L3901 won’t lift and curl at the same time.

[jimr63]

The dealer is correct, it’s the way Kubota is making them now. My TLB21 has no problem doing both at the same time but my M5-091 can’t. It’s right in my owners manual. Something I had to get used to but my M5 isn’t an HST either so Ive had to learn to 1) stab the bucket in the pile, 2) curl, then 3)lift. The other 3 Corners of the joystick work as you would expect though.

ps. I have no shortage of hydraulic pressure or GPM in the M5

 

[Jriedy85]

Well apparently everyone agrees here that my buddy doesn’t need to take it to the dealer. It’s definitely an odd function of the loader that he isn’t used to. He had a Ford tractor and loader before this kubota so he is used to how that operated.

 

[Henro]

Well apparently everyone agrees here that my buddy doesn’t need to take it to the dealer. It’s definitely an odd function of the loader that he isn’t used to. He had a Ford tractor and loader before this kubota so he is used to how that operated.

Can not argue with the consensus...but man that would suck. More design changes by Kubota, made by engineers that never actually used a tractor?

 

[mikester]

Can not argue with the consensus...but man that would suck. More design changes by Kubota, made by engineers that never actually used a tractor?

The issue is more along the lines of cost cutting and profitability. At one time SCUTs were an anomaly. So were diesel engines, 4wd and front end loaders in utility tractors. My first loader tractor was an International 624 and it had no down pressure on the boom.

 

[Poohbear]

My L3301 is about 5-6 years old. I was just doing this over the weekend with several buckets of gravel. Running a bit over 2000 RPM, I've never tried at low RPM so maybe that's contributing as some have suggested?

Same here. Our L3301's have same Loader. Dealer didn't service properly before delivery

 

[tradosaurus]

So this question is for my coworker that bought a brand new L3901 almost 2 years ago. And he said that when he has a load in the bucket that the loader will not curl the bucket and lift at the same time. He can only do one or the other. He said he spoke to the dealer he bought it from and they told him that’s just the way new kubotas are. Is this true or do you think the dealer is trying to get out of having to repair something that’s wrong with it?

Have him try it out on a new tractor on the dealers lot with the dealer watching him. It could be operator error or could be a problem with the tractor.

 

[DaveMueller]

I have an LA524 on my L3800 and asked the same question a few weeks ago. After others stating it should work, I went out and played with it. On mine, there is a very small sweet spot where both functions work simultaneously. It's from 6:00 O'clock to about 6:05
Hard to say if that's a design feature, wear or defect of the valve, or a flow problem as others have stated.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I have an LA524 on my L3800 and asked the same question a few weeks ago. After others stating it should work, I went out and played with it. On mine, there is a very small sweet spot where both functions work simultaneously. It's from 6:00 O'clock to about 6:05
Hard to say if that's a design feature, wear or defect of the valve, or a flow problem as others have stated.

Yeah, if I remember, the manual says to pull the lever back and then ease it over.
If you crank the lever to the 7:30 position it basically puts the lift and curl cylinders in series so each gets part of the full pressure (but full flow rate). It may work for an empty bucket, but it stalls with a heavy load. At the 6:05 position it's like a parallel circuit where each gets almost full pressure but lower flow.

 

[Dave2s]

I have found if my B3150 has the lever for the 3PL to far back then there is no hydraulics for the FEL.
The further it goes back the more the pressure drops and finally won't raise or curl the bucket at all.

 

[LwhiteAH64]

I have a 3901 and it lifts and curls no problem.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have a 3901 and it lifts and curls no problem.

Breand new 2021 L3901 with LA525 delivered two days ago and it lifts, lowers, curls and dumps simultaneously with every load I have had on it. One of the first things I tested.

Down stream power beyond circuits (e.g 3pt) continue to receive flow while boom spool is shifted but are blocked as soon as bucket spool is shifted.

Dan

 

[kubotafreak]

The technical reason is the fact it is open center hydraulics. This means the pump is always pumping and flows through all the hydraulic valves on the machine. When one is moved, it steals, or takes priority of the flow. This becomes apparent if you max a valve, no more flow is available for the downstream valve. If you feather as some have described, it leaves some flow for the downstream valve. Every machine is slightly different valves/flow restrictors, so it may be more apparent on some models. Now when you speak of a dedicated TLB, mini, or industrial grade rig, it will be equipped with closed center hydraulics. This means the valves are all closed. The pump on these, is de-stroked by a swash plate much like a hst transmission. More valve demand, and more pump volume is provided. This method allows multiple control valves to be utilized at the same time with little affect on each other. This is much more expensive and generally unnecessary for most cut/scut class machines.