Question for L2900, L3000 and L3010 Owners: 3 point hitch

Harvest Moon · Dec 11, 2008

These machines share the same 3 pt. position control valve at end stages in their production as the L2800 and L3400... which has had a major position control performance flaw.

The L2900, L3000 and L3010 also have in common with each other, their three point lowering speed valve. The L2800 and L3400 have a very similar but simpler version. The two share parts and it may be found they are interchangeable. Switching may improve performance. In the L2800 and L3400, adjusting this valve has been reported to improve lift performance for a few.

Previous attempts to upgrade older L3400 and L2800's to the same 3 pt control valve have produced acceptable but not great results. Recent attempts appear to have produced poor results.

I, and likely other L3400 and L2800 owners would like to hear from L2900, L3000 and L3010 owners about how their hitch performance compares to the videos posted below. Your valuable comments may help determine if the control valve alone is responsible for the L3400 and L2800's performance or if other components in the system, such as the three point lowering speed control valve are worth investigating.

Thanks for your help!

Teg's tractor with upgraded valve;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJRV5Llly0

Toy Camry's tractor with upgrade valve;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS5VN8McI2Y

And the green standard, posted by Toy Camry;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9dxoY8zXxU

Harvest Moon

jeconn · Dec 11, 2008

Harvest Moon, this thread is a whole lot less confusing than the part # thread. The lowering adjustment knob on my L3400 has no effect at all on raising the 3ph. I too am anxiously waiting for responses from others. For what it's worth my neighbor has a 3130 and his 3ph is smooth going up and down.

Harvest Moon · Dec 11, 2008

jeconn said:
Harvest Moon, this thread is a whole lot less confusing than the part # thread. The lowering adjustment knob on my L3400 has no effect at all on raising the 3ph. I too am anxiously waiting for responses from others. For what it's worth my neighbor has a 3130 and his 3ph is smooth going up and down.

Didn't mean to confuse, there are just a lot of numbers out there.

My lowering knob has NO EFFECT AT ALL on raising but several posters; kubota2234, ronbo3, Mahana79 and possibly others have stated that it helped them. Only a small minority.

The 3130's valve has been brought up several times regarding this issue but as far as can tell, only as a typo referring to L3010's valve. I don't think it's readily compatible. Hopefully we'll here from the L2900, L3000 and L3010 owners out there.

JDeerekid · Dec 13, 2008

Hi harvest Moon, I got your PM for some help here.
I have used my neighbors L3010 with my old 5ft bush hog and it raised and lowered it smoothly. I have also used a post hole digger on it and it also ran smoothly.
I never messed with with any other knobs other than the lift lever to raise and lower the 3pt hitch and the PTO engagement lever.
So from my observations of the tractor it has ran fine. This tractor only has around 100 hours on it which around 30 are from me. My neighbor has owned it for the last 4 years and bought it used.

So really I probably didnt help at all

. Maybe this will help in some way. Let me know if I I can help with anything else.

Harvest Moon · Dec 15, 2008

Thanks again JDeerekid. I'm surprised there aren't more TBNer's with L2900, L3000, or L3010 experience and knowledge out there.

I managed to turn up a YouTube video showing an L2900 hitch in action... can't really tell what would happen with fine adjustments or a heavy load but I've got a pretty good idea that it's a lot smoother than Toy Camry's newly upgraded three point.

YouTube - Kubota L2900 GST

It's starting to look and sound like the other L's with the same control valve as upgraded L3400 and L2800's, have pretty smooth hitch performance.

Anyone else??

canoetrpr · Dec 15, 2008

Harvest moon: I don't think we can tell much from the L2900 video. My 3 pt also goes up quite smooth if I lift it up all the way - vs. just small increments.

Heck, I am starting to believe that you are right that this does not seem to be the valve itself but something else. Pretty much all of the L2800/L3400 is recycled from one of the older models. Many of the L2900s parts seem to be used in the L3400.

Harvest Moon · Dec 16, 2008

canoetrpr.... I guess you're right about the L2900 video, it's about 5% better than nothing. We're just going to have to hang in here till we get more input.

On a supporting note, Kenneth in Texas's recent thread reinforces the notion that the 3 pt. lowering valve may be part of the performance package.

Harvest Moon · Dec 22, 2008

409 people tossing around on this site at the minute I am typing this.. .

anyone with one of these tractors????

300,000 hits a day, some one must have a comment on an L2900 or L3010 3 pt??? Maybe if I type Please...?? It is the season of giving...

jeconn · Dec 25, 2008

I am at my father in laws house in New York right now and he has a L3000DT. His 3ph works great, just like the John Deere in the video. I didn't mess with his adjustment knob though. I don't think he would mind though if you think it makes a difference. I did notice that his loader operates a lot slower than mine. Don't know if that has anything to do with the 3ph. Let me know if I need to check anything else out on this tractor while I'm here. I will be here for another week or so and will try to check this site but it is hard having to ask to use someone elses computer. They should make some sort of portable computer or something, maybe something you could put on the top of your lap.

Harvest Moon · Dec 25, 2008

Great to hear from you jeconn, hope your having a nice Holiday!

I suspect it is possible the slower loader indicates a slower hydraulic pump but that's not really part of my knowledge base, yet... It could also mean it has larger cylinders that take longer to move, who knows?

As far as the knob... no harm in adjusting it if you have a chance but I'm not yet sure of it's important.

What is significant is that, if the L3000DT has whisper smooth three point hydraulics, then there is definitely more to the puzzle.

The L3000DT started with valve 31391-39000, S.No.;<=52790.

Then it was switched to control valve 31391-39002 S.No.;>=52791,

What's amazing is the L3400 started out with this same valve!! and I think we know the history of the L3400 3 point. It's very possible that you are seeing great performance with the orginal, infamous, L3400 L2800 INCHING VALVE!!!

jeconn, based on the S.No's above, if you can, let us know what valve is performing so well in you father in laws tractor.

There was one more valve in the L3400 L2800 before it went off radar with no complaints... valve YR909-00100... it's a much more similar in number format with the latest L3400 L2800 valve YR908-00102 thats generating renewed complaints. Unfortunately, I'm now left wondering if the earliest L3400s were generating complaints or if the most severe problems were all related to YR valves.

Regardless, I don't think I've ever read a report of any L3400 or L2800 with better than 1/4" control.. smooth 1/4" yes but nothing better. So it still appears other components play a roll and I'm still on my lowering knob has some relevance kick because the L2900, L3000 and L3010 have the same one but our tractors only have a simplified version.

Our lowering speed knob works just fine for adjusting lowering speed... makes me wonder why there was ever a need for a more complicated version.

BTW, like the L3400's and L2800's people seemed to be ok with and the L3400's and L2800's with draft control factory installed the L3000 with draft had the same valve 31351-39604. S.No. >=52791

I realize this is all somewhat complicated and confusing but I STRONGLY believe sorting this out can give us some answers or at least point us in a direction that might some day lead to a whisper smooth three point hydraulics solution for our tractors.

We still could use a lot more input from other L2900, L3000 and L3010 owners... and we need someone with an updated L3400 L2800 to confirm that valve 31351-39604 is the one that gave them satisfaction.