Kubota TLBs? Experences?

[Chechnya]

The two Kubota L35's i have at work are absolutly incredable. They do everything i put forth and never whimp out. I love GST, i have a number for each job and i leave the 4x4 in gear ever since we got both L35's in 1998 and nothing bad has happened. Since we got the, ive only had to replace the clutch recently and a rear lift arm. No big deal. Heres the boxblade L35 with a gannon 6 foot boxblade.

 

[gray]

HI.

I owned an L35 for a year then traded up to an L48 last year.

The L35 was nice and had good power for its size. It had a nice GST transmission. It had a bit of a boom swing jerk because it has only one pump running all back hoe functions.
On hills the slight shifting delay causes some uneasyness.
It has a good quick off system on the BH. The loader is strong and easy to use.

The L48 is larger in all respects. I have found the HST to be very nice for loader work and close up details. I do not miss the GST. The loader is powerfull and has the lift height to load full sized dump trucks. The back hoe handles many jobs that a full sized hoe is used for. I have a 4 in 1 bucket on my loader which has been a good addition to the machine.
.
I prefer the L48. It is larger but due to it's HST it can get into most of the same spots. It has a swivel seat which is better in function and safety then the L35 system. I did not like having to get off the L35 to rotate the seat. Even the L48 could be improved on but it has been much nicer to use.
With the 24 inch BH bucket , even digging in a 1000gal. septic tank takes little time. You do need a stout trailer for the L48. It uses much more fuel.

If I could change a few things on it the list would go like this:

A bit faster mid range speed.
A mechanical self leveling linkage( the new ones have this)
A sit while you rotate seat system.
A extenda hoe option.
A lower hood design for better veiw on bucket work.
A low, ground fill fuel tank.

One other point of note. The L48 has 2 pumps running the BH and this makes for a smoother and always active boom swing that helps make working on angles much nicer.

 

[johnjc]

I too have had problems with the steering cylinders shields. Was working with it last weekend and it caught on a stump. It bent up and out and the corner punched a hole in side of my tire. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Anyone know if Kubota has a fix for this problem?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[johnjc]

Another picture

 

[TORQUIN]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( I too have had problems with the steering cylinders shields. Was working with it last weekend and it caught on a stump. It bent up and out and the corner punched a hole in side of my tire. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Anyone know if Kubota has a fix for this problem?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

JohnJC,
I know of no Kubota-sanctioned fix for this, but I'd like to suggest one of my own. What about putting 2 or 3 large hose clamps on shield once the new one is in place. The hose clamps, and maybe you'll need 4 of them, should pull the bottom of the shield up as close the axle as possible, to hopefully keep it from snagging anything, and will offer support to keep the shield from moving if it does get snagged.
Another thought would be a big truck muffler clamp, but I'm not sure if one is available that would be the right size for the axle and still have a snug fit. The hose clamps are pliable and will conform to the shape of the axle/shield as they are tightened.

Chris

 

[gray]

johnjc.

I had to straighten my steering covers out many times and finally got a new one and found that the axel has holes tapped for bolts under it iand the cover lines up with them so I put bolts in and have had no trouble ever sense. Knock on wood. I do not know why Kubota did not but the bolts in right away????????

One more point- if they placed a bit of a frame or stamped rib in the gaurd they would have even a stronger cover. After all these are TLB's and are used like that. They do get more demanded of them than a tractor by it's self?

Good luck.

BTW- does your boom leak down alot?

 

[johnjc]

Yes the backhoe boom leaks down slowly. Kubota replaced something in the valve assembly after I bought it and that helped. The thing that is more annoying is the jack stands. They pick the tractor up fine but the first time the hoe pulls down on them they collapse and then the tractor moves.
Also if I have any weight in the loader it leaks down at a rate of about 2” a minuet. I sometimes use the loader to do thing like pick up the back of my trailer to change a tire and I have to keep picking it back up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif My 1975 Case 580B will pick up the back of my ¾ ton dodge and it takes all night to leak down.

 

[gray]

Johnjc.

I have talked to the dealer about the leak down on my boom and one stableizer. He told me they may replace it? He said it was likely a scared cylinder wall? I don't know if he is right or not.

I have a mild leak down of my loader but not real bad. I would much like to have no leak down but that is not normal. I have heard that some others put pilot valves on cylinders to block leak down????

My BH can not pull down on my tractor causing the stableizers to fold up? If that is what you have happening, my guess is that you have air in your system? Maybe a bad relief valve?

Have you asked the dealer about it? That is not right.

I love my L48 and will get the small issues fixed soon.

Gray.