Any way to improve FEL hydraulics?

[mikester]

This is my first tractor. I bought it in a hurry to fill an immediate need, without much research or preparation. I am not known for making impulse purchases (especially on something so expensive), but this was a special case. Now that I have it, and it's financed, I feel very "locked in." Perhaps my dealer would let me trade it in (only has 30hrs on it) but I'm thinking not. I guess it's worth inquiring about.

I'm sure he'd be glad to let you trade it...you just have to decide if it's worth the price for getting self levelling and faster cycle times! At least you now know what you want and need!

 

[CenCalLS]

Back to the sagging issue...
I ran a little test to isolate the issue to leaky cylinders or leaky valves. It's definitely the valves.

I raised the FEL to 36" off the ground and set the fork tips level at 36." Turn the tractor off, set timer for 1hr, come back and measure. Fork tips dropped 4.5" overall (1.25" lost in lift + 3.25" in curl). Reset position, turn tractor off, disconnect FEL QDs, set 1hr timer, measure. Lost 0.25" overall (half and half between lift & curl).

Strantor,

I have a XR 4150H and use it with numerous front attachments including forks, grapple, and auger. I used it last weekend with a pallet on the forks to stabilize a 6x6x12' post. It didn't move for the three hours I had it propping up the post. I agree the FEL hydraulics could be a little better, but mine are not experiencing the severity you describe. Maybe you have a bad valve. I'd test another one at the dealer now that you are more familiar and see if it acts the same way.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have a Kubota B21, the loader works very smooth on any combination of motions and can be easily feathered on one or both motions at the same time. It is open center. Same goes for the backhoe. I don't see this as open center vs closed center, I think it has to do with the control valves.

 

[strantor]

Strantor,

I have a XR 4150H and use it with numerous front attachments including forks, grapple, and auger. I used it last weekend with a pallet on the forks to stabilize a 6x6x12' post. It didn't move for the three hours I had it propping up the post. I agree the FEL hydraulics could be a little better, but mine are not experiencing the severity you describe. Maybe you have a bad valve. I'd test another one at the dealer now that you are more familiar and see if it acts the same way.

Interesting. I assumed it was just a cheap valve. Maybe it's actually a defective valve. What about actuating curl & lift at the same time? You say it "could be a little better," I would say that is a very generous description of the performance of my FEL. I guess I just need to do as you say and go back to the dealership and test out another tractor.

 

[dfkrug]

...I think it has to do with the control valves.

Yes. If you take the spool out of your valve, you will see little ramps cut into the lands. This helps with feathering. Some valves are better than others. The FEL valves on my Kioti are fairly easy to feather, but with high loads, the sensitivity is greater. In the OP's case, as in my experience, using forks on the FEL and loading something very heavy, feathering the curl/lift is hard. I end up doing them independently.

As for leak-down of the valves under load, if you can't see movement, then it is a feature, not a bug.

 

[4570Man]

Ive only used 1 kioti tractor but the valve multitasked pretty good. All the Kubotas I’ve used multitasked pretty good. The Deere tractors I’ve used didn’t multitask good. The mahindra tractors I’ve used flat out wouldn’t do it.

 

[strantor]

I have a Kubota B21, the loader works very smooth on any combination of motions and can be easily feathered on one or both motions at the same time. It is open center. Same goes for the backhoe. I don't see this as open center vs closed center, I think it has to do with the control valves.

Maybe I need a Kubota loader valve LOL. But seriously, if you can easily see a P/N on that valve, please let me know what it is.

 

[4570Man]

Is the valve on yours mounted on the loader bracket or under the fender beside the seat?

 

[strantor]

Is the valve on yours mounted on the loader bracket or under the fender beside the seat?

It's under the floorboard. The joystick is part of the tractor and has cable linkage down to the valve. I realize a Kubota valve would be setup differently, being mounted on the loader with the joystick coming right out of it, but in hoping there would be a way to make it work.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I can't see any numbers on the valve but Messick's has the loader parts diagram (for TL421) and lists several valves. Other Kubota models may also have very good valves, particularly the other industrial TLBs.