Orange is Gold (IMHO)
Sorry… according to my wife, this is a bit wordy!
This Kubota L3240 is performing magnificently.
Rather than the LA514 loader, I opted for the beefier LA724 loader with a quick attach heavy duty 72” bucket.
Because I waned to use a grapple claw, I had the Kubota electrically operated third function valve kit added by the dealer prior to delivery. The stock loader control lever is replaced with one that has the 3rd function control switches on it, and the 3rd function hydraulic couplers get added to the Loader arm near the quick attach point .
I bought Westendorf’s Bush Crusher Grapple, which quick attaches to the LA724 loader. Its two Hydraulic hoses attach easily but, should have been color coded. A shot of spray paint on one hose took care of that.
Prior to buying the L3240, I had been using a friends L3010. The L3010 had the FST transmission and I got accustomed to reversing direction with the lever on the left side of the steering wheel.
It has taken some time to get used to the HST transmission on my L3240. The HST pedal is awkward at first, I had to think first, then think again, then step on the pedal. It is not like driving a car!!! Several times I wound up going in the wrong direction, this is not good when next to a drop-off or the side of a house.
I kept finding myself trying to reverse direction with the wrong lever. The little lever on the left of the steering wheel of the L3240 is NOT for forward/reverse, but rather for Hi/Lo range.
I am starting to get the hang of it and I’m not complaining, just retraining.
The grapple is great!!! I can pick up piles of tree limbs or whole sections of trees. I have a lot of trees on my acreage, and I can cut them into 10 to 12 foot lengths with the chain saw, then pick them up and move them to a pile or onto a trailer with out breaking a sweat.
More Later...
