Euro 8 bracket SWL rating

[AJR75]

Afternoon all, does anyone know or have any links available as the where this information might be available? I'm talking about the standard euro 8 weld on brackets sold by the likes of Sparex et al.

As they form part of the load path, should they then be rated up to a max lift capacity? At what point do you need to move on to a more robust attachment system say pin and cone for example?

 

[The Grinch]

Be interested in seeing the answers as we run everything on euro 8.

 

[Steevo]

Whatever a tractor loader will lift.....a Euro carriage will also.

Soon as you get into telehandler weights that would be unstable on a tractor, you're out of Euro territory.

I've been lifting 2t of steel on pallets this afternoon with the load spread evenly out to approx 1m from the heel of the forks. Forks and brackets were the least of my worries - the tractor would struggle for stability long before the loader/brackets would break.

 

[farmerm]

Whatever a tractor loader will lift.....a Euro carriage will also.

Soon as you get into telehandler weights that would be unstable on a tractor, you're out of Euro territory.

I've been lifting 2t of steel on pallets this afternoon with the load spread evenly out to approx 1m from the heel of the forks. Forks and brackets were the least of my worries - the tractor would struggle for stability long before the loader/brackets would break.

but despite common sense telling you this, are you in possession of a piece of paper to "prove" it....

 

[Steevo]

but despite common sense telling you this, are you in possession of a piece of paper to "prove" it....

I have no need to prove it, on paper or otherwise.

 

[farmerm]

I have no need to prove it, on paper or otherwise.

fair point but I will bet there will be keen HSE inspector out there who would want to see a test cert on all attachments with welded on brackets! not that I have such bit of paper either. The original op talks about "load paths" and rated lift capacities suggesting someone (with some project) for which a bit of bird sh#t farmer welding, some bailer twine and some crossing of fingers isn't going to cut it PS if HSE are reading this that is not a description of my welding skills, I have none, my Euro8 brackets have been welded on by professions.

 

[yellow belly]

I have a 2.5 tonne rear weight for my tractor and regularly lift 2 tonnes Fert bags

Iris-ect I’ve of sfw my rule of thumb when lifting any thing is not to get under it
hydraulic pipes can fail
if you are not under it when it falls you can walk away with out injury

 

[Dave W]

You won't find a specific answer. Each attachment should have its own swl on it somewhere

 

[FarmyStu]

Whatever a tractor loader will lift.....a Euro carriage will also.

Soon as you get into telehandler weights that would be unstable on a tractor, you're out of Euro territory.

I've been lifting 2t of steel on pallets this afternoon with the load spread evenly out to approx 1m from the heel of the forks. Forks and brackets were the least of my worries - the tractor would struggle for stability long before the loader/brackets would break.

It's been a while since I was directly involved with lifting equipment regs. But I do remember that any "modification" to an item of lifting equipment, particularly welding, would invalidate any "Certificate of Conformance" and require a full retest. I don't mean another LOLER test of the sort we are all aware of, I mean a full overload test in order to bring it back into conformance. MASSIVE can of worms if this is properly enforced!!!!

 

[AJR75]

Thanks all- @Dave W I didn't know if there was a recommended weight range for the euro system? A similar style to the way Dowdeswell used to advertise their range of ploughs eg 100 series suitable for tractors of up to 160Hp etc. So the euro system would be suitable for loaders with a lift capacity of up to XXX tonnes....

 

[Dave W]

Thanks all- @Dave W I didn't know if there was a recommended weight range for the euro system? A similar style to the way Dowdeswell used to advertise their range of ploughs eg 100 series suitable for tractors of up to 160Hp etc. So the euro system would be suitable for loaders with a lift capacity of up to XXX tonnes....

No. To simplify it, if an attachment is rated at 3t it will have had to have a 6t proof load on it. Doesn't really matter what the brackets are.
Any new machine will be supplied with a load test figure and be CE marked.
as soon as you modify it by welding different brackets etc that CE Mark becomes useless.
also it doesn't matter who welded it. Be it a fully coded welder or your mate from the pub. It's what is presented for testing that matters. Not who made it

 

[AJR75]

So technically speaking, the "link" between attachment and loader is not subject to any specific standard other than a responsibility for the person responsible for that link to be competent in what they are doing?

So the manufacturer supplying an attachment without brackets is effectively saying "my kit is rated to X tonnes SWL but how you attach it to your tractor is up to you" (within reason obviously- baler twine won't cut it in this instance!)

 

[Dave W]

So technically speaking, the "link" between attachment and loader is not subject to any specific standard other than a responsibility for the person responsible for that link to be competent in what they are doing?

So the manufacturer supplying an attachment without brackets is effectively saying "my kit is rated to X tonnes SWL but how you attach it to your tractor is up to you" (within reason obviously- baler twine won't cut it in this instance!)

Yes pretty much.
in theory you could have a 10t attachment on euro brackets. As long as it will take the 20t proof load then it's safe.

 

[AJR75]

Thank you. Makes sense and I suppose that really there has to be a cut off between attachment/ loader/ tractor interface in terms of responsibility. Interestingly, where brackets are supplied with a machine from new, they would become part of that machine and its CE mark I assume.