tutorbell
Bronze Member
This weekend I installed a W.R. Long 3rd function valve and OBG2-48 grapple on my B2320 with LA304 loader. The grapple was made to fit the pin spacing of the LA304 loader arms. Weight is supposed to be 357 pounds and it feels like every bit of it. Third function valve came with a custom bracket that mounts it behind the seat on the right inner fender. I picked up all of the parts and installed it myself.
I purchased the bulkhead plate with quick connects also. There isn't a custom one for this tractor so it just came with a generic 1/4" plate that is supposed to be welded to the torque tube. Room is kinda tight there so I ended up welding it to the reinforcing plate on the inside of the right side loader arm. Everything worked just fine with the one exception being the adapter for the power beyond port on the loader valve was not the right size. Salesman sent me to a local hydraulic shop to pick up the right fitting and have it billed to him.
How does it work? Great! I'm not going to be picking up any huge logs or boulders but I can bite down on enough brush that I can't see where I am going and I have to drive backwards instead. I was very concerned about the lift capacity of the LA304 not working well with it. As it turns out, my salesman at the dealership said they will happily put an LA364 on a B2320 or an LA304 on the B26/2920. Brackets, etc. are the same and it's just Kubota's marketing department writing the specifications so they can upsell the B26/2920 for the greater lift capacity loader.
I wish I would have known this when I got the tractor--I would have got the LA364 instead!
No pictures yet (too much fun using it) but I'll put some up this evening. Regardless of what some may say a grapple really does work well on a tractor this small. I was pretty certain I would have to up the relief valve pressure 10% or so to get acceptable performance. After using it for a weekend, I realize there is no need to.
I purchased the bulkhead plate with quick connects also. There isn't a custom one for this tractor so it just came with a generic 1/4" plate that is supposed to be welded to the torque tube. Room is kinda tight there so I ended up welding it to the reinforcing plate on the inside of the right side loader arm. Everything worked just fine with the one exception being the adapter for the power beyond port on the loader valve was not the right size. Salesman sent me to a local hydraulic shop to pick up the right fitting and have it billed to him.
How does it work? Great! I'm not going to be picking up any huge logs or boulders but I can bite down on enough brush that I can't see where I am going and I have to drive backwards instead. I was very concerned about the lift capacity of the LA304 not working well with it. As it turns out, my salesman at the dealership said they will happily put an LA364 on a B2320 or an LA304 on the B26/2920. Brackets, etc. are the same and it's just Kubota's marketing department writing the specifications so they can upsell the B26/2920 for the greater lift capacity loader.
I wish I would have known this when I got the tractor--I would have got the LA364 instead!
No pictures yet (too much fun using it
) but I'll put some up this evening. Regardless of what some may say a grapple really does work well on a tractor this small. I was pretty certain I would have to up the relief valve pressure 10% or so to get acceptable performance. After using it for a weekend, I realize there is no need to.
