Jerky 3-point hitch operation

imarobot

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Equipment
5740HSTC-3, FDR2584 Finish Mower, BH92 Backhoe, L2195A Snowblower, LA854 FEL, +
Apr 18, 2025
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NH
Full disclosure this is related to a Kioti, not Kubota.
I recently purchased this tractor for a second property I own. Not as refined as my dream K tractor, but it does what I need it to do and came with the implements I needed and at a cost I could afford.
Anyway, to my point, if I lift the 3-point hitch a little at a time it is very jerky. I have to lift it higher in one stroke then drop it to the level I want to avoid this.
From what I have read this operation is common with this and several other brands beside Kioti, and an accepted, "oh well that's just how it works".
My question to you guys is why this should be so jerky and why does my Kubota not have this issue. I'm asking here because I could not find an answer elsewhere to this. The hydraulic knowledge here has been very helpful in the past and I'm expecting will have an explanation of the difference of jerky and smooth operating position control valves.
 

NCL4701

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L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Apr 27, 2020
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Is the movement of the control lever (the one in your hand) jerky or is the lift jerky as you smoothly move the control lever?
 

imarobot

Active member

Equipment
5740HSTC-3, FDR2584 Finish Mower, BH92 Backhoe, L2195A Snowblower, LA854 FEL, +
Apr 18, 2025
305
192
43
NH
It is not the lever that is jerky, lever movement is smooth. but if I lift the lever a bit at a time to get to the desired height it is very jerky to the point where the tractor will bounce up and down.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
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It all has to do with the design and refinement of the three point spool valve.
Kubota had a small run of tractors that had that issue, they were quick to fix it and not use that design again.

One thing you can check is the feedback linkage, if it's loose or binding both conditions can make the three point jumpy and jerky.
 
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GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,
Apr 2, 2019
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Don't know how the kioti hydraulics are plumbed but.... being low on hydraulic oil or a fitting not tight could cause air to get into the oil and that will cause 'jerky' operation of a cylinder.

Can you go to dealer and test same model, see what happens ?
 

chim

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L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
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Kubota did indeed have the same problem - for a number of years. Search OTT or the internet for "jerky 3 point Kubota. One explanation that was going around back then was that Kubota used cheap valves on the non-deluxe models and if you wanted the 3PH to operate smoothly - buy the more more expensive models with better valves.


From another site. Post #2 there has a list of threads:

 
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