XG3025 Recall

   / XG3025 Recall #141  
Hi guys. Yes, mystery indeed. The top link mounting point on backhoes (or lack of) is not based on size. The last rounds of backhoes we've received in both 1100 series and 3100 series do not have the top link mount on the backhoe. There's been no dealer communication that I'm aware of as to why this was changed.
Thanks for the input Prodaddy TX, if all goes as planned I will have time to visit my dealer tomorrow and see if he can shed any light on this mystery. I will report back either way.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #142  
I took another look under the operator's deck of our BH.
I think removing that deck would give a welder access to putting in the part(s) needed.

It could be one piece U shaped or two 3/8 flat bar. Either way, there is a wonderful mounting plate under that deck plate.

Just keep in mind, someone somewhere (in LS) seems to think that there's little or no need for the upper link connection.


Much thanks to ProdaddyTX......... also you have some very good deals on your web site.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #143  
My tractor was just delivered a couple hours ago and I cannot stop smiling. Anyway, the first things I looked at were the changes to the frame up front for the engine hitting the frame problem. And, the BH with or without the top link connected. Well mine has no spot or bracket to mount the top link to the BH. I do know my tractor was delivered to my dealership last Tuesday fresh of the assembly line.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #144  
My tractor was just delivered a couple hours ago and I cannot stop smiling. Anyway, the first things I looked at were the changes to the frame up front for the engine hitting the frame problem. And, the BH with or without the top link connected. Well mine has no spot or bracket to mount the top link to the BH. I do know my tractor was delivered to my dealership last Tuesday fresh of the assembly line.

Congratulations on your new tractor, I'm sure you'll really like it and get lots of use out of it, top link or no top link. It would be nice if LS would share their reasoning for the deletion of the top link attaching point, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #146  
Congratulations on your new tractor, I'm sure you'll really like it and get lots of use out of it, top link or no top link. It would be nice if LS would share their reasoning for the deletion of the top link attaching point, but I'm not holding my breath.

I just returned from a visit with my dealer and here is what he said about the top link attachment. He has been advised by the LS technician that he routinely deals with to NOT use the top link and to advise customers not to use it. When he asked for a reason or explanation he was told that the top link attachment point on the backhoe is not meant for the North American market but is used in other markets. No specific reason was given but apparently recently manufactured backhoes for the North American market do not come with the attachment point, mine did not. It would be really nice if LS in Battleboro, NC would take a few minutes and clear up this issue. I've sent them two other questions through their website and have never received a reply. I also sent a question to LS in Korea and did receive a reply that simply said go ask your dealer! Apparently customer service and dealer education is not high on LS's priority list. I'm fortunate to have a dealer that has many years of experience with LS equipment and is tops in customer service. Big Blue Florida and 3L Farms, possibly your backhoes being earlier models of larger machines might benefit from the top link being installed but I guess only LS knows the answer to that question.
On another note, while I was at the dealer I picked up a filter (part # 40007638) for the hydraulic system that the book says should be changed at 50 hours. Let me tell you it was not inexpensive, $40.00 plus tax. I'm pretty sure that when my warranty expires I'll be shopping for a WIX or NAPA filter.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #147  
In the Texarkana area, the WIX and NAPA filters are around $60. The dealer has the best price on hydraulic filters.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #148  
In the Texarkana area, the WIX and NAPA filters are around $60. The dealer has the best price on hydraulic filters.

Wow that's surprising but I must admit the filter is pretty big and appears to be of quality construction so maybe the price is justified. Thanks Chiefcook.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #149  
Ok do I see a massive group buy of filters here??? Just kidding.

fgsiii, you may have scored on buying your tractor from such a good dealer. Here's a dealership that has history w/ the LS & people who work on them.

So how many hrs so far......

We have just under 8 hr on our new motor. It got rid of a stump & yard debris & cleaned out a drainage ditch.......life is good again.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #150  
Ok do I see a massive group buy of filters here??? Just kidding.

fgsiii, you may have scored on buying your tractor from such a good dealer. Here's a dealership that has history w/ the LS & people who work on them.

So how many hrs so far......

We have just under 8 hr on our new motor. It got rid of a stump & yard debris & cleaned out a drainage ditch.......life is good again.

100_1134.JPG100_1135.JPG100_1136.JPG

I just hit 14.8 hours on mine. Today was the first time I got to use the backhoe and as you can see in the attachment it works pretty good. You are correct "life is good".
 
   / XG3025 Recall #151  
Outstanding
Good hour count.
Keep an eye on the dipstick level.

We never found much oil use w/ our XG3025H in 200+ hours, until all at once towards the end.
But even then it didn't go below the lowest allowed level.

What RPM level do you keep the motor running while operating the BH w/ something like the stump pulling ?
 
   / XG3025 Recall #152  
Outstanding
Good hour count.
Keep an eye on the dipstick level.

We never found much oil use w/ our XG3025H in 200+ hours, until all at once towards the end.
But even then it didn't go below the lowest allowed level.

What RPM level do you keep the motor running while operating the BH w/ something like the stump pulling ?

I just came in from the shop after checking all fluid levels, engine oil just fine at the top line, front axle oil just barely in the OK area, same with hydraulic fluid. I'll top everything off in the morning before I start working. BTW, do you know if the correct way to check the front axle oil is with the dipstick resting on the threads or screwed all the way in? I'll check the book tomorrow but don't recall it saying either way. Actually my book shows the dipstick being on the right side but it's on the left side! Almost forgot your RPM question, today I had it set between 1800-1850 and it seemed to be enough, how about you? I don't know if there is a recommended RPM for things like stump pulling so I'd be interested in hearing what you say and also from others that have more experience than me.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #153  
I check w/ the dip stick resting on top, if there are no threads then I press it home tight.

We run our RPM while BH operation at 2,000.
During extreme work loads we operate at 2,600. Some of our stumps could not be chained under the FEL, it would not lift it & had to be dragged.

W/ this new motor, we keep it at 2,000 max, until our first oil/filter change.

But for digging thin roots & sand/clay we operate at 1800.
Florida, for the most part has no actual stones/rocks in its soil. What we encounter is lime rock & sometimes hard pan.
However one time the wife dug into a clay ball about 10 ft across & 5-6 ft deep. It had a light blue tint to it & her pottery friends happily took most of it home & to their art school. This was hole for a friend's septic tank in another county.

My wife also enjoys our LS. Just don't stand near its reach. She has yet to smooth her movements & has had a few interesting...............learning issues.
As I said before, we get a lot of work completed W/ our LS tractor & too a lot of fun working together.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #154  
I just came in from the shop after checking all fluid levels, engine oil just fine at the top line, front axle oil just barely in the OK area, same with hydraulic fluid. I'll top everything off in the morning before I start working. BTW, do you know if the correct way to check the front axle oil is with the dipstick resting on the threads or screwed all the way in? I'll check the book tomorrow but don't recall it saying either way. Actually my book shows the dipstick being on the right side but it's on the left side! Almost forgot your RPM question, today I had it set between 1800-1850 and it seemed to be enough, how about you? I don't know if there is a recommended RPM for things like stump pulling so I'd be interested in hearing what you say and also from others that have more experience than me.

I was told you check front axle oil with the dipstick screwed down. My book also shows the dipstick on the right but it is on the left side on my XG3135. From the factory my front axle was barely in the good range. I need to pick up some oil to top it off. Man you guys got me wanting a backhoe now. Lol.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #155  
OK Great, will relearn how to operate ''dip stick"

Once you go w/ a hoe, you never get fingers dirty again.......or something like that. It sure saves swing an ax & shovel work....well you get the pix.

Best money we spent this century.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #156  
I was told you check front axle oil with the dipstick screwed down. My book also shows the dipstick on the right but it is on the left side on my XG3135. From the factory my front axle was barely in the good range. I need to pick up some oil to top it off. Man you guys got me wanting a backhoe now. Lol.

I read the operators manual again this morning and I tend to agree that you check the front axle level with the dipstick screwed in. The book says"unscrew the dipstick and check the level", I'm thinking that if you were supposed to check it screwed in it would tell you to do that. In any case mine took about a pint to bring the level up to the middle of the OK range. Hydraulic fluid was about a quart low & I'm thinking that was due to the addition of the backhoe. I used Tractor Supply Premium Universal Hydraulic Fluid. Trikejay I can't make up my mind which accessory I like most, grapple (see attachment) or backhoe (see previous post). Big Blue a grapple would eliminate having to chain anything to the front bucketIMG_1176.JPGIMG_1177.JPGIMG_1176.JPGIMG_1177.JPG
 
   / XG3025 Recall #157  
What did that 3rd function kit run you for the grapple?
 
   / XG3025 Recall #158  
What did that 3rd function kit run you for the grapple?

I had the 3rd function kit installed at the dealership and it was $800.00 total including installation and sales tax. I didn't buy the grapple there because all they had were large double cylinder ones that weighed 600 + pounds. I found a 48" single cylinder one that weighs 300 pounds in Denton, NC for $650.00. So far it has fit my needs just fine. We have a Taylor Outdoor Wood Heater that we use for heating our house and it takes a huge amount of firewood each winter. I also have what I call a "hobby sawmill" that will take logs up to 16.5' long. I haven't loaded one quite that large but did load a 14' gum log without any problem. In my situation the grapple will get more use than the backhoe but when I need it, it's there. What are you using your tractor for?
 
   / XG3025 Recall #159  
Yeah I definitely would like a grapple. I've got 20 acres of nothing but Woods. Plus a grapple would have saved me some pain. I was pulling some logs out of the woods that I had cut down. I had one 6 ft long 6 in diameter log on my pallet Forks and I was pulling another log out of the woods. I was paying attention to the log I was pulling out of the woods and not the one on the loader. Tilted my forks too far and the log rolled off towards me. Laid down to the left and put my arms up. Hit my arm and the right leg of the rops. Could have killed myself. Got very lucky. No real damage to me or the tractor. Grapple would have kept me from making such a stupid mistake.
 
   / XG3025 Recall #160  
Yeah I definitely would like a grapple. I've got 20 acres of nothing but Woods. Plus a grapple would have saved me some pain. I was pulling some logs out of the woods that I had cut down. I had one 6 ft long 6 in diameter log on my pallet Forks and I was pulling another log out of the woods. I was paying attention to the log I was pulling out of the woods and not the one on the loader. Tilted my forks too far and the log rolled off towards me. Laid down to the left and put my arms up. Hit my arm and the right leg of the rops. Could have killed myself. Got very lucky. No real damage to me or the tractor. Grapple would have kept me from making such a stupid mistake.

It seems that our tractor uses are very similar, we have 40+ acres of woodland that surrounds our homesite of about 4 acres. I also have had some potentially life changing experiences getting logs out of the woods, prior to getting the LS and a grapple. Accidents can happen so quickly that you just don't see it coming. Even with the grapple I'm sure you can get into trouble. We have a lot of uneven ground and that combined with a heavy load on the grapple could easily result in a rollover if not careful. I keep my rops up, seatbelt on speed slow and load low when moving logs or stumps. So far so good. Be careful!
 

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