How Can I Break It

Tmonan

New member

Equipment
Kubota L3901
Mar 5, 2021
16
4
3
Florida
Currently I have a Massey Ferguson 135 that came with our recently purchased 40 acres. I love this tractor and have only used it to bush hog and drag downed trees. We need a front end loader and grapple so we’re waiting on delivery of a 3901.

My question is how can I break the 3901? If I know all the ways I can break it or my implements I can avoid those actions or practices.

I’m all ears.

Tom
 

bcp

Active member

Equipment
BX2360
Apr 20, 2011
645
78
28
SW WA
Don't try to see how many bales you can jump.

tractor-jumping-bales.jpg


Bruce
 
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BigG

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l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Sep 14, 2018
1,951
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West Central,FL
Always use a ballast on the rear of the tractor when you use the front end loader. The ballast is used to protect the front axle. And I believe the center of gravity is a little higher then on the MF so you will need to relearn the tipping angles that you can run at on slopes. Be careful and remember to keep the bucket low to the ground loaded or empty.
 

awesome

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Equipment
B2601, BH70, K54-22-06B
Sep 16, 2018
262
175
43
ottawa
There are many ways you can break it but they are very though. So obviously, doing good maintenance and taking care of it like it was a fancy car is a good way to keep it running long.

It's very hard to put too much stress on them. For example, you won't break it by lifting a rock that's too big. If it can lift the rock, it means it was made to lift the rock. But if you lift it from the corner of the bucket and you see that the bucket is bending, that's a no-no
Don't roll-over the tractor, don't put it to work too fast when starting in the cold.

Your question was how to break it. So just do all the opposite of what I just said 😉
 

NCL4701

Well-known member

Equipment
L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Apr 27, 2020
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Hard to believe people would actually do some of those things
The knowledge of man is finite. The stupidity of man is infinite.

Take your time, particularly when pushing the limits of the machine and while you’re getting used to it. Read the manual thoroughly. It ain’t a MF 135 (which is a great tractor, by the way). Read the manual again.

If it is a HST: the cooling for the transmission is the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic variable displacement piston motor that provides torque to the wheels. More pedal and lower range provides more cooling than higher range and less pedal.

On the other hand, Tier 4 DPF needs heat to work so it needs rpm. Does not like idling. Does like 1800+ rpm.

Common rail engine: don’t run out of fuel. Can be a bit of a PITA to bleed adequately.

Auto regen: let it do its thing when it wants and everybody stays happy. Defer regen or don’t increase throttle as instructed and keep ignoring its request to regen: things eventually get ugly.

If it’s like mine and has no clutch at all: engage the PTO at idle. It doesn’t ease in like you can with a clutch. With the hydraulic drive, there’s plenty of torque even at idle, there’s just not enough flow to make high rpm.

Use Kubota filters. That may get a comment from someone, but they’re just not that much more expensive than any other comparable filter.

Check all fluid levels when you first get it. I had no issue but seems to be a too common complaint on here that new tractor arrived from dealer with no oil in front axle. You don’t want to catch that at 50 hours.

Other than that, it’s the standard keep the loader as low as practical, don’t hitch towed loads above the axle, don’t put gas in a diesel... stuff you already know because it’s common to any tractor.
 
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ayak

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Lifetime Member

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L3301 HST
Feb 16, 2018
624
847
93
WV
Congratulations on your acquisition!

Certain ‘proclivities’ of the modern common-rail diesel engine make it particularly vulnerable to fuel of questionable moral fiber:
Purchase quality diesel from a location that moves a bunch of it.
Check your water separator often.
Use a Mr Funnel fuel funnel.
Use a diesel algicide from time to time.

Sorry—can’t seem to put ‘don’t’ in front of each of these.
 
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D2Cat

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L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,885
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40 miles south of Kansas City
When operating your machine, whatever seems to make good sense whether it's elevation of loader, pure fuel, working on slopes, maintance ......ALWAYS do the exact opposite.
 

Tmonan

New member

Equipment
Kubota L3901
Mar 5, 2021
16
4
3
Florida
I really appreciate all the input. Just ordered a Mr. Fuel filter. Interesting thing about using only Kubota filters. I know a former General Motors engineer and he said always go with OEM parts. He explained that the oil filters are designed with a specific flow rate and particulate size they will capture. If you go to an aftermarket filter that captures smaller particles it will have a reduced flow rate and as it traps particles its filtering capability will be reduced and damage can result. Another example he gave was spark plug wires. He said when the factory receives the wires they are tested and if they don’t meet GM specs the whole lot is rejected. The vendor then repackages them for sale to auto parts stores for use on the same vehicles.
 
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i7win7

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BX2370, B2650 grapple, tree puller, trailer mover, 3 point hoist, mower, tiller
Feb 21, 2020
3,379
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113
Central, IL
Guess this won't break it
 

PoTreeBoy

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Lifetime Member

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L35 Ford 3930
Mar 24, 2020
2,829
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WestTn/NoMs
Currently I have a Massey Ferguson 135 that came with our recently purchased 40 acres. I love this tractor and have only used it to bush hog and drag downed trees. We need a front end loader and grapple so we’re waiting on delivery of a 3901.

My question is how can I break the 3901? If I know all the ways I can break it or my implements I can avoid those actions or practices.

I’m all ears.

Tom
I'd say the first thing you'll break unless you're real careful:
* Punch a hole in the front grill with a stick coming through the grapple, or
* Snag a wire, hose or filter with a branch or limb popping up when you run over it.
Is that 2 things?
Seriously, there's a lot of unprotected stuff hanging off the bottom of these tractors. Be careful.
 

Tmonan

New member

Equipment
Kubota L3901
Mar 5, 2021
16
4
3
Florida
I'd say the first thing you'll break unless you're real careful:
* Punch a hole in the front grill with a stick coming through the grapple, or
* Snag a wire, hose or filter with a branch or limb popping up when you run over it.
Is that 2 things?
Seriously, there's a lot of unprotected stuff hanging off the bottom of these tractors. Be careful.
Not sure if I would have thought about punching a hole in the grill while using the grapple