07'- 530 HRs, Kubota L39 Backhoe Issue

[DivineL39]

Hello TBN,
Im new here. Ive done quite a bit of lurking leading up to and after purchasing my used L39 Kubota. I have chimed in a couple of threads. Im hoping that now a new thread will get some input to help me out.
I bought The 07' L39 with 530 HRS a few weeks ago. I have noticed some issues with the hoe end. The loader will pick up the front end fine (hoe up) but not the whole tractor (hoe on the ground) which I feel is normal since the FEL is only rated at a couple g and the tractor weighs around 4 without the hoe, It will lift a 2000 lb water stove on a pallet, so all seems good there. But the hoe seems a little weak, didn't dig out stumps like i was expecting or push over small (8-10") trees like i was hoping, also the dipper when fully extended seemed to bounce and I could hear the relief pst pst pst, which would bounce and pst pst faster if i increase throttle, but not bog the tractor down. obviously not getting any power on dipper extend. Then I decided to triple check the directional valve levers behind the seat (you pull out for 3 point and push in for hoe) and low and behold The one on the right (standing at the hoe looking at rear of the tractor) moved in 3/4 of an inch when i hit it with a balled up fist. Excited I jumped on and extended the dipper and it went full, bogged the engine, yay, then about 10 sec later started bouncing again and the engine went back to rpm.
So, i played around a bit with this scenario, I pulled both directional levers in and out a few times, i cycled the dipper in and out. Sometimes it maxes out and boggs the engine, sometimes it just bounces, sometimes it maxes out for 10-20-30 seconds then relieves and bounces and the engine goes back to unloaded sound. But also a new sound. There is a buzzing coming from the rear of the tractor, not the hoe, I think. Its hard to tell. But If i pull out the directional lever (the one beside the Intellipanel, same one that moved before) the buzzing stops. Then Push it back in, start messing with the dipper buzzing starts again. Im really confused. I did notice when I turned the tractor off (sad, frustrated) the buzzing frequency decreased with engine rpm as it powered down.
Are there any Kubota guys out there who see a pattern in my problem. Im going to assume that the hoe has never been removed from this unit, and there for the directional lever has been in that unseated position for its whole life. What would be the consequence if that were true. Might it work its self out if I just go push some trees with the levers fully seated?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I mortgaged my house to buy this equipment. Im on the edge of buyers remorse.

 

[art]

It is hard to diagnose but my thoughts tend to make me think that the levers are not quite doing what they are supposed to be doing. I would remove the hoe so you could check to see if the linkages are working the way they should and with the right amount of movement. The variations of the noise I believe you are hearing is if the hydraulics are working or not in the way they should be.
the levers should not be coming out of position on their own just by operating.

 

[DivineL39]

It is hard to diagnose but my thoughts tend to make me think that the levers are not quite doing what they are supposed to be doing. I would remove the hoe so you could check to see if the linkages are working the way they should and with the right amount of movement. The variations of the noise I believe you are hearing is if the hydraulics are working or not in the way they should be.
the levers should not be coming out of position on their own just by operating.

Ok, Just hopped off my tractor, Weirdly it seems to be getting better all the time. Since dipper extend is the epicenter of my problem I decide to go take another poke at some trees that rejected me before. First note, the buzzing that started yesterday when I got the directional levers all the way in, is completely gone. So great. Next I was able to push down a couple trees, with quite a bit of finagling though. So the dipper works properly about 75% of the time now. when it does fail, every thing fails with it. so If I lower the boom with the bucket pointing straight into the tree until the engine boggs and the boom starts bypassing, then extend the dipper immediately the engine unloads and nothing works until I let off the dipper. Also when the dipper isn't working if I simply try to extend it in open air, it moves extremely slow and bouncy and nothing else will work till i let off the dipper, but if I cycle it all the way in and out a couple times everything goes to working again. It almost seems as if it trying to heal its self as it seems to get better the more I run it.
On a different note the whole tractor seems a bit weak. sometimes the outriggers won't pick the machine up some times in real loose soil it will, and when pushing on a tree that won't budge I would expect the tractor to move backward, it won't unless again the soil is very spongy and loose ( woods dirt). Red clay, won't budge. and sometimes i notice the boom cylinder collapses a few inches when pressure is put on it but im not touching the boom control. I think this was owned by a municipality somewhere, so maybe they had the main relief turned down?
Im heading to my local dealer now to pick up a 3 point hitch and drawbar kit, Im gonna ask him to crank the L39 he has and max out the dipper so I can hear the engine load up. Im thinking if the relief is set higher on his the I should be able to tell his engine bogging more than mine? does that make sense.
Im also gonna ask to talk to his mechanic.
Thanks for looking at this, I will post back later today. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[Peter 315]

Ok, Just hopped off my tractor, Weirdly it seems to be getting better all the time. Since dipper extend is the epicenter of my problem I decide to go take another poke at some trees that rejected me before. First note, the buzzing that started yesterday when I got the directional levers all the way in, is completely gone. So great. Next I was able to push down a couple trees, with quite a bit of finagling though. So the dipper works properly about 75% of the time now. when it does fail, every thing fails with it. so If I lower the boom with the bucket pointing straight into the tree until the engine boggs and the boom starts bypassing, then extend the dipper immediately the engine unloads and nothing works until I let off the dipper. Also when the dipper isn't working if I simply try to extend it in open air, it moves extremely slow and bouncy and nothing else will work till i let off the dipper, but if I cycle it all the way in and out a couple times everything goes to working again. It almost seems as if it trying to heal its self as it seems to get better the more I run it.
On a different note the whole tractor seems a bit weak. sometimes the outriggers won't pick the machine up some times in real loose soil it will, and when pushing on a tree that won't budge I would expect the tractor to move backward, it won't unless again the soil is very spongy and loose ( woods dirt). Red clay, won't budge. and sometimes i notice the boom cylinder collapses a few inches when pressure is put on it but im not touching the boom control. I think this was owned by a municipality somewhere, so maybe they had the main relief turned down?
Im heading to my local dealer now to pick up a 3 point hitch and drawbar kit, Im gonna ask him to crank the L39 he has and max out the dipper so I can hear the engine load up. Im thinking if the relief is set higher on his the I should be able to tell his engine bogging more than mine? does that make sense.
Im also gonna ask to talk to his mechanic.
Thanks for looking at this, I will post back later today. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Bring your wallet for the 3point hitch setup.....

 

[DivineL39]

Bring your wallet for the 3point hitch setup.....

$807.00 for the 3 point hitch and belly draw bar kit. Ouchee

 

[fried1765]

$807.00 for the 3 point hitch and belly draw bar kit. Ouchee

Did it not come with that stuff originally, or was it lost, or do you not know?

 

[DivineL39]

Did it not come with that stuff originally, or was it lost, or do you not know?

No. There isnt any top linK bracket at all on the machine. The kit came with one. and the pto guard is in the way of a top link also oddly enough.
Plus the storage brackets had little to no scratches in the paint, until i got done figuring out the puzzle of putting the links in storage position.

 

[Peter 315]

No. There isnt any top linK bracket at all on the machine. The kit came with one. and the pto guard is in the way of a top link also oddly enough.
Plus the storage brackets had little to no scratches in the paint, until i got done figuring out the puzzle of putting the links in storage position.

I can send you a picture tomorrow of the storage position...

 

[DivineL39]

I can send you a picture tomorrow of the storage position...

That would be nice.
There are at least two setups. My manual shows the arms stored under the hoe its self, I saw one today at the dealer that had the brackets on the hoe frame just like in the manual for the arm storage.
But mine, no no, not so easy. The hoe frame doesn't have those brackets. There is extra pins under the battery and hooks near the rear tire to store the arms. Which style do you have?
I fought it a while, realized one of the hooks was bent and fixed that finally got both arms on the pins. lol, Then I attached the anti sway linkages to the arms and had a new puzzle on my hands. I still dont think I have them in there right. But They are in storage. Id love to see a picture of how they are supposed to be.
Next week I will take on bolting on the brackets for the top link and draw bar.

 

[Peter 315]

That would be nice.
There are at least two setups. My manual shows the arms stored under the hoe its self, I saw one today at the dealer that had the brackets on the hoe frame just like in the manual for the arm storage.
But mine, no no, not so easy. The hoe frame doesn't have those brackets. There is extra pins under the battery and hooks near the rear tire to store the arms. Which style do you have?
I fought it a while, realized one of the hooks was bent and fixed that finally got both arms on the pins. lol, Then I attached the anti sway linkages to the arms and had a new puzzle on my hands. I still dont think I have them in there right. But They are in storage. Id love to see a picture of how they are supposed to be.
Next week I will take on bolting on the brackets for the top link and draw bar.

Under the step in front of the rear wheel.....