New 4060 Headed My Way

[Fxfymn]

It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. When I looked it over at the dealer I was less than impressed by the way they routed the hoses for the 3rd function valve under the operator's station. They kind of stick out in a loop that just looks to me like an invitation to being snagged by some brush.

I asked the salesman to check it over and find out if it was correct. Hopefully, they will find a way to route them that eliminates the loop.

Any one else out there who has a factory third function valve? Was it routed along side the loader hoses or just stuck on the outside?

 

[TripleR]

I can't find it now, but one of the first L60 buyers with third function had his dealer build a shroud as they were unable to reroute to prevent a greater chance of snagging. All I've seen looked really exposed compared to those on the L40.

 

[Fxfymn]

I can't find it now, but one of the first L60 buyers with third function had his dealer build a shroud as they were unable to reroute to prevent a greater chance of snagging. All I've seen looked really exposed compared to those on the L40.

That was my plan if they cannot get it right to begin with. It's funny, but this is exactly why I swore I would never buy another Kubota. They build a really good base product and then screw the pooch on the final engineering details.

 

[TripleR]

That was my plan if they cannot get it right to begin with. It's funny, but this is exactly why I swore I would never buy another Kubota. They build a really good base product and then screw the pooch on the final engineering details.

Many of us felt a bit disappointed with the engineering of the new L60 Series, hoses seemed to be an afterthought and very exposed outside the FEL arms and way too exposed with a third function. I had an L30 and now L40 and much prefer the way hydraulics are set up. I don't have a picture, but my brother mounted a stock right step after the third function was added, L40 came with steps on both sides and my son often mounts/dismounts from the right side.

 

[TMGT]

So should I expect to see the old 3430 on craigslist it Dickensons lot? Lol

My family has been dealing with Dickensons for a long time on a smaller scale.

 

[Fxfymn]

Yep, it will be on there if they haven't sold it yet.

According to the dealer they install the valve in accordance with kubota's instructions and they have "never had a problem with customers snagging them". I don't think I would make it ten minutes in the woods dragging logs out before it was snapped off.

After spending the day fuming over what a crappy design/install the third function valve was and calling the dealer to let him know how thrilled I was that they couldn't even deliver it with a full fuel tank as well, I figured out a work around for the hoses.

I welded up a shield to cover the hose connection on the inside of the frame and by adding a couple of elbows I can change the hose routing to above the fuel tank. It took me less than an hour to do and costs around $10.00. I will also add a cover over the couplers on the loader frame to keep dirt from contaminating them. Once again, a detail that seemed to have escaped kubota.

What really frosts me is that a second year engineering student could have figured this out for kubota so it could be made right from the beginning. Plus it really pisses me off that I decided to let the dealer do it for an additional cost instead of doing it myself, only for me to have to go back and fix what they didn't do right.

I'll post some pics when I finish it.

 

[k0ua]

Yep, it will be on there if they haven't sold it yet.

According to the dealer they install the valve in accordance with kubota's instructions and they have "never had a problem with customers snagging them". I don't think I would make it ten minutes in the woods dragging logs out before it was snapped off.

After spending the day fuming over what a crappy design/install the third function valve was and calling the dealer to let him know how thrilled I was that they couldn't even deliver it with a full fuel tank as well, I figured out a work around for the hoses.

I welded up a shield to cover the hose connection on the inside of the frame and by adding a couple of elbows I can change the hose routing to above the fuel tank. It took me less than an hour to do and costs around $10.00. I will also add a cover over the couplers on the loader frame to keep dirt from contaminating them. Once again, a detail that seemed to have escaped kubota.

What really frosts me is that a second year engineering student could have figured this out for kubota so it could be made right from the beginning. Plus it really pisses me off that I decided to let the dealer do it for an additional cost instead of doing it myself, only for me to have to go back and fix what they didn't do right.

I'll post some pics when I finish it.

When you get the pictures, be sure to send them to the dealer and ask for the regional Kubota rep's email and send them to him too. Include a caption something like "this is how it should have been done". You may be able to help others down the road.

I know this isn't exactly the same thing, but in my decades of working in the Telecommunications industry, I can tell you that several times I came up with simple fixes for problems that seemed to escape the minds of the engineering staff at some rather prestigious company's.

Sometimes just having a fresh set of eyes and a different outlook can work wonders for problem solving. Good luck with your machine.

 

[Fxfymn]

The first is what the underside looks like before the modification. The second is a before picture of the hoses sticking out of the valve box under the cab taken from the front of the tractor. The third is a picture of the finished shield in what will be it's position of function with the elbows in place. The fourth picture is the same view as pic 2, but the hoses are now shielded and run up and over the fuel tank. Picture five is what it looks like now; no hoses!

I did find it a bit ironic that kubota shielded the steel lines, but not the hoses.

If you need to do this keep a couple of things in mind; you need to be able to attach the hoses when you are done; hence the open side. Same for the mounting bolts. I used 1/4" plate because that is what I had on hand. This is rugged, but also heavy so I welded a small tab on the rear of the guard to bolt it up to a fuel tank brace. There was plenty of room to run the hoses up and over the fixed hydraulic lines on my rig; I'd check yours first before going to the trouble of welding up the shield. The hydraulic connections are 37 degree 1/2" fittings; all you need are two elbows. It is easier to hook everything up before you tighten down the mounting bolts and I found that if I tilted the elbows a bit to the center it was easier to get the hoses started.

 

[Wildfire]

Thanks for sharing this. I have an open 4060 and noticed the same thing. My dealer did a poor job running the hoses and they were hanging way low. I'll have to look at running them over the tank - that makes a lot more sense.

That shield looks great too. We're doing a lot of work in the woods with the grapple and the tractor has a very soft underbelly.

 

[Fxfymn]

According to my dealer the hoses are run in accordance with Kubota's instructions. Makes me wonder if the designers ever actually used a tractor.

I also spend a lot of time in the woods, primarily clearing logged over sites to get the laps for firewood. Even though I'm careful I still get pieces of wood coming up to the underside of the tractor and I'm sure the life expectancy of the delivered set up would have been measured in minutes.