m5140 - would like to add front 3 function for grapple - lots of ?'s

[McMXi]

Looks like his dealer wants $1000 plus to do the 1 hour installation

" 1200. Installed with the wr long and 1250 for the kubota and i install"

If the W.R. Long kit is available for $950 as shown in the link you provided, it looks like the dealer is charging $250 for the installation. I would opt for the Kubota kit and install myself since it's a better kit.

 

[McMXi]

$1000/hr for some wrench turning that takes no special tools or skills. Sounds like a good deal for the dealer. Added $500 to the cost of my tractor, but that was several years ago and part of a much larger deal.

No offense but that 3rd function kit on your tractor looks like $hit with the hoses hanging down like that. Not a fan of the controls on the loader joystick either. I had hoses on my first MX and the same 3rd function kit on my current MX and the hoses are wrapped well, and attached to the loader arms, and the controls are excellent.

 

[TheOldHokie]

" 1200. Installed with the wr long and 1250 for the kubota and i install"

If the W.R. Long kit is available for $950 as shown in the link you provided, it looks like the dealer is charging $250 for the installation. I would opt for the Kubota kit and install myself since it's a better kit.

Yes, I had the wrong numbers in my head.

But I would imagine Kubota pays far kess than $950 for their kits. Retail markup is typically 100% or more.

"Better" is a very subjective word. The Kubota kits ceryainly look neater but I doubt there is ANY difference in performance.

I actually prefer the shape and Iayout of the W.R.Long handle. Kubota 3rd function handles have a well documented reputatjon of being built "toilet paper tough"

Dan

 

[McMXi]

Yes, I had the wrong numbers in my head.

But I would imagine Kubota pays far kess than $950 for their kits. Retail markup is typically 100% or more.

"Better" is a very subjective word. The Kubota kits ceryainly look neater but I doubt there is ANY difference in performance.

I actually prefer the shape and Iayout of the W.R.Long handle. Kubota 3rd function handles have a well documented reputatjon of being built "toilet paper tough"

Dan

It doesn't matter what Kubota buys the kits for. What matters is what Joe Schmo can buy the kit for and difference between that price and the installed price at a dealer. That real-world difference is $250 despite your desire for it to be much greater.

As for that last piece of drivel in your post, you're clearly an armchair expert on the matter. I've had four Kubota 3rd functions over 10+ years with zero issues (five years in the BX, 4 years in the MX, almost 4 years in the M and a year and a half in the first MX). The W.R. Long handle looks like garbage with ergonomics that look to be designed by a child. If you're ok with Mickey Mouse crap in life then go for it. Life is short and I'd prefer to spend more for quality since I'm rarely disappointed when I do.

 

[TheOldHokie]

It doesn't matter what Kubota buys the kits for. What matters is what Joe Schmo can buy the kit for and difference between that price and the installed price.

As for that last piece of drivel in your post, you're clearly an armchair expert on the matter. I've had four Kubota 3rd functions over 10+ years with zero issues the W.R. Long handle looks like garbage.

Research third function switch failures and replacenent cost right here on the forum. Plenty of examples of the switches checking out prematurely.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

Research third function switch failures and replacenent cost right here on the forum. Plenty of examples of the switches checking out prematurely.

Dan

I don't need to research anything. I have 10+ years of personal experience with multiple Kubota 3rd functions, and a good friend who runs the local Kubota dealership. Funny how he isn't inundated with 3rd function failures. You have to love those that pass off what they read as personal experience. I see that a lot here.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I don't need to research anything. I have 10+ years of personal experience with multiple Kubota 3rd functions, and a good friend who runs the local Kubota dealership. Funny how he isn't inundated with 3rd function failures. You have to love those that pass off what they read as personal experience. I see that a lot here.

Now who is the armchair expert? Definitly avoid resesrching sny facts that might challenge your opinion.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

Now who is the armchair expert? Definitly avoid resesrching sny facts that might challenge your opinion.

Dan

No armchair here, just actual real-world experience with four Kubota 3rd functions. And your real-world experience with Kubota 3rd functions is what exactly?

Does all of your supposed research include who installed the 3rd function? Funny how the four I've had and have were all installed by the local dealer that ranks in the top five in the nation year after year. Must be a coincidence that I've had zero issues with them.

Be sure to report back with who installed the kits in each of the supposed failures, and whether or not they messed something up during the installation. What a thought, incompetent tractor owners, incompetent family members or friends "helping" out, incompetent Kubota dealers (a common problem) or the local repair shop. Maybe you should think outside the box rather than twist "data" to suit your agenda.

Could I install the 3rd functions myself. Absolutely, it's about as easy as it gets, but I can afford to have someone else do it, and do it well. I'd rather spend my time doing other things that I don't want to pay people to do such as tens of thousands of dollars worth of boat upgrades for a tenth of the cost, or working on my vehicles for a tenth of the cost, or fixing something in my house, or building a shop, all things that I do better than any paid individual would or could do.

 

[TheOldHokie]

No armchair here, just actual real-world experience with four Kubota 3rd functions. And your real-world experience with Kubota 3rd functions is what exactly?

Does all of your supposed research include who installed the 3rd function? Funny how the four I've had and have were all installed by the local dealer that ranks in the top five in the nation year after year. Be sure to report back with who installed the kits in each of the supposed failures, and whether or not they messed something up during the installation. What a thought, incompetent tractor owners, incompetent family members or friends "helping" out, incompetent Kubota dealers (a common problem) or the local repair shop. Maybe you should think outside the box rather than twist "data" to suit your agenda.

I own zero. You own 4. It took me about 1 minute to find this post from last March. That makes 5. Now if I wanted to "twist data" I would conclude the Kubota failure rate is 20%. But I am smart enough and objective enough to know this is way too small a sample space to do that. Up until now I thought the same of you but now I wonder who here has an agenda. I will just note that a little more searching will confirm this gentleman is not alone in his experience and unhappiness.

I installed the Kubota 3rd function on my l6060 last summer. Right out of the gate the stupid switch was bad. Did not light up, did not stay in the pushed down position. I took the switch back to the dealer who just sold me the kit and they wanted $185 for it. Obviously I raised hell about that, and got it replaced "under warranty".

 

[NCL4701]

No offense but that 3rd function kit on your tractor looks like $hit with the hoses hanging down like that. Not a fan of the controls on the loader joystick either. I had hoses on my first MX and the same 3rd function kit on my current MX and the hoses are wrapped well, and attached to the loader arms, and the controls are excellent.

View attachment 168069

View attachment 168071

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No offense taken. Got a little chuckle out of your response. The hoses don’t look nearly as clean as hard lines. The WR Long is cheaper than Kubota and IMO it shows. The only reason I posted pics is the OP mentioned both WR Long and Kubota as potential candidates. You posted some good pics of the Kubota on one of your cabbed machines. Figured anyone looking at this thread might find a comparison useful if they’re considering WR Long v Kubota.

The control is a rocker switch that sits under your thumb as you palm the joystick. Not sure how a pair of buttons under your thumb is so vastly superior, or even vastly different, but possibly don’t know what I’m missing.

From a functional standpoint, the lines run in a fairly small area between the loader boom and side of the tractor. If you’re getting trees or something else stout enough to damage hydraulic hoses jammed up between the loader boom and tractor, you really need to work on your skills as an operator.

Yeah, I could wrap the lines to make them look neater. Maybe my rig looks like shit, as you said. Makes its appearance match its owner and most of the other crap I have around here.

 

[McMXi]

No offense taken. Got a little chuckle out of your response. The hoses don’t look nearly as clean as hard lines. The WR Long is cheaper than Kubota and IMO it shows. The only reason I posted pics is the OP mentioned both WR Long and Kubota as potential candidates. You posted some good pics of the Kubota on one of your cabbed machines. Figured anyone looking at this thread might find a comparison useful if they’re considering WR Long v Kubota.

The control is a rocker switch that sits under your thumb as you palm the joystick. Not sure how a pair of buttons under your thumb is so vastly superior, or even vastly different, but possibly don’t know what I’m missing.

From a functional standpoint, the lines run in a fairly small area between the loader boom and side of the tractor. If you’re getting trees or something else stout enough to damage hydraulic hoses jammed up between the loader boom and tractor, you really need to work on your skills as an operator.

Yeah, I could wrap the lines to make them look neater. Maybe my rig looks like shit, as you said. Makes its appearance match its owner and most of the other crap I have around here.

I like your response and got a laugh out of it too. I truly wasn't trying to be offensive.

I'm picky when it comes to wiring, hoses, etc. My current MX and previous MX had/have the same 3rd function kit and the hoses are sleeved, the sleeves are band clamped to the hoses, and then held to the loader with some nice clamps. There are three clamps in all and I don't have a problem with hoses over hard lines, although hard lines are aesthetically pleasing. (I took the photos below this morning and noticed that the plate nearest the front of the loader needs to be rotated slightly to get it back into alignment with the plastic clamp).

If something can get snagged it will, and I say that based on years of working in construction, working as a welder, and working on my own projects over the past 40+ years.

Your point about the controls is well taken. I prefer buttons to rocker switches and I prefer the aesthetics of the Kubota grips just as I like the aesthetics of the Scorpion control grips I have in both tractors.

 

[McMXi]

I installed the Kubota 3rd function on my l6060 last summer.

Very first sentence! Notice the "I installed" part. People don't want to own up to mistakes, ignorance, incompetence, laziness, or any other trait that most consider a flaw. Was the control defective from the get go or was a mistake made during installation? Who knows, but all I can say is four Kubota 3rd function kits on four tractors, all installed by the local dealer and ZERO issues. I use the 3rd functions on my tractors A LOT whether it's snow blade, grapple or PHD use and they simply work, and work well.

If the local dealer wasn't capable of doing work that I feel is up to my standard I would do all the work myself, but they're an excellent dealer who I've worked with for more than 10 years. I know them so well and trust them to be competent and honest. There's a reason why they consistently receive awards from Kubota and why they just moved into a much bigger and fancier location. It's also why many mining companies in the area choose them to supply and service their equipment. We know that there are many Kubota dealers out there that don't do good work and that don't employ competent technicians or sales people. We know that some of these dealers are dishonest too. I have a theory about where most of those dealers are located but I'll save that for another rant.

I installed Scorpion control grips and Summit Hydraulics multipliers in both tractors and have zero issues. Arguably those installations are for more complex and custom than any 3rd function kit. I had to make custom brackets for the multipliers, make custom interfaces between the control grip and the rear remote levers, and do far more complex wiring. I make mistakes sometimes, but generally I do good work to a very high standard and will redo something until I'm happy with it. That's not an idle boast, simply a fact.

 

[smgchandler]

Fellas i might admit to lazy and i might admit to tight with money so with that said i am going to admit - i bought two hoses with 4 adapters and a couple 45 deg connections and am very VERY pleased with the grapple. Yes down the road i may spend the 1200 for 3rd function setup but me and my son think the close open rear handle is very east to get to and control as is. No leaks and hoses pretty well contained and not rubbing. I did get fella to add covers on hydraulic hose just in case. A couple springs to keep needed excess hose out of way at grapple and i am not sure but this grapple may be the best money I’ve ever spent ! It’s amazing. I don’t have fluid in rear tires so now i have to buy a box blade just for the weight on rear. Without anything it’s actually done fine unless i got greedy with logs. 3 logs 16” or more is all it wants to handle, Brush and tree tops already in one pile ready to burn and i got most of the stumps on the pile but there’s a couple i may have to push off into the woods because they’re just that big. Just wanted to update thread and say thanks for info / suggestions.