For those of you who think the L3400 has a weak loader!!

LD1 · Aug 26, 2013

Moving some dirt today. It amazes me the number of times I hear people mention that the L3400 (2800/3200/3400/3700/3800) have weak loaders.

Who needs more lift on a CUT??? Mine has never failed to lift anything I have tried.

I have a 700lb blade on the back and loaded tires for ballast. And even this load was tippy under the right circumstances (downhill or stopping).

the last picture I made sure to include the pressure gauge. It takes 500PSI just to lift the loader frame and empty bucket. I have 2500PSI to play with. So at 2000PSI, this load is only 3/4 of what I "can" lift. And bota lists my bucket at 8.1 cu ft struck capacity. So I'd venture to say I had darn near half a yard on there (13.5 cu ft)

I certainly dont know what I would do with a spec of double what mine is rated for. It would be usless to me except for bragging rights.

Certainly not a weak loader by any means. Just might not have a "bragging rights" spec.

WaxMan · Aug 26, 2013

Nice point made, I like the gauge, is that a permanent mount? Does the gauge fluctuate when picking up different loads based on weight?

k0ua · Aug 26, 2013

LD1 said:
Moving some dirt today. It amazes me the number of times I hear people mention that the L3400 (2800/3200/3400/3700/3800) have weak loaders.

Who needs more lift on a CUT??? Mine has never failed to lift anything I have tried.

I have a 700lb blade on the back and loaded tires for ballast. And even this load was tippy under the right circumstances (downhill or stopping).

the last picture I made sure to include the pressure gauge. It takes 500PSI just to lift the loader frame and empty bucket. I have 2500PSI to play with. So at 2000PSI, this load is only 3/4 of what I "can" lift. And bota lists my bucket at 8.1 cu ft struck capacity. So I'd venture to say I had darn near half a yard on there (13.5 cu ft)

I certainly dont know what I would do with a spec of double what mine is rated for. It would be usless to me except for bragging rights.

Certainly not a weak loader by any means. Just might not have a "bragging rights" spec.

View attachment 334078 View attachment 334079 View attachment 334080

I never at any time though my L3400hst had a weak loader. I thought mine would lift more than the spec.. I can't prove that, and It would be a bit difficult now, as I don't have it any more, but I lifted some rocks that most people would not believe it would lift. My Kioti is stronger, and its bucket is bigger, but not a whole lot stronger, maybe 200-300 lbs.

James K0UA

Tomtint · Aug 26, 2013

I'm in the " I think the loader is weak camp" I may be unfairly comparing it to what I'm used to lifting with my Skidsteer. I know it is far weaker than that but I still remember not being able to lift my empty sander out of the back of the dump truck....that sucked.

LD1 · Aug 26, 2013

WaxMan said:
Nice point made, I like the gauge, is that a permanent mount? Does the gauge fluctuate when picking up different loads based on weight?

ITs mounted with a quick connect and a tee. I leave it on the lift circuit, but the way I made it, I can hook it up to any of the 4 functions. Or I can remove the tee completely, and hook the gauge direct to any port.

Tomtint said:
I'm in the " I think the loader is weak camp" I may be unfairly comparing it to what I'm used to lifting with my Skidsteer. I know it is far weaker than that but I still remember not being able to lift my empty sander out of the back of the dump truck....that sucked.

Skidsteers will always be stronger than tractors. Thats what they are made to do...lift. A small SS can lift as much as a 60 or 70HP tractor that is physically about 3x's bigger.

As to the not lifting the sander out, what did you have on the back for ballast?? Cause with my loaded tires and 700# rear blade, I have enough power to lift the rear of the tractor. and with my 1100# 6' bushhog, Using a combination of curl and lift, I can do the same. IF you were lifting the rear of your tractor, that dont mean you have a week loader by any means.

LD1 · Aug 26, 2013

k0ua said:
I never at any time though my L3400hst had a weak loader. I thought mine would lift more than the spec.. I can't prove that, and It would be a bit difficult now, as I don't have it any more, but I lifted some rocks that most people would not believe it would lift. My Kioti is stronger, and its bucket is bigger, but not a whole lot stronger, maybe 200-300 lbs.

James K0UA

Yep, it is quite an impressive little tractor (short of the jerky hitch :laughing

One would "assume" the loader is underrated. But the geometry of the loader, they can lift ALOT more down low. The kubota loader manual shows the curved graph. According to it, the LA460 can lift ~800kg to a height of 500mm before it starts to drop off. I still think it is a tad underrated, but the whole point of this thread is to not get hung up on specs. I can lift a heaped bucket load of dirt as high as it will go. What more do I need?? Its not a forklift. And any loader that "specs" stronger on a tractor under 3000# is a waste IMO. Cause as I mentioned, loaded tires and an 1100# bushhog hanging way back, and I can still be tipsy. Not sure what the COG and weight of the backhoe for this tractor weigh, but I'd guess it dont offer much more for ballast than my hog...

Tomtint · Aug 26, 2013

LD1 said:
ITs mounted with a quick connect and a tee. I leave it on the lift circuit, but the way I made it, I can hook it up to any of the 4 functions. Or I can remove the tee completely, and hook the gauge direct to any port.

Skidsteers will always be stronger than tractors. Thats what they are made to do...lift. A small SS can lift as much as a 60 or 70HP tractor that is physically about 3x's bigger.

As to the not lifting the sander out, what did you have on the back for ballast?? Cause with my loaded tires and 700# rear blade, I have enough power to lift the rear of the tractor. and with my 1100# 6' bushhog, Using a combination of curl and lift, I can do the same. IF you were lifting the rear of your tractor, that dont mean you have a week loader by any means.

I had the BH on it. I had to reach into the bed of the truck with a set of forks on the QA ( I'm guessing they weigh 300lbs) Cat brand and very stout. Looped a chain around the forks and hooked to the sander ( 800 lbs ( I'm guessing) and no dice. It stopped lifting and did not have the sack to curl either.

k0ua · Aug 26, 2013

LD1 said:
Yep, it is quite an impressive little tractor (short of the jerky hitch :laughing

One would "assume" the loader is underrated. But the geometry of the loader, they can lift ALOT more down low. The kubota loader manual shows the curved graph. According to it, the LA460 can lift ~800kg to a height of 500mm before it starts to drop off. I still think it is a tad underrated, but the whole point of this thread is to not get hung up on specs. I can lift a heaped bucket load of dirt as high as it will go. What more do I need?? Its not a forklift. And any loader that "specs" stronger on a tractor under 3000# is a waste IMO. Cause as I mentioned, loaded tires and an 1100# bushhog hanging way back, and I can still be tipsy. Not sure what the COG and weight of the backhoe for this tractor weigh, but I'd guess it dont offer much more for ballast than my hog...

Good points, I had my "rears in the air " by lifting huge rocks too, even with my 750 lbs ballast barrel on the back. I never lifted the rears after I filled the tires and had the ballast barrel on too. But then again I never tried that same rock again either.:shocked:

Bluegill2 · Aug 26, 2013

I'm with ya LD1. The lift capacity of my L3800 has really impressed me! Never failed to left anything I needed.

If one needs more, just get a larger tractor!

bullbreaker · Aug 26, 2013

Thanks for posting them pics/story there LD1 ! :thumbsup:
Got mine up to 2550. Heres old thread on how I and others here done ours thanks to TBN-ers help ! :thumbsup:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/128908-bump-up-lift-capacity-l3400.html

Boone