3-Point Hitch Top & Tilt Kit on MX5800

[bdhsfz6]

I just traded my L3430 HST and BH90 backhoe for a new MX5800 HST with BH92 hoe. I had the dealer add 3 OEM hydraulic outlet ports and an OEM top & tilt kit. Since the tractor was delivered with the BH92 hoe attached, I installed the 3 point hitch and top & tilt kit myself after removing the hoe. When I raised the lift arms on the 3 point, the bottom hydraulic port housing struck the tilt cylinder inlet port and sheared the fitting off. There is only one way to assemble the kit but I did verify the installation was done correctly.

The dealer verified the part numbers are correct and claims they tested the T & T kit on the tractor before delivery. If they did, they certainly did not raise the 3 point all the way. They did say that this is the first MX5800 they have sold with this equipment. Kubota claims the parts should fit and is going to send a factory rep to investigate. It remains to be seen who will be responsible for the repairs.

I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem. It appears to me a simple fix would be to install a 45 degree pipe fitting in the tilt cylinder inlet port, as was done with the top link cylinder.

 

[C4Ranch]

Got a pic?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Got a pic?

Unfortunately no. I took the damaged tilt cylinder back to the dealer.
I installed the mechanical lift link so the tractor would be operational.

 

[Fallon]

Don't ever use pipe fitting on a hydraulic system. Standard Home Depot type pipe fitting are rated for 100-200psi. Hydraulics run at 2,500psi. Chances of catastrophic failure by using improper fittings is huge. If a spray of 2,500psi fluid gets near your body, it will cut & Pierce. You will quickly be loosing limbs due to gangrene even if you promptly visit the hospital.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Don't ever use pipe fitting on a hydraulic system. Standard Home Depot type pipe fitting are rated for 100-200psi. Hydraulics run at 2,500psi. Chances of catastrophic failure by using improper fittings is huge. If a spray of 2,500psi fluid gets near your body, it will cut & Pierce. You will quickly be loosing limbs due to gangrene even if you promptly visit the hospital.

Thanks for the warning but I'm well aware of the danger. I incorrectly used "pipe fitting" as a figure of speech. Could have been taken literally by someone else though so thanks again for pointing it out.

 

[JWR]

Without pictures it is hard to tell but my guess is that the cylinder can be rotated such that the fittings would clear everything else. (Maybe not?) If that was not an option I do not see how you can be responsible for the problem. I would be surprised if the regional service rep didn't clarify things in your favor. For one thing, if it required rotating the cylinder position (or something else) to avoid such troubles the dealer had a responsibility to prominently tell you so. By the way, is a sheared off fitting that big of problem ? Isn't that an inexpensive and easy to fix thing ? What am I missing ?

 

[bdhsfz6]

The cylinder can only be rotated 180 degrees since the lift arm pin hole is part of the cylinder housing. There isn't enough clearance between the cylinder and the transmission housing to do so.

Yes, a sheared off fitting can usually be repaired using an EZ out to remove the broken piece from the threaded cylinder port. In this case however, the threaded port was partially torn away from the cylinder body. I could have ground off the damaged port and welded on a new one without much trouble but it's a brand new machine. If Kubota won't make good on the part and supply a fix for the clearance issue, I may have to do just that.

I suspect you are right about Kubota. I've been dealing with them for many years and have always found them to be very reasonable in matters like this. Thanks for your reply.

Rick

 

[TripleR]

This is a picture of my OEM, is it set up like this?

 

[bdhsfz6]

This is a picture of my OEM, is it set up like this?

I'm guessing but it looks like your pic is an L series tractor. No, the cylinder port configuration is different on the M. I also have the BH 92 backhoe mount which further complicates the clearance issue. The ports on my top cylinder face directly upward and those on the tilt cylinder directly to the rear. No angle fittings were used on the hoses. Your configuration was well planned using angled fittings. Had the same been done on mine, I wouldn't have a problem.

I think you can see in your pic that if the upper port on the tilt cylinder were mounted directly to the rear with no angled hose fitting, it would hit the lower hydraulic port housing, which is what happened in my case.

Thanks for posting your pic. I should have taken a few before removing the damaged cylinder and returning it to the dealer. I suspect an error was made when the T & T was assembled without angled hydraulic fittings.

 

[TripleR]

I'm guessing but it looks like your pic is an L series tractor. No, the cylinder port configuration is different on the M. I also have the BH 92 backhoe mount which further complicates the clearance issue. The ports on my top cylinder face directly upward and those on the tilt cylinder directly to the rear. No angle fittings were used on the hoses. Your configuration was well planned using angled fittings. Had the same been done on mine, I wouldn't have a problem.

I think you can see in your pic that if the upper port on the tilt cylinder were mounted directly to the rear with no angled hose fitting, it would hit the lower hydraulic port housing, which is what happened in my case.

Thanks for posting your pic. I should have taken a few before removing the damaged cylinder and returning it to the dealer. I suspect an error was made when the T & T was assembled without angled hydraulic fittings.

Park a GL5030 by an MX5100 and check the specs, basically the same tractor, use to have one. I agree with the angled fittings, before I got the Kubota OEM setup, I had one with straight connections, didn't know any better at the time and no longer have it. Contact Brian at fit Rite, Fit Rite Hydraulics - fitritehydraulics.com and he can set you up with the right connectors.

Good luck.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Park a GL5030 by an MX5100 and check the specs, basically the same tractor, use to have one. I agree with the angled fittings, before I got the Kubota OEM setup, I had one with straight connections, didn't know any better at the time and no longer have it. Contact Brian at fit Rite, Fit Rite Hydraulics - fitritehydraulics.com and he can set you up with the right connectors.

Good luck.

Fit Rite made up the T & T kit for my L3430. Brian was very helpful and it worked perfectly. I posted pics on their site.

The MX5800 and OEM T & T are brand new. I think the dealer has a responsibility to make it right. If not, I'll repair the cylinder myself. I've got the necessary fittings lying around here somewhere.

Thanks for the help.

Rick

 

[TripleR]

Fit Rite made up the T & T kit for my L3430. Brian was very helpful and it worked perfectly. I posted pics on their site.

The MX5800 and OEM T & T are brand new. I think the dealer has a responsibility to make it right. If not, I'll repair the cylinder myself. I've got the necessary fittings lying around here somewhere.

Thanks for the help.

Rick

No disagreement there, mine had a leak and my dealer sent a field tech to see if it could be repaired on site, no luck, so they hauled back, fixed it and returned, no transport cost, nothing.

My brother had an issue with a different brand and dealer, they agreed to fix it if he brought it in, so he just fixed it himself.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I'd put money on Kubota or the dealer paying for the repair

 

[bdhsfz6]

An update on the MX5800 top & tilt kit problem: As expected, the dealer replaced the damaged tilt cylinder at no charge. They installed a 90 degree fitting in the cylinder port which only partially fixed the issue. The 90 degree fitting still hits the bottom hydraulic outlet port when the 3 point hitch is raised fully. To prevent this, they moved the 3 point lever drop stop to the other side of the lever to prevent the hitch from rising all the way. (See pics) This prevents damage but I lose almost 3 of lift at the hitch pin.

After this problem was solved, another issue surfaced. When fully extended, the tilt cylinder is 2 shorter than the standard lift link. That means the drag link will not lower far enough to line up with the hitch pins on several of my implements. The shorter cylinder stroke also limits the degree of implement tilt. This kit is obviously designed for a smaller machine.

According to the local Kubota rep, the part number for the T&T kit is the correct one for the MX5800 but also several smaller L series tractors. After looking at the installation, he now agrees there is a problem. A call to Kubota in Torrance CA. verified the factory knows about the issue and is working with an aftermarket fabricator to build a longer tilt cylinder with ports moved from the top to the side for the MX5800. The dealer has agreed to replace the rig I've got with the new one. Unfortunately, the new kit won't be available until the fall.

I can fairly easily cobble around these problems but considering what I paid for the tractor and T&T kit, I think the machine should work as advertised. I'm willing to wait until fall but beyond that, I'll ask for a refund on the Kubota T&T kit and order one from Brian at Fit Rite.

Sorry to be so long winded on this minor issue but if I can save some other MX5800 owner some grief, it was worth it.



Rick

 

[TripleR]

Brian can fix you up, I have OEM on my L574, but ordered my top link for our M8540 from Brian, if I ever get a side link it will be from him.