the way, and after it is rolled back all the way, the hydraulic flow diverts to the lift cylinders and the loader lifts a foot and a half (18-20 inches) off the ground and remains rigid in that spot. If you *dump* the attachment, the loader drops all the way, and crashes down. However, if you do it slowly and properly, you can let a little pressure out of it, and the loader will sink a few inches and bounce. Suspension is now enabled, with about 6 inches of travel. You can literally get out of the tractor and lift the loader up and down a few inches by hand. Go for a drive and you can watch the loader gently float up and down, and it definitely improves the ride. Would be a good idea if it was set up properly.
We just got a new tractor with the Deere 746 loader, and now loader suspension (LSS) seems to have disappeared with the 7030 series. I know it was available with the 7020LF tractors, I even priced it out on a 7720 for < $1,000 as a dealer-installed option. It's still offered on the following loader models, including for the 6030 and 7020SF tractors:
563
620
640
673
721
726
740
741
Quoting from Deere.com it says: "LSS is compatible with 6000, 6010, 6020, 6405, 6215, 6415, 6615, 6715, 6605, 7405, 7000, 7010 Series and 7720, 7320, 7420 and 7520 Tractors." however I have also seen it on multiple 7920s with TLS.
So to my question now. Does anyone know why it is no longer available for the 7030LF loaders? The 746 remains almost completely unchanged, and the 7630 has the same power as a 7720... My dealer seems to remember it on the 7820 & 7920s, but is at a loss for where the option has gone. They've pretty much said "prove it, and we'll do it." Any help is appreciated...
-Josh
Edited by JoshA 2/5/2007 17:12
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Front End Loader Suspension?
