I just finished running an L48 with 250 hrs on it .I dug a waterline and backfilled it.I currently have an L35 with a dead battery from sitting.Mybuddy has an L48 that I borrowed this morning to dig the line and after reading all of this I paid particular attention to the loader and I think it is doing the same as yours ...........when backblading and the weight of the machine on the loader you can not curl the bucket down to adjust ....it would just curl back ,that is extremely annoying and is totally unaceptable.It makes it almost impossible to carry a consistent grade and I find the self leveler quite annoying compared to the L35....also I did notice while using the loader the hoe tended to drift to one side or the other.I hope what they did works ...let us know.
Just thought I would let you guys know in pricing out an L48 this past week I mentioned to the salesman this problem w/the loader and he said he would "look into it" and most of us know what that means!Well today he called me back to let me know that he spoke to Kubota and it appears that they know of the problem and are pretty much keeping it mostly quiet.Kubotas apparent solution to this problem is to install an R420 loader valve in place of the L48 loader valve and apparently the dealer has done this for a customer all ready with good results.......maybe Kubmech could shed some light.......anyway the salesman told me Kubota is eventually going to install this valve right from the start,but if I wanted it done I would have to pay for the price difference between the valves which really doesn't seem right if they know this problem exisits.
<font color=blue>I really wish Kubota would just throw in the towel, provide a mechanical self level linkage (or talk to their Wheel Loader engineers, that system works fine)</font color=blue>
Also......salesman said that Kubota DID NOT want the self leveling disconnected....I mention this because I had suggested it to him in an earlier conversation.
Kubmech
In an earlier post you mentioned two ajustable orfices on the self-leveler valve , do these control the amout of oil to the dump cylinders on an up and down cycle of the loader ? I guess what I want to know is , can the amout of flow to the dump cylinders be ajusted so that more or less oil is sent to one end of the dump cylinders during a raise and lower cycle of the loader ?
I to am not thrilled with the self-level valve , but with some ajustment I can live with it.
Overall it's a great machine , loader is strong and tight like on much larger equipment , just needs an ajustment on the amout of dump the bucket has through a lift cycle. If the ajustments are explained in the service manual , I would order one tomorrow.
Thanks for any information and all the other helpful posts you contribute to TBN .
Yes, the orifices are for adjusting the self level positions. The procedure is in the manual. I'd recommend the manual. I don't remember the exact procedure right now.
Tags, is the R420 valve a spool valve or self leveling controller and is it used elsewhere on other loaders? I have been working on this problem not only for myself, but for anyone else that is having it. I think the more of us that complain to Kubota, the better chance we have of having an affect on them. I do agree with digger, other then this nuisance, the machine is tight with a sturdy loader for compact tractors, thanks for your help, Rat...
If you go over to the "Buying" thread Iposted the options along with price but I'll post it here to.L48w/FEl,Quick tach,18 c.f. bucket,optional front hydraulics,backhoe,24" bucket,top n tilt,loaded rear tires...41,500.Rat, I think they are replacing the loader spool valve w/an R 420 loader spool valve ,they said it has higher relief settings.