Thought I'd broken something, maybe a hydraulic hose, a valve, couldn't figure it out today while working out back 1/4 mile in the forest pushing bush with the forks for a logging trail.
Suddenly the 3-point would not raise the box scraper.
And the loader would barely raise the forks a few feet off the ground. The forks curled up but had no power downward. Once the loader crept to a few feet up, it wouldn't lower until the lever got pushed forward to float position.
it was near sunset but still plenty light enough to see that there were no broken lines or linkages, the hydraulic fluid level was fine, the transmission performed as always, and no bad engine or pump noises or smells that I could discern.
At least I could raise the loader and it stayed there, so I disconnected 3-point from the box scraper and wangled my way out from in front of it with some help from 4wd, diff lock and the ROPS pushing aside bush as I backed out to hopefully get home! A friggin tight spot it was, too. These B50s are VERY maneuverable!
I was chiding myself for actually having been thinking earlier how great and trouble-free my Kubota has been. Now felt like I may be needing something repaired at the shop! Should know better... prob forgot to knock on some wood.
SO.
Got home, ran fine all the way, put in shed and checked it all over again. Found no leaks. Still misbehaving, a practically useless loader and a dead 3-point. Ugh. So zeroed in on the hydraulic power return line that is used for the backhoe, as a bad line would create similar havoc I thought.
Went to remove the top line connector and it pulled out without touching the lock sleeve! It was sitting in an open position barely 1/8" from locked closed, and looked just fine in the field.
A stick pushed the lock sleeve enough to release the connector and seal the lines.
Check out the 2 photos. One is loose and all described above hell breaks loose. The other is locked and working. Really easy to miss!!
I snapped it back in, all is working fine now. WHEW. I envisaged damaging something running without that hose connected. It seems I've seen warnings to NOT do that. But 1/2 mile trail run back later and this machine seems to have completely shrugged it off.
Maybe thinking again how great and trouble-free my Kubota has been. Knock on wood.
So another connector that's vulnerable to bush abuse. Have to come up with something to prevent that again if possible, but now at least know what the 'bota does when there's no line connection there!