I Still Hate My Tractor

[ddb123]

I have posted some comments comparing my experience with gear and hydrostatic tractors to those of Fred and ovrszd, but I hope I didn't come across as hypercritical. I will be disappointed if we don't find out at least find out what happens after the turbo goes on.

I was going to put my tractor to the hill + FEL test today like James did with his, but something came up and it will have to wait until tomorrow. I guess I can spend today thinking of an excuse in case my Kubota doesn't perform as well as his Kioti!

 

[slowzuki]

Re snowblower comment earlier, my 7 ft blower is the highest pto load I use on my L5030HSTC, it has to be run at or near pto speed in deep snow or you won't get much done. I drive the hst pedal to the governor, that is if I lose much rpm I slow down until it recovers. I do this for about 5-8 hours per storm clearing all my route. It can be frustrating as you can stall the tractor but I've put the blower on my 100 hp tractor as well and it can stall that tractor too if you get too aggressive.

A snowblower doesn't drop off if load very quickly so it acts like towing a heavy trailer in high range, you can bog the engine out. BTW we tow 16,000 lb+ hay wagons in high range all summer with our L5030 as well. Not a speed demon but it works. Have to be careful accelerating and if you stop on a hill you will be in medium to start off and won't get back to high until the other side.

Only other time I used to run out of power was round baling with it in hills. If I left the loader on you couldn't run the A/C going up the steepest hills. With the loader dropped it made the difference.

Based on other loads, I'd say the A/C saps about 5 hp when running. The hydraulics are about 7 hp on mine when run against the relief valve or doing loader work. Thats 12 hp against an engine with 42 pto hp. No surprise a smaller L can run out of power. I happen to like the weight as its a great loader tractor for its size with loaded tires and some weight on the hitch.

 

[ddb123]

In regard to ovrszd's recommendation to try it at RPMs below 1500, there is no doubt that you are correct and the HST will royally suck at those RPMs. My gear L4300 would putt around all day with no problem at idle or just above idle. My dad, uncles, grandpa, etc love to run their tractors at very low RPMs whether using the loader, pulling a plow, or even running a mower, but I have always been one to run tractors with RPMs up in the power band. It seems to me like less work on the motor to work it where it is strongest rather than where it is weakest. Their motors last a long time, and (so far) so do mine, so maybe there isn't a huge difference in wear after all. From what little I understand about engines, diesels are supposedly much more efficient at higher RPMs. (I know this isn't necessarily Fred's issue, as he stated that he was running at 2400 RPMs when he had the problem)

I experimented with all ranges of RPMs with my older gear tractor and my new HST tractor, and I've noticed that my new tractor uses as little fuel at high RPMs as my old tractor did at low RPMs. My old tractor would suck fuel at WOT though, so that probably has more to do with the newer engine being more efficient.

 

[txdon]

Looks like a post got deleted? I was looking forward to my mickey Ds' gift certificate .

I saw that too. He also said he changed out the fuel filter, so at least he did consider the old diesel to be a problem before he decided it was air not fuel related. . . . or maybe he just had a AH HA moment.

Going back to - http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/288784-diesel-fuel-how-old-too.html

 

[bandaidmd]

This is more disappointing than the Sopranos last episode, we need closure.

 

[Bota4me]

I say go for it fred! Heck if you have the money supercharge that puppy up also while its apart

 

[Bota4me]

Nitrous anyone??

 

[k0ua]

I have posted some comments comparing my experience with gear and hydrostatic tractors to those of Fred and ovrszd, but I hope I didn't come across as hypercritical. I will be disappointed if we don't find out at least find out what happens after the turbo goes on.

I was going to put my tractor to the hill + FEL test today like James did with his, but something came up and it will have to wait until tomorrow. I guess I can spend today thinking of an excuse in case my Kubota doesn't perform as well as his Kioti!

David. I am sure your Kubota will do just fine. It would be interesting to see your results.

 

[TexasBoy]

I hope Fred will post his results, Im genuinely curious how this mod will work out. The dirt tracker in me just cant help but be interested.

:thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

I hope Fred will post his results, Im genuinely curious how this mod will work out.

I am as well. I still think something isn't right if the engine will drop 1500 RPMs from lifting a empty loader while driving around and I would find and fix that first (perhaps a test drive of another L3940HSTC would be in order?), but from a technical perspective, seeing the steps to turbo a machine interest me.

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

Fred, your an auto tech not a diesel tech, correct?

 

[kevin37b]

5 months old and you are going to STICK a turbo on it and fix it ? Absolutely amazing what I see on this site . Carl Bert , where are you ?

 

[crazyal]

LOL looks like I voided the warranty on the blower too Al. No experience with a snowblower. We had 5 inches Thanksgiving morning. I blew snow and rocks till I was blue in the face., My fuel was bought in 1995, no crap but it works fine in every other Diesel I own. What does ULSD have to do with it?

Fred

This time of year is hard on blowers. I usually use my plow truck for the first couple of storms to push the rocks off the driveway. The first year with my blower I spent far too many times replacing shear bolts after finding another rock.

Hows the turbo coming along? Don't listen to the naysayers, it's your tractor.

 

[aczlan]

Aaron I have already, NO difference.
What makes you the fuel expert? Kubota manual states NO high sulfur fuel to be used with this engine. THEN in maintenance it says 200 hr. oil service interval UNLESS using high sulfur fuel then 100 hr. interval. My fuel is fine. Now we have a forum full of fuel experts.

In many cases, the newer engines have particle filters in the exhaust and/or super high pressure fuel pumps (ie: common rail) which cant handle the amount of sulfur in the older 500PPM Diesel.
I don't know waht emissions equipment your L3940 has or what the injection pump can handle, only that its listed as a "Interim Tier4" so I would defer to the engineers at Kubota as to what it can use for fuel. If your dealership says otherwise, I would get that advice in writing so that if it breaks something, you can prove that you were following their advice.

Aaron do think all parts of the world have ULSD fuel? Highly doubtful.
Ultra-low-sulfur diesel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know that different parts of the world have different grades of fuel, but MOST are working toward either ULSD or Euro V for Diesel. It is possible (probable?) that in the areas where ULSD (or Euro V) isn't available, they also don't require the same emissions equipment (ie: DPF, etc) so they can remove them and the tractors can then run on higher sulfur Diesel.

Aaron Z

 

[KubotainNH]

Fred, please don't abandon this thread. I really want to see the outcome.

 

[Bota4me]

Fred, please don't abandon this thread. I really want to see the outcome.

what he said fred. Its YOUR tractor and obviously you want more power. I have heavily modded motorcycles in the past when i was racing & there is no free ride when it comes to power vs reliability driveability etc. with that being said it took mods to win races for me & it all comes down to money, tech abilities & intended use. Go for it fred & please keep us posted

 

[xring100]

Propane Injection

Nitrous anyone??

 

[Grateful11]

Fred I'm telling ya there's something wrong with your dang tractor. I'd have the dealer on this one in a heartbeat.

You said at the beginning of this thread: "I use ANY of the hydraulics the revs drop to 1500 or so and the whole machine is thrown into a tizzy"

This afternoon when my wife and son got finished feeding the cows and bedding up the cow shed I tried something with the L3940. I set the RPM's to 2000 and operated the FEL, empty I might add except a HD Round Bale Spear, and the RPM's never dropped lower than 1900. I done this about 5 times up and down just see what it would do.

 

[k0ua]

Fred I'm telling ya there's something wrong with your dang tractor. I'd have the dealer on this one in a heartbeat.

You said at the beginning of this thread: "I use ANY of the hydraulics the revs drop to 1500 or so and the whole machine is thrown into a tizzy"

This afternoon when my wife and son got finished feeding the cows and bedding up the cow shed I tried something with the L3940. I set the RPM's to 2000 and operated the FEL, empty I might add except a HD Round Bale Spear, and the RPM's never dropped lower than 1900. I done this about 5 times up and down just see what it would do.

Try "deadheading" the loader, by curling back and hold it there for a couple of seconds while the pump goes over the relief valve, and see what it does,, I bet about 150 maybe 175 drop. If you think of it, tomorrow when you feed another bale of hay, see what it does with a big ole round bale on the spear. I don't think it will drop much, but it may a little

James K0UA

 

[aczlan]

Fred I'm telling ya there's something wrong with your dang tractor. I'd have the dealer on this one in a heartbeat.
You said at the beginning of this thread: "I use ANY of the hydraulics the revs drop to 1500 or so and the whole machine is thrown into a tizzy"
This afternoon when my wife and son got finished feeding the cows and bedding up the cow shed I tried something with the L3940. I set the RPM's to 2000 and operated the FEL, empty I might add except a HD Round Bale Spear, and the RPM's never dropped lower than 1900. I done this about 5 times up and down just see what it would do.

My point exactly. I would put a gauge on a tee between the pump and the loader valve and see what pressure the OP is getting when he moves the loader. I would also get the testing procedure for the HST and make sure the pressures are correct in the HST.

Aaron Z