My L3901 seems WAY under-powered to me

[k0ua]

Well, this isn't a fair test. I'm talking about normal operating conditions. Not setting up an extreme test where I "know" it will fail. However, you may be right that my experience is normal. Do you have an L series tractor? If so, can you use it for most normal work in mid-range? I can't do anything in mid-range but travel. Again, this may be normal...which is why I'm asking.

That doesn't seem normal to me. My old L3400 would do all kinds of work in MED range. Not as much "grunt" as LO but good speed and usually used if for loader work unless I wanted to go real slow as in doing precision work then down to LO range. So if your rig is pretty helpless in MED range, than perhaps your HYDRO relief valve is set too low? The tractor should be able to spin its tires in dirt or gravel in 4WD in MED when pushing an immobile object or pulling on one. How do you have the tractor weighted of course can make a difference. Heavy implement on 3pt raised up and carried by the tractor or heavy weight box and fluid in the tires might cause the relief valve to open before tire spin in MED range on harder surfaces.

 

[k0ua]

My tires are filled and I keep the tractor in 4wd all the time along with a tiller on the back for counterweight. It does NOT want to spin the wheels in low, never mind mid-range. I've had a few times digging soft dirt (wash near my creek) and it didn't want to spin the tires at all in low. Since the tractor is fairly new (less that 100 hours) and I generally don't want to abuse my machines by creating cavitation in the hydraulic pump, I backed off and took a lighter bite. Again, this is low-range. Maybe I'm just too gentle and need to lay the whip to it. However, I KNOW it will not spin in mid-range. In fact, I rarely use mid-range because it's seems so under powered that I don't want to cavitate the pump.

Just in case someone is wondering, I know how to use a hydrostatic powered machine. When under load, only apply the tram necessary to get moving, not pedal to the metal. Yes, it's a touchy-feely thing...not enough tram and you don't move, too much and ether the engine (should) start to stall or you push the reliefs into by-pass. But this tractor has no sweet spot. I stopped the other day on a mild slope in mid-range. As I engaged the tram, it did nothing but whine. The engine did not idle down at all. I had to shift into low.

Again this does not seem normal at all to me. In LO range the tires will spin NO MATTER what. Loaded tires, tiller on the back etc. If you push up against an immoveable object, those tire should spin before relief valve opens in LO for sure.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, you pretty well have me convinced there is a problem (likely relief valve). I just don't remember my old L3400 HST being so helpless to not spin tires in LO for sure and would spin them most of the time in MED on gravel or dirt surfaces. And certainly not how my Kioti DK35se works, It will spin the tires anytime you want to push into a hard rain set gravel pile of 0 to 3/4 stone. And that stuff turns into near concrete after it has been rained on a few times. No, something is wrong.

 

[Fallon]

My former L3200 could easily spin the tires in low. I'm trying to remember if I could stall the engine in low, but failing to recall. It would have been stomping on the pedal really hard if so. Stalling in Medium wasn't hard. If you were working hard & aggressive.

 

[4570Man]

My tires are filled and I keep the tractor in 4wd all the time along with a tiller on the back for counterweight. It does NOT want to spin the wheels in low, never mind mid-range. I've had a few times digging soft dirt (wash near my creek) and it didn't want to spin the tires at all in low. Since the tractor is fairly new (less that 100 hours) and I generally don't want to abuse my machines by creating cavitation in the hydraulic pump, I backed off and took a lighter bite. Again, this is low-range. Maybe I'm just too gentle and need to lay the whip to it. However, I KNOW it will not spin in mid-range. In fact, I rarely use mid-range because it's seems so under powered that I don't want to cavitate the pump.

Just in case someone is wondering, I know how to use a hydrostatic powered machine. When under load, only apply the tram necessary to get moving, not pedal to the metal. Yes, it's a touchy-feely thing...not enough tram and you don't move, too much and ether the engine (should) start to stall or you push the reliefs into by-pass. But this tractor has no sweet spot. I stopped the other day on a mild slope in mid-range. As I engaged the tram, it did nothing but whine. The engine did not idle down at all. I had to shift into low.

Mine has a loader, loaded tires, and numerous rear implements. It might not spin out in 4x4 in medium in the best traction conditions but it usually will and it always will in low.

 

[4570Man]

I highly reccommended this tractor to an institutional customer. I am distressed, because they hate it, saying as well, it is underpowered. A toy. Mostly they don't like the lack of loader lifting capacity. And the front snowblower keeps suffering costly repairs, for wear, not abuse.

I’m not happy with my L3800s abilities or lack there of either but it does pretty good for what it is. The only real problem is it’s too small and that’s no fault of it.

 

[SDT]

Well, this isn't a fair test. I'm talking about normal operating conditions. Not setting up an extreme test where I "know" it will fail. However, you may be right that my experience is normal. Do you have an L series tractor? If so, can you use it for most normal work in mid-range? I can't do anything in mid-range but travel. Again, this may be normal...which is why I'm asking.

I own three HST Kubotas including an L6060 and a B3350.

High is for transport and light duty work on level ground.

M is for non ground engaging work and much work on steep ground.

L is for some work on steep ground, FEL work, and similar tasks.

Loading one down with liquid or cast iron ballast, FEL, BH, counterweight, etc., uses lots of power.

SDT

 

[SDT]

My tires are filled and I keep the tractor in 4wd all the time along with a tiller on the back for counterweight. It does NOT want to spin the wheels in low, never mind mid-range. I've had a few times digging soft dirt (wash near my creek) and it didn't want to spin the tires at all in low. Since the tractor is fairly new (less that 100 hours) and I generally don't want to abuse my machines by creating cavitation in the hydraulic pump, I backed off and took a lighter bite. Again, this is low-range. Maybe I'm just too gentle and need to lay the whip to it. However, I KNOW it will not spin in mid-range. In fact, I rarely use mid-range because it's seems so under powered that I don't want to cavitate the pump.

Just in case someone is wondering, I know how to use a hydrostatic powered machine. When under load, only apply the tram necessary to get moving, not pedal to the metal. Yes, it's a touchy-feely thing...not enough tram and you don't move, too much and ether the engine (should) start to stall or you push the reliefs into by-pass. But this tractor has no sweet spot. I stopped the other day on a mild slope in mid-range. As I engaged the tram, it did nothing but whine. The engine did not idle down at all. I had to shift into low.

Tiller and loaded tires add a lot of weight to the rear tires. FEL adds a lot of weight to the front.

R1 tires?

SDT

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think you have to consider the primary market all these little tractors are designed and built for. A farmer from the 70s/80s would have marvelled at the sophisication and comfort, but laughed at these light weight machines.

 

[s219]

Sometimes when we hear a complaint like this (on any tractor) it's due to a hydraulics issue in the loader or 3-pt hitch, or remotes/etc, that is causing a strain.

Easy way to demonstrate this effect on an HST tractor is to get moving in any gear and while rolling along, lift the front loader up. You'll notice the tractor slow down and work a little harder. Since the HST is sharing hydraulic pressure and flow with everything else, using the loader or 3-pt takes away from the HST.

In an extreme case, where the loader or 3-pt or remotes might be messed up, this happens all the time and the machine will feel very sluggish. Not sure how to diagnose this other than pay attention for the sound of hydraulic noise, bleeding, or deadheading.