Quick Attach Option for FEL

[texbaylea]

One last question before I place an order for an L3130. How well does the Kubota Quick attach option for the FELs mate up with the standard skid steer implements?

 

[frankie14001]

i think it will almost work on all newer skidsteer att. i think it pretty unervisual i have it on my 3130 and havent had no problems hooking anything up

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One last question before I place an order for an L3130. How well does the Kubota Quick attach option for the FELs mate up with the standard skid steer implements? )</font>

It is compatible. It is also a very simple and effective design which has
been around since the 70's. Even if it wasn't I'd still opt for it if you plan
to make any accessories for the loader in place of the bucket. As it is you
can also choose from aftermarket skid-steer attachments.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I don't have an answer for you, but I do have a question:

How much does this QA option cost, compared to the standard bucket configuration?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You might want to do some more checking into that. As per the Kubota pricing books SOME, but not all of the quick attach frames are listed as skid loader compatible. There are different width frames and it is not good to assume that they are all compatible with each other.

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

I have heard of quick attach compatibility issues on some attachments. Some of these issues are Kubota's fault and some of them are the attachment manufacturer's.
Kubota's issue: The QA mount sticks too far below the attachment. Bonehead Kubota. It should have been designed right from the beginning with the Bobcat skid steer plate as the benchmark.
Look at page 17 of Kubota's Grand L brochure, the QA sticks down too far below the bale spear. This MAY cause a couple of problems:
a) Inability to hook into the top wedge of the attachment when it sits on the ground.
b) Possible scuffing of the loader frame on the ground when using something like a snow plow or a non-Kubota bucket. Not a big deal unless your loader frame made ruts in your freshly paved driveway! Then you're on the phone with the dealer really fast. No remedy for Kubota's issue, just live with it.
Attachment manufacturer's issue: The attachment's QA plate does not conform to the SAE standard. Shame on them. Usually corrected by a little grinder work or a date with the "hot wrench".
Buy the Kubota QA option. It is so simple to switch attachments, you'll forget about compatibility issues.

 

[GareyD]

It will attach to any "Bobcat" compatible quik attach implement...it will not attach to some of the newer case quik attach...they have moved the "pin" holes closer to the center of the attachment...some second party manufacturers have gotten around this problem by using two sets of pin holes on the attachments....you can also remedy this problem with 1/4" plate and a welder and make your own pin holes...

I have the quik attach on my L3430 and it accepts all the attachments from my New Holland Skid Steer.

One thing to think about is most of the Skid Steer attachments weigh in the 1200 pound range...doesn't leave a lot left over for the smaller tractor lifting capacity,

But I wouldn't trade my quik attach for anything...forks to bucket in less than a minute /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GareyD

 

[texbaylea]

BillG: I was qouted an additional $350 for the QA option. I don't know whether this is a good price or not.

 

[fishman]

Buy it. The QA was not an option for the 2910 when I bought mine, although there are aftermarket options apparantly. You will forget about the $350 the first time you take your bucket off in 10 seconds and replace it with a new tool.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

texbaylea,

Thanks for that information. I guess I'm a little surprised that it's that much. They aren't including a bucket upgrade in that $350, are they?

 

[dlgmt]

$350. is about right, and just like the others have said it's worth it. I drop my bucket off (no tools required of course) while using RFM easier to see hazards in your path.

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It should have been designed right from the beginning with the Bobcat skid steer plate as the benchmark.)</font>

Try to find an authoritative definition of the Bobcat mechanism.
Doesn't exist in my experience. The best they can do is reverse
engineer from the actual product. (I'd be delighted to be shown
otherwise.)


</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Buy the Kubota QA option. It is so simple to switch attachments, you'll forget about compatibility issues. )</font>

I have to agree. It is such a simple solution to a prevalent problem.
BTW I thought having the standard Q/A would be advantageous in the
sense more used attachments would be available. Turns out these are
snapped up pretty quick. However the Q/A is a fairly simple interface
to fabricate so it scores a plus for homebrew attachments as well.

 

[40Kchicks]

uhmgawa
<font color="blue"> However the Q/A is a fairly simple interface to fabricate so it scores a plus for homebrew attachments as well.</font>

I agree. The universal quick attach is easy to build. I have built several buckets and a hydraulic auger for my skid steer. You can also by the receiver plates from the dealers, online, or ebay for about $120 and just weld them to whatever you need hooked up.

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

I didn't make myself clear earlier, sorry.
Uhmgawa is right, there is not authoritative definition on the loader's QA plate, just the attachment plate. As a result, Kubota should have reverse-engineered the QA plate. They should have reverse-engineered to a fault...to the point of noting the height of the receiving plate, angle of the back of the bucket, center of latching pins, etc. of several leading skid steer manufacuturers and aftermarket manufacturers who do quality work.
I'm sure that everything worked fine during R&D testing with Kubota-built attachments. But what if you stick a Bradco pallet fork on the Kubota loader or use a Bobcat skid steer bucket? I am not aware of New Holland, Woods, Bush Hog, or Great Bend loaders having problems with their QA plates not working...I wonder why? Maybe its because they did their homework.
Kubota did their homework...almost. And its the almost that always causes the trouble.

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I didn't make myself clear earlier, sorry.
Uhmgawa is right, there is not authoritative definition on the loader's QA plate, just the attachment plate. )</font>

Well there now appears to be -- it is SAE J2513. Not that any additional
information is readily available but at least it has a name.

Incidentally the quick hitch option for TL1150/LA1162 loaders has been
updated to TL1709A (formerly TL1709). This may have addressed any
compatibility issues.

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Well there now appears to be -- it is SAE J2513. Not that any
additional information is readily available but at least it has a name. )</font>

Digging further there actually is a document available for purchase:

http://www.sae.org/servlets/productDetail?PROD_TYP=STD&PROD_CD=J2513_200006

Note this describes the attachment side only. I'm not too motivated to
pay $60 to get the definitive spec of where to cut two holes and weld a
strip of steel.

Attached is a quick & dirty drawing taken off of my TL1709 and
bucket. Pardon the low res. I had to stomp on it to get under the
100K attachment size limit.

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

SAE J2513 covers the attachment side of the quick attach, in other words, the bucket portion. There are no current specs/standards for the "male portion" of the QA.
Grand L loaders with QAs were the loaders that have the compatibility issues and not the L48. Your TL1709 QA should be fine unless the attachments are out of spec with the SAE J2513. The "A" on the TL1709A QA is most likely a vendor change.

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( SAE J2513 covers the attachment side of the quick attach, in other words, the bucket portion. There are no current specs/standards for the "male portion" of the QA.)</font>

I believe I stated so. Anyway this should be enough standardization to
alleviate variations between vendors by eliminating the need to reverse
engineer the dimensions.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Grand L loaders with QAs were the loaders that have the compatibility issues and not the L48. Your TL1709 QA should be fine unless the attachments are out of spec with the SAE J2513. The "A" on the TL1709A QA is most likely a vendor change. )</font>

Interesting. I've been told by a Kubota service manager that Kubota
does make its loaders here in the US. I suppose they could OEM the
TL1709 but can't immediately see the motivation for doing so.

I don't have confirmation the LA1709 meets SAE J2513, rather only
the LA1709A.

 

[ljh2]

tex,
I don't know about the QA for the 3130, but the one on my M6800 (which is a LOT bigger tractor) seems to be compatible with 'standard' skidsteer equipment so far. The machine did not come with a Kubota bucket, but an HLA (Horst engineering) skidsteer bucket (78").

I think they are a handy option that really can increase the utility of your FEL.

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

Kubota's loaders are made at their factory in Gainesville, GA. Years ago, the loaders were made in Japan, but for the last 10-15 years they were made in GA.