3 point not lifting

[Snow fun]

Hello all, we have an L35 Kubota and while blading I noticed the glow plug light came on (65 degrees not cold out side) I had noticed some light whinning earlier and checked and topped off Hyd Fluid. Checked it again and No change, light comes on before start and then off like usual, but still comes on after 10 minutes of running regardless of loader function. I decided to finish the last 10 feet of grading before I diagnosed what it could be... and see if I could pin down what was wrong. Well while motor was running and blade up the blade suddenly fell. We removed the blade and noticed the following. 3Pt arms go up and own freely if you lift them by hand, but not functioning hydraulicly regardless of lift speed knob position or lever position. Loader Bucket works great, no change in drive functions. After some forum searching I pulled the check valve next to the two banjo oil connections and it seemed very clean (Hyd oil is spotless at dipstick as well). When i depressed the valve with a pin it resisted very lightly the first time but broke free with very little pressure. I noticed the valve was very easy to actuate, went in with very light push and sprung back out. I cleaned it with fresh HYd oil and put it back in. No change in 3 point function. We had a great dealer 150 miles away but they have all new techs after what seems the covid related retirement movement. After stumping them I decided I would ask for help before hauling it down hill to a suspect mechanic. They seemed baffled about the glow plug light and had no suggestions. The parts dude said he never had ordered the check valve so he thought it was probably not the issue.

I am a toolmaker by trade but don't claim genius, so asking for some help here.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Hello all, we have an L35 Kubota and while blading I noticed the glow plug light came on (65 degrees not cold out side) I had noticed some light whinning earlier and checked and topped off Hyd Fluid. Checked it again and No change, light comes on before start and then off like usual, but still comes on after 10 minutes of running regardless of loader function. I decided to finish the last 10 feet of grading before I diagnosed what it could be... and see if I could pin down what was wrong. Well while motor was running and blade up the blade suddenly fell. We removed the blade and noticed the following. 3Pt arms go up and own freely if you lift them by hand, but not functioning hydraulicly regardless of lift speed knob position or lever position. Loader Bucket works great, no change in drive functions. After some forum searching I pulled the check valve next to the two banjo oil connections and it seemed very clean (Hyd oil is spotless at dipstick as well). When i depressed the valve with a pin it resisted very lightly the first time but broke free with very little pressure. I noticed the valve was very easy to actuate, went in with very light push and sprung back out. I cleaned it with fresh HYd oil and put it back in. No change in 3 point function. We had a great dealer 150 miles away but they have all new techs after what seems the covid related retirement movement. After stumping them I decided I would ask for help before hauling it down hill to a suspect mechanic. They seemed baffled about the glow plug light and had no suggestions. The parts dude said he never had ordered the check valve so he thought it was probably not the issue.

I am a toolmaker by trade but don't claim genius, so asking for some help here.

I had the same problem with the glow plug light on my L35. It started out flickering and then stayed on longer and longer. Don't ignore this - if the glow plugs stay on, they'll burn out and you'll have a bigger problem.
My problem was the glow plug controller. It's a pricey little item, but Chinese- made are available. Mine failed in the Mississippi summer, so I unplugged it until the new one arrived and it started just fine. With winter coming on in Idaho, you might not be as lucky.
Your other issue is explained in the Operator Manual. You can download it at Kubota books.com

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That fact that it dropped suddenly point more to a mechanical failure that a hydraulic failure.
Sounds like it broke the rock shaft or related parts.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Thanks Wolfman. I reread the post and see I missed some points. I guess the OP has the backhoe off and a back blade on the 3 ph.
Snow fun, if you don't have a WSM, I think I posted the wiring diagram on the glow plug circuit on an earlier post.

 

[Snow fun]

That fact that it dropped suddenly point more to a mechanical failure that a hydraulic failure.
Sounds like it broke the rock shaft or related parts.

Thank you Po Tree and Wolfman,
Mechainical fail over Hyd makes great sense. The blade dropped like a rock when this happened and even a total pump fail would have drifted. Now I am left wondering what the whine whether it indicates whatever caused the mechanical fail. If either of you has any thoughts as to what you would do while you were in on a rock shaft repair it would be great to round out my shopping list of parts. Its a 2002 but with only 754 hours. (it was my dads so it is near a dear to our family and a handy tool for everything from backhoe to snow plow, we use it more than he did as he gravitated to bigger tools, loader etc)

Po Tree, you helped me separate the light issue from thinking it was a warning from the "easy checker". It makes perfect sense that it could be a separate issue. I will chase that down.

I have the op manual and I downloaded a L35 parts manual but still waiting on Kubota to reply with the service manual info so i can download it.

Will check all this when I get away from work this weekend and back to the mountains where I belong.
Thank you fine people for reaching out, it is appreciated.

 

[lugbolt]

possible drop speed valve problem. Seems like I had an L45 do that. It's removable from the front as I remember.

If mechanical I don't think u can see it from the outisde anywhere, maybe an inspection camera stuffed up it's fill hole? I was never blessed with one of those so I can't say for sure. Always had to do it the old fashioned way (remove parts until problem found).

 

[Snow fun]

Hello Everyone, and thank you for your comments and help. Update for anyone learning as I do from the forums.
The 3 point not lifting issue was mechanical. Pivot Fulcrum had broken. While all the covers were off we did the Bell crank and piston for the lift hitch. And a bunch of other easy stuff you do when you have hours invested in removing sheilding.

The Glow plug light was as suggested a relay issue so we replaced the relay with factory (hard to trust those knock offs when its not thta much more). Thanks again for the input, it helped me be brave at a minimum. Off to move dirt and soon Snow.