New 4060 Headed My Way

[Fxfymn]

After 12 years with the 3430 I decided to wimp out and go with a cab tractor. And frankly, Kubota's 7 year free financing and 6 year warranty made the decision pretty easy. So I went and pulled the trigger on a L4060 HSTC with a LA805 loader, two remotes, and a third function valve for my grapple.

My local dealer, Dickinson Equipment, gave me what I consider to be a very fair price. I deal with him quite a bit and it is a 3 generation family business that I want to keep supporting so it will be there when I need it.

The real irony here is that I had decided that I was done with Kubota because of what I considered to be some basic design issues that caused some reliability issues for me. But, after looking at the competition and reviewing this site to see what other purchasers had to say, IMO Kubota still has the best overall machine by far in this class. That, along with a strong local dealer kept me orange.

I should take delivery in a couple of weeks and I'll let everyone know what I think after I have a chance to play with it.

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations,I loved my L5030HSTC, but LOVE my L5740HSTC+ and the L60 even a bigger cab. If you didn't get the air ride seat, I highly recommend it, the older you get, the more you'll appreciate it. I also put TnT on mine, never thought I'd need it, but really like it. Looking forward to pictures and you experience/opinion of it.

 

[Fallon]

Looking at a L4060 HSTC to get me out of the cold & dust on my L3200 myself.

Do you road yours on any hills by chance? My L3200 & the L3560 start wheezing & slowing on the hills I road my machine down. Looking to avoid that.

 

[k0ua]

It sounds good, let us know how you are getting along with it..

 

[desh]

After 12 years with the 3430 I decided to wimp out and go with a cab tractor. And frankly, Kubota's 7 year free financing and 6 year warranty made the decision pretty easy. So I went and pulled the trigger on a L4060 HSTC with a LA805 loader, two remotes, and a third function valve for my grapple.

My local dealer, Dickinson Equipment, gave me what I consider to be a very fair price. I deal with him quite a bit and it is a 3 generation family business that I want to keep supporting so it will be there when I need it.

The real irony here is that I had decided that I was done with Kubota because of what I considered to be some basic design issues that caused some reliability issues for me. But, after looking at the competition and reviewing this site to see what other purchasers had to say, IMO Kubota still has the best overall machine by far in this class. That, along with a strong local dealer kept me orange.

I should take delivery in a couple of weeks and I'll let everyone know what I think after I have a chance to play with it.

Congrats, you got a great tractor, and you will really appreciate the extra power!

 

[Fxfymn]

Do you road yours on any hills by chance?

I do have a relatively short, but somewhat steep hill that the 3430 would not climb in high range with out slowing way down. (I need to keep letting up on the HST to keep the RPM's up until it is doing about 6 mph) So most of the time I put it back into medium to climb the hill.

The dealer recommended that I go up in power to compensate for the cab weight, but I'm hoping it will have more gitty up than the 3430 open platform has. I thought about the 4760, but the cost went up quite a bit and I needed to draw the line somewhere.

I'll let you know how it does.

Incidentally, I was well on my way to building a cab for the 3430. Most of the basic steel work is done and it just needs assembly and the glass. If anyone wants it they are welcome to come get it for free.

 

[Fallon]

Thanks, keep me posted. In the same boat, the L3560 is only 2 more HP than my L3200 (which itself is a bit anemic for roading hills, although fine on the flats) & double the weight. So it's way underpowered. Haven't driven a L4060 yet, but did a L4760 & it was nice. A bit expensive for my tastes though.

The 4060 & 4760 have the same frame, but only the 4760 is rated for the bigger loader, which is confusing (and costly).

 

[kubotacres]

Thanks, keep me posted. In the same boat, the L3560 is only 2 more HP than my L3200 (which itself is a bit anemic for roading hills, although fine on the flats) & double the weight. So it's way underpowered. Haven't driven a L4060 yet, but did a L4760 & it was nice. A bit expensive for my tastes though.

The 4060 & 4760 have the same frame, but only the 4760 is rated for the bigger loader, which is confusing (and costly).

Actually it's 5.1 coming from tractor data....

L3200 31.9 HP Gross
L3560 37. 0 HP Gross


Unless your talking PTO HP.


I looked at this factor when I traded in my l3200 ,of course with a cab it will eat some HP. However coming from a l3200 it was indeed a HP improvement which I didn't have a issue with. I'm happy with my current tractor and the l4060 I'm sure exceeds with the additional HP.

 

[Fallon]

Actually it's 5.1 coming from tractor data....

L3200 31.9 HP Gross
L3560 37. 0 HP Gross


Unless your talking PTO HP.


I looked at this factor when I traded in my l3200 ,of course with a cab it will eat some HP. However coming from a l3200 it was indeed a HP improvement which I didn't have a issue with. I'm happy with my current tractor and the l4060 I'm sure exceeds with the additional HP.

HP is only part of the equation...

L3200 - 2623lbs (3500ish with loader & loaded tires)
L3560 HSTC - 3880lbs

So the base tractor without loaded tires or a loader MAY do better in my roading test, but any extra HP will be overtaken by 1,500lbs or whatever of loader & bio ballast.

I drove a L3560 with a loader & box blade on some flat ground & it was noticeably more sluggish than my L3200. I'm sure hills would drive me nuts with that. Hence looking at at least a L4060.

I really wish they made a high HP 3000 series instead of having to move up to the only slightly larger 4000 series frame.

JD makes a 3000 series premium machine that's 10% or so physically smaller than the L3560 in 39 & 42 or 47 HP (basically the same size as my l3200 only heavier). Makes me wonder why Kubota has a big hole between the premium Bs & the higher HP small Ls.

 

[kubotacres]

HP is only part of the equation...

L3200 - 2623lbs (3500ish with loader & loaded tires)
L3560 HSTC - 3880lbs

So the base tractor without loaded tires or a loader MAY do better in my roading test, but any extra HP will be overtaken by 1,500lbs or whatever of loader & bio ballast.

I drove a L3560 with a loader & box blade on some flat ground & it was noticeably more sluggish than my L3200. I'm sure hills would drive me nuts with that. Hence looking at at least a L4060.

I really wish they made a high HP 3000 series instead of having to move up to the only slightly larger 4000 series frame.

JD makes a 3000 series premium machine that's 10% or so physically smaller than the L3560 in 39 & 42 or 47 HP (basically the same size as my l3200 only heavier). Makes me wonder why Kubota has a big hole between the premium Bs & the higher HP small Ls.

True based on the cabbed version l3560 vs the non-cabbed l3200. But on the non-cabbed l3560 the HP/weight ratio is higher (1/129.29-1/113.57)... This is excluding all the other factors (traction,transmission,ect)Regardless all are good tractors. Can't go wrong with any one of them.... Although im partial to Orange

 

[Fxfymn]

It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. When I looked it over at the dealer I was less than impressed by the way they routed the hoses for the 3rd function valve under the operator's station. They kind of stick out in a loop that just looks to me like an invitation to being snagged by some brush.

I asked the salesman to check it over and find out if it was correct. Hopefully, they will find a way to route them that eliminates the loop.

Any one else out there who has a factory third function valve? Was it routed along side the loader hoses or just stuck on the outside?

 

[TripleR]

I can't find it now, but one of the first L60 buyers with third function had his dealer build a shroud as they were unable to reroute to prevent a greater chance of snagging. All I've seen looked really exposed compared to those on the L40.

 

[Fxfymn]

I can't find it now, but one of the first L60 buyers with third function had his dealer build a shroud as they were unable to reroute to prevent a greater chance of snagging. All I've seen looked really exposed compared to those on the L40.

That was my plan if they cannot get it right to begin with. It's funny, but this is exactly why I swore I would never buy another Kubota. They build a really good base product and then screw the pooch on the final engineering details.

 

[TripleR]

That was my plan if they cannot get it right to begin with. It's funny, but this is exactly why I swore I would never buy another Kubota. They build a really good base product and then screw the pooch on the final engineering details.

Many of us felt a bit disappointed with the engineering of the new L60 Series, hoses seemed to be an afterthought and very exposed outside the FEL arms and way too exposed with a third function. I had an L30 and now L40 and much prefer the way hydraulics are set up. I don't have a picture, but my brother mounted a stock right step after the third function was added, L40 came with steps on both sides and my son often mounts/dismounts from the right side.

 

[TMGT]

So should I expect to see the old 3430 on craigslist it Dickensons lot? Lol

My family has been dealing with Dickensons for a long time on a smaller scale.

 

[Fxfymn]

Yep, it will be on there if they haven't sold it yet.

According to the dealer they install the valve in accordance with kubota's instructions and they have "never had a problem with customers snagging them". I don't think I would make it ten minutes in the woods dragging logs out before it was snapped off.

After spending the day fuming over what a crappy design/install the third function valve was and calling the dealer to let him know how thrilled I was that they couldn't even deliver it with a full fuel tank as well, I figured out a work around for the hoses.

I welded up a shield to cover the hose connection on the inside of the frame and by adding a couple of elbows I can change the hose routing to above the fuel tank. It took me less than an hour to do and costs around $10.00. I will also add a cover over the couplers on the loader frame to keep dirt from contaminating them. Once again, a detail that seemed to have escaped kubota.

What really frosts me is that a second year engineering student could have figured this out for kubota so it could be made right from the beginning. Plus it really pisses me off that I decided to let the dealer do it for an additional cost instead of doing it myself, only for me to have to go back and fix what they didn't do right.

I'll post some pics when I finish it.

 

[k0ua]

Yep, it will be on there if they haven't sold it yet.

According to the dealer they install the valve in accordance with kubota's instructions and they have "never had a problem with customers snagging them". I don't think I would make it ten minutes in the woods dragging logs out before it was snapped off.

After spending the day fuming over what a crappy design/install the third function valve was and calling the dealer to let him know how thrilled I was that they couldn't even deliver it with a full fuel tank as well, I figured out a work around for the hoses.

I welded up a shield to cover the hose connection on the inside of the frame and by adding a couple of elbows I can change the hose routing to above the fuel tank. It took me less than an hour to do and costs around $10.00. I will also add a cover over the couplers on the loader frame to keep dirt from contaminating them. Once again, a detail that seemed to have escaped kubota.

What really frosts me is that a second year engineering student could have figured this out for kubota so it could be made right from the beginning. Plus it really pisses me off that I decided to let the dealer do it for an additional cost instead of doing it myself, only for me to have to go back and fix what they didn't do right.

I'll post some pics when I finish it.

When you get the pictures, be sure to send them to the dealer and ask for the regional Kubota rep's email and send them to him too. Include a caption something like "this is how it should have been done". You may be able to help others down the road.

I know this isn't exactly the same thing, but in my decades of working in the Telecommunications industry, I can tell you that several times I came up with simple fixes for problems that seemed to escape the minds of the engineering staff at some rather prestigious company's.

Sometimes just having a fresh set of eyes and a different outlook can work wonders for problem solving. Good luck with your machine.

 

[Fxfymn]

The first is what the underside looks like before the modification. The second is a before picture of the hoses sticking out of the valve box under the cab taken from the front of the tractor. The third is a picture of the finished shield in what will be it's position of function with the elbows in place. The fourth picture is the same view as pic 2, but the hoses are now shielded and run up and over the fuel tank. Picture five is what it looks like now; no hoses!

I did find it a bit ironic that kubota shielded the steel lines, but not the hoses.

If you need to do this keep a couple of things in mind; you need to be able to attach the hoses when you are done; hence the open side. Same for the mounting bolts. I used 1/4" plate because that is what I had on hand. This is rugged, but also heavy so I welded a small tab on the rear of the guard to bolt it up to a fuel tank brace. There was plenty of room to run the hoses up and over the fixed hydraulic lines on my rig; I'd check yours first before going to the trouble of welding up the shield. The hydraulic connections are 37 degree 1/2" fittings; all you need are two elbows. It is easier to hook everything up before you tighten down the mounting bolts and I found that if I tilted the elbows a bit to the center it was easier to get the hoses started.

 

[Wildfire]

Thanks for sharing this. I have an open 4060 and noticed the same thing. My dealer did a poor job running the hoses and they were hanging way low. I'll have to look at running them over the tank - that makes a lot more sense.

That shield looks great too. We're doing a lot of work in the woods with the grapple and the tractor has a very soft underbelly.

 

[Fxfymn]

According to my dealer the hoses are run in accordance with Kubota's instructions. Makes me wonder if the designers ever actually used a tractor.

I also spend a lot of time in the woods, primarily clearing logged over sites to get the laps for firewood. Even though I'm careful I still get pieces of wood coming up to the underside of the tractor and I'm sure the life expectancy of the delivered set up would have been measured in minutes.