Not a lot curling power

[BruceMyers48]

I have a L3901 and I do notice when going into a pile of dirt I have to back out a bit to curl dirt into my bucket. Don't seem like a lot of power trying to fill my bucket. Thanks

 

[Yooper]

Not much help here. On mine it is just the opposite. More power with the curl than with the lift. Maybe a weak cylinder? Might want to do a pressure test to see if you are getting some bypass in one of the cylinders

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have a L3901 and I do notice when going into a pile of dirt I have to back out a bit to curl dirt into my bucket. Don't seem like a lot of power trying to fill my bucket. Thanks

That's not unusual. You can readily stall the bucket with heavy material like dirt or stone.

Dan

 

[woodman55]

My L6060 is the same way. The curl linkage/pins are too close to the hinge pins. They are designed this way to keep people who don't know what they are doing from damaging the equipment. It also gives more curl travel.

 

[OrangeKrush]

Get higher up on the pile if able to so you don't have the weight of the whole pile resting on bucket.

 

[edritchey]

I have a L3901 and I do notice when going into a pile of dirt I have to back out a bit to curl dirt into my bucket. Don't seem like a lot of power trying to fill my bucket. Thanks

What you are experiencing is normal for new operators you will get better at it as you get used to your machine and it's capabilities.

 

[RCW]

Many Kubota loaders don’t have a simultaneous lift/curl function. They really do, but it can cause some funky response if joystick isn’t feathered correctly.

Like Ed Ritchey said, a little practice can go a long way.

Note the 7 o’clock position on my loader. Lift/curl is black/not available. It will lift and curl. Just need to get it right.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Many Kubota loaders don’t have a simultaneous lift/curl function. They really do, but it can cause some funky response if joystick isn’t feathered correctly.

Like Ed Ritchey said, a little practice can go a long way.

Note the 7 o’clock position on my loader. Lift/curl is black/not available. It will lift and curl. Just need to get it right.

View attachment 83209

Lift and raise works on an LA525 and frankly I was using it long before I realized it was missing from the label on the loader. According to my LA525 Owner's Manual the reason for that empty position in the label is:

Note:
The lower left position (Raise and Rollback) is not recommended because of insufficient lift force

Dan

 

[RCW]

Dan - same here for my little LA243. It works, just need to hit it right.

Not to venture away from the thread, but someday I may look for some help/expertise from you for the hydraulics of my old timer. Not today; that’s for another time

All’s well and workable, just needs some TLC typical for a 69 year old….hoses, fittings and a better understanding of the pump and system. Pretty rudimentary. Think I have it okay, just another set of eyes.

It’s been a part of me my whole life…. I still don’t drive my new truck without my thumbs on the outside of the wheel…..

Couple years ago, Magicman deemed it an honorary Kubota.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program……

 

[TheOldHokie]

Dan - same here for my little LA243. It works, just need to hit it right.

Not to venture away from the thread, but someday I may look for some help/expertise from you for the hydraulics of my old timer. Not today; that’s for another time

All’s well and workable, just needs some TLC typical for a 69 year old….hoses, fittings and a better understanding of the pump and system. Think I have it okay, just another set of eyes.

It’s been a part of me my whole life…. I still don’t drive my new truck without my thumbs on the outside of the wheel…..

Couple years ago, Magicman deemed it an honorary Kubota.
View attachment 83212

Now back to your regularly scheduled program……

Skyline loader?

Dan

 

[BruceMyers48]

What you are experiencing is normal for new operators you will get better at it as you get used to your machine and it's capabilities.

I have been operating Heavy equipment for 35 years and the l3901 for 9 years, the powerless curl has bugged me for years, Trust me I have moved ton of dirt with this tractor but the power to dig and fill bucket with out backing out a tab is a pain

 

[BruceMyers48]

Lift and raise works on an LA525 and frankly I was using it long before I realized it was missing from the label on the loader. According to my LA525 Owner's Manual the reason for that empty position in the label is:

Note:
The lower left position (Raise and Rollback) is not recommended because of insufficient lift force

Dan

I have place the blame on the L3901 not having the lift power for the weight going into a pile of dirt, I'm use to running a full size cat loader and a 670b john deere grader

 

[RCW]

Skyline loader?

Dan

Dan - I honestly don’t know. My dad and grandfather bought it used at auction late-‘50’s. Except for hoses and cylinder repairs, haven’t dealt with manufacturer to my recollection. I’ll ask Dad if he remembers.

It does have a frame/rail mount issue at the rear axle. Would be good to know what original looked like. It’s solid, but was a farmer repair/improvisation from decades ago.

Sorry Bruce.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Dan - I honestly don’t know. My dad and grandfather bought it used at auction late-‘50’s. Except for hoses and cylinder repairs, haven’t dealt with manufacturer to my recollection. I’ll ask Dad if he remembers.

It does have a frame/rail mount issue at the rear axle. Would be good to know what original looked like. It’s solid, but was a farmer repair/improvisation from decades ago.

Sorry Bruce.

Just my first impression based on the curved lift arms - a distinctive feature of the Skyline (Davis) loaders of that vintage. Made for and retrofit to a lot of different old iron.

Dan

 

[RCW]

Bruce - while I don’t have the experience you do, I never recall this lift/curl issue with any industrial loaders I’ve run.

Not a ton of seat time, but I’ve run commercial TLB’s many times, and oscillating wheel loaders quite a few.

Never an issue as I recall.

Apparently, some other compact tractor manufacturers have less multi-functionality as Kubota. If I remember correctly, some of the green ones can only do one function at a time under some circumstances. No experience, so I could be speaking out of school.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have place the blame on the L3901 not having the lift power for the weight going into a pile of dirt, I'm use to running a full size cat loader and a 670b john deere grader

Uhhhh - its a lightweight quick-attach agricultural tractor loader not earth moving equipment. It won't breakout a bucket buried in heavy dirt and it won't pick up 2000 pound rocks. The first thing I did with mine was move 10 tandem loads of heavy rocky fill and I was happy as a lark with the performance. It was quick and easy to use and easily moved full buckets of that heavy material once loaded.

Dan

 

[BruceMyers48]

Bruce - while I don’t have the experience you do, I never recall this lift/curl issue with any industrial loaders I’ve run.

Not a ton of seat time, but I’ve run commercial TLB’s many times, and oscillating wheel loaders quite a few.

Never an issue as I recall.

Apparently, some other compact tractor manufacturers have less multi-functionality as Kubota. If I remember correctly, some of the green ones can only do one function at a time under some circumstances. No experience, so I could be speaking out of school.

You are probably right, I will deal with it, not a big deal, thanks for you advise

 

[troverman]

I've had a number of Kubota tractors with loaders, my L2501 with this same loader was a bit of a disappointment as well. So too was the LA805 on my L4060...not nearly as strong as the LA1065 on my previous MX4800 nor even the L4310 from years ago.