Bump up lift capacity of L3400/LA463 Loader

HiTechTed · Dec 7, 2011

I've seen people mention the shop vac trick several times here and elsewhere in the forum. I did it, and my Sears shop vac sucked in fluid. So as a forewarning, the shop vac trick isn't 100% guaranteed. I didn't have to clean fluid up, but it messed up my vac pretty good so I'm not sure which is worse...

jim_wilson · Jun 27, 2012

Sorry to bump an old thread - but how is everybody who upped their pressure doing with it now that time has passed?

I just bought a B3200 - and for some reason the FEL function and (especially) - the backhoe (BH77) - have seemed sort of weak.

Did you guys find the pressure specs in the owner's manual that came with the tractor - or the Workshop Manual?

I'm searching for a pressure gauge now - is the correct way to hook it up to just put it into one of the QA ports going to the loader - or can I put it in the lines going to backhoe and see the same thing?

LD1 · Jun 28, 2012

No problems with mine. I am at about 2600-2650PSI, and have done a LOT of heavy loader work in the last few years.

mjfox6 · Jun 28, 2012

I upped mine in April 2009 from 2300 to 2500 psi and haven't had any problems. I hooked my gauge into the bucket QA port. I ordered the gauge (part#3846K146), the quick connect (95825K82) and the reducing bushing (50925K345) from McMaster-Carr. I believe the specs were from the workshop manual.

Zick · Jun 28, 2012

I bumped mine up about ~4yrs ago and haven't had any ill effects.
I found the specs somewhere online and used one of my QA bucket ports as well.

jim_wilson · Jun 28, 2012

mjfox6 said:
I upped mine in April 2009 from 2300 to 2500 psi and haven't had any problems. I hooked my gauge into the bucket QA port. I ordered the gauge (part#3846K146), the quick connect (95825K82) and the reducing bushing (50925K345) from McMaster-Carr. I believe the specs were from the workshop manual.

Thanks for the info - I'll check out Mcmaster-Carr and get one of those gauges and the quick connects and bushings.

I've been talking with another TBN member who said he's looking to sell his B3200 WSM - so I'm waiting on that one too. I might be able to find the specs online somewhere - but I would really like to consult the WSM before making any changes.

The thing that has gotten me thinking about this was that the backhoe (BH77) - seemed sort of weak - or weaker than I expected the few times I have used it. I'm used to using the hoe on the BX23 - and I guess I expected more from the BH77 hoe. It's got me wondering if the pressure is low and that is why the hoe feels sluggish. I'd like to get as much out of the tractor as I can - so this is an easy thing to check - and fix , if need be.

kuboman · Jun 28, 2012

jim_wilson said:
Sorry to bump an old thread - but how is everybody who upped their pressure doing with it now that time has passed?

I just bought a B3200 - and for some reason the FEL function and (especially) - the backhoe (BH77) - have seemed sort of weak.

Did you guys find the pressure specs in the owner's manual that came with the tractor - or the Workshop Manual?

I'm searching for a pressure gauge now - is the correct way to hook it up to just put it into one of the QA ports going to the loader - or can I put it in the lines going to backhoe and see the same thing?

You can plug your gauge into any port, as for the pressure on the B3200 it should be about 2250psi from the factory. I bumped mine to 2600# 2 years ago and nothing has broken yet and yes it did make a difference. Your hoe may seem weak because of the longer stick. Just a guess though.

jim_wilson · Jun 30, 2012

mjfox6 said:
I upped mine in April 2009 from 2300 to 2500 psi and haven't had any problems. I hooked my gauge into the bucket QA port. I ordered the gauge (part#3846K146), the quick connect (95825K82) and the reducing bushing (50925K345) from McMaster-Carr. I believe the specs were from the workshop manual.

Thanks again for the info - I always forget that McMaster Carr is out there. I ordered a gauge and what I hope is the correct quick connect to adapt it to my FEL connectors - so when those arrive I'll check out the pressure and see where it is.

I've talked to another TBN member who said he wants to sell his B3200 workshop manual - but I haven't heard from him in a while, so I may just go pick one up on Messick's or get one from my local dealer. I'll update the thread with what I find on my B3200

Summitsrule · Jul 3, 2012

Newbie here, been reading for weeks. Sorry to hijack. Anyone know the min/max pressure on my L3940HSTC? Loader is okay, but barely. When bucket really full, can only lift 4' in the air.

rswyan · Jul 3, 2012

jim_wilson said:
The thing that has gotten me thinking about this was that the backhoe (BH77) - seemed sort of weak - or weaker than I expected the few times I have used it. I'm used to using the hoe on the BX23 - and I guess I expected more from the BH77 hoe. It's got me wondering if the pressure is low and that is why the hoe feels sluggish. I'd like to get as much out of the tractor as I can - so this is an easy thing to check - and fix , if need be.

.... "sluggish" is likely flow not pressure ....

Check out the exploded parts diagram for your BH77 - I'm betting the SCV has multiple flow restriction orifices installed - my BH4690B hoe did (Kubota likes to believe they are saving us from ourselves)

Somewhere on here I made a post discussing the removal of the orifices on mine .... made a significant difference ....

IIRC, the circuits affected were the boom swing and dipperstick ....

I actually had a look at the diagram for mine quite a while after I did it .... and came to the conclusion that I still hadn't gotten all of them .... just haven't had the chance to revisit it and pull them ....