My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

Elliott Wave · Jan 30, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

canoetrpr said:
I don't think there is a single L3400/L2800 owner who is going to do any different!

I was dissapointed when this topic came up again. I had read through the pros and cons of the various models and decided on the L3400 in June of '08. When I put my deposit down I indicated that I wanted to see the 3 point hitch operate with an implement but I did not end up holding them to it. I just had the dealer show how the loader and backhoe came off and on. I really thought based on the info on this site that this problem had been solved... Right now I do not have a 3 point hitch implement and have not taken the backhoe off in my 90 hours of use.

Is it correct to say that the jerkiness is not significant if one is just raising the implement up or lowering (i.e. using a mower or a rear blade)? If one moves the lever to the desired height without stoping at points in between? However, one will be very disappointed if one is trying to use this hitch to use a post hole digger or grading with a box blade?

All in all, if my Kubota is trouble free in all other regards I will be happy. Their is no tractor that would have met every expectation. The John Deere 790 did not have foldable ROPS to allow storage in the garage and the Grand L I thought would be too large for the garage. I liked the larger frame of the L over the B...

To all the folks that have put together such detailed posts and have shared their experiences, Thank you. I think that if I had not read the number of people who forgot or almost forgot to put down their ROPS before leaving or entering the garage I would have hit the garage myself...

RadarTech · Jan 30, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

Harvest Moon,

My serial # was 726xx something..
Sorry did not write it down.. just ran out to the tractor with a flashlight and checked it and got waylaid avoiding some wildlife coming back in..

Never seen turkeys running around after dark before!!!

I've been thinking about this alot lately..
Here are a few observations:

1. If I am Boxblading with a full box or half a box no jerk..
2. If I raise it up and down with a smooth hand- no jerk.
3. If I try to "nudge" it, it's like Steve Martin's ole movie- The jerk...
I can't see any other outcome on this one..
4. smooth movements- smooth raisings and lowering..

Anyway,
maybe I'm just lucky...

Later,
J

redsmoke641 · Jan 30, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

I too, am very happy with my 3400. If I just lift it to where I want it, it goes smooth. If I raise it in small increments, it raises in small increments. There is a jerk there, and if you keep going very slowly, you can make the tractor rock, but that's not how I use my 3-point. When I'm box blading, I kind of like feeling a little bump when I need to raise it slightly. I read all the negative posts before I bought the tractor and I still bought it. My dealer told me that my tractor had the "new" valve in it, but it would not be silky smooth. I have rototilled, box-bladed, and plowed snow with it and did not see any reason to think the 3-point lift had any ill effect on anything I had to do.

canoetrpr · Jan 30, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

For the record, with the 31351-39604 valve, which is what I believe I have, there isn't a thing the tractor can't do. It has been dead reliable for me as well.

In addition, when I have compared it to another tractor with a similar 3 pt capacity - i.e. the Kioti CK30, I did not find any appreciable difference in the performance of my L3400s hitch with the improved valve vs. the CK30.

I also do not believe that my 3 pt is appreciably jerkier than the JD 790.

It is no Grand L - but neither are the CK30 or the JD 790.

The only real issue exists with the 1 inching valve that the tractor originally shipped with and now seems to be present on new tractors. Further, the bigger issue exists with Kubota's rhetoric about it working as designed because it is an Economy tractor.

I'd say that the L3400/L2800 have been the most analyzed of any tractor here for potential defects in design or implementation. The only real one I know that exists is this 1 inching valve and the real problem again is the rhetoric regarding it.

I am able to very successfully use all types of implements with my L3400 - PHD, rake, box blade etc. etc. I don't think that I would be better off from a functionality perspective with any competitive tractor in its class. I think they would all perform equally well.

Trying to get the hitch to be smoother than it is with the upgraded valve is purely an academic exercise and we'd like to understand why it isn't since it uses almost all the same parts.

teg · Jan 31, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

My main concern about the jerkiness, was with my spray rig when you need to be at a certain level... besides bouncing my tractor around and beating up my rig, I was really worried about the top link breaking or cracking the back side of the tractor off. I also did heavy lifting with the boom pole, near max capacity, I really think that the tractor will not last thousands of ours like "regular" tractors. I have built a couple of roads with a box blade... if you are just moving dirt from point A to B, it would do fine but if you are trying make any fine adjustments for the final grade... (especially with a loaded BB...) forgetaboutit.

I'll go on record and state that in the long haul, I really wonder, after thousands of hours are put on the hour clock, if these "economy" tractors are going to hold up to the stress the jerking puts on the top link.

Harvest Moon · Jan 31, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

canoetrpr said:
For the record, with the 31351-39604 valve, which is what I believe I have, there isn't a thing the tractor can't do. It has been dead reliable for me as well.

I don't think I've made a single post about what I couldn't do with my hitch and I made do with the bad valve for over 150 hours. Wasn't happy with it's performance but it got the jobs done. If I had a PHD, I'm not sure I'd feel the same way.

I'm really looking forward to the enjoying the new valve, it should be a lot easier on the equipment and my back. With the old valve, I've graded off over 200 yards of 18 wheeler packed gravel and hard clay with my box blade and have to say, 8 hours straight of jerking, while twisted backwards to see what's going on, is an insult.

canoetrpr said:
Further, the bigger issue exists with Kubota's rhetoric about it working as designed because it is an Economy tractor.

This is my main issue, seems like "bait and switch" to me. Buy a "standard" tractor and receive an "economy tractor." They still describe the L3400 as a "L-Series Standard Tractor" on their website. I challenge anyone to call and say they want their valve replaced and bet they'll hear "Economy" within the first 2 minutes.

That and I don't understand how they can sell tractors with a hitch like we've received in spite of their good name.

canoetrpr said:
Trying to get the hitch to be smoother than it is with the upgraded valve is purely an academic exercise and we'd like to understand why it isn't since it uses almost all the same parts.

Yup.

MessickFarmEqu · Jan 31, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

Elliott Wave said:
Right now I do not have a 3 point hitch implement and have not taken the backhoe off in my 90 hours of use.

If you had not read it here, you'd probably not ever know it was a problem. This is an issue thats not really discussed beyond TBN. For the average tractor owner its simply not a big deal. If you've gone 90 hours without using the 3pt, then your not doing the handful of tasks where the jerking can be a problem. Don't worry about it and enjoy your tractor.

canoetrpr · Jan 31, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

I'm not concerned a bit about the long term reliability of this tractor. Kubota has been putting out very much similar models for a VERY long time. Look at the L2500, L2900, L3000 etc. etc. I think you will find that there is a LOT of overlap in parts - axles, fenders, valves.

I'd say very little of the L2800/L3400 has been newly designed.

I might have been concerned with the original 1 inching valve but not with the smoother one.

Overall the design is simple and robust with minimal electronics. Kubota has sold A LOT of these tractors. I expect parts supply to be great for years to come - especially given that the parts are all common with older models anyway.

I think that all tractors have their quirks and the weakesses of this one is well known. I expect the same long term reliability out of this one that my buddy has had out of his B7200 - which has the same cable operated PTO engagement btw. His hour meter stopped running at 2200 about 7 or 8 years ago.

Harvest Moon · Jan 31, 2009

Re: My quest for "Grand" 3 point performance from my "economy" tractor. The L3400

My guess is, Kubota once considered this a problem, back when they changed from the valve I had to the one I just had installed.

Had my tractor been delivered with my new to me valve, it would have been perfect! Now, my tractor is perfect. Now I can say, if I wanted a perfectly smooth hitch I would have bought a Grand L.

I'd still like to solve the mystery that we've yet to solve, I always enjoy a challenge. I challenge any of you to beat me to it!