Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing?

   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing?
  • Thread Starter
#42  
From what I see, pretty much all the tractor manufacturers know they are in a very competitive business and put a lot of effort into figuring out what customers want. When they come up with an "improvement" that responds to those wants, they may not always have the genius and objectivity to visualize every way in which their new design is less than perfect. Every once in a while, they might really step in it. I expect after some buyer and owner comments, maybe some repair history, most of these manufacturers are happy to improve their so-called improvement when needed. It'll probably take a year or two for Big Orange to figure this out. Or, maybe it'll be another opportunity for Bro-Tek and others...

The dpf caused them to have to make some real changes and I agree the next L series will have some things sorted better.
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #43  
Johnny, great picture.

I see no way those lines will survive any use in brush. Does look like a skid could be made fairly easy to protect everything. Just shouldn't have to do that after spending that much money. But hey, I had to build a skid for my M9540. The accessories weren't that low but they were every bit as vulnerable. After putting a huge dent in one of my hydraulic filters I protected everything I could.

Before.





After.

 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #44  
This reminds me of the Japanese auto companies learning the hard way that the vehicles they were importing to North America needed much better corrosion protection due to the winter road treatments used here. I can remember old Datsuns, etc., that would begin rusting out after a couple of years. Thankfully, they've gotten better, I guess.

With tractors, we're definitely a rough bunch, and we expect the equipment to keep up with our work plans. Those Kubota engineers already know how to make rugged equipment, such as their TLB's and other construction products. Hopefully once the Tier IV buffoonery is settled they can get some of these other issues sorted out.
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing?
  • Thread Starter
#45  
Johnny, great picture.

I see no way those lines will survive any use in brush. Does look like a skid could be made fairly easy to protect everything. Just shouldn't have to do that after spending that much money. But hey, I had to build a skid for my M9540. The accessories weren't that low but they were every bit as vulnerable. After putting a huge dent in one of my hydraulic filters I protected everything I could.

Before.





After.


Thanks for the before and after pics, very interesting.

My problem is I am not handy with fabbing metal.
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #46  
I'm going to discuss this with my dealer before I fabricate anything. If nothing else Kubota needs to be made aware of the potential for problems.

That said I think the fix is simple enough and I'll post it here when I do it.
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing?
  • Thread Starter
#47  
Again, thanks for sharing. Very helpful.

Neither of my local dealers have put a 3rd function on an lxx60 yet so they had no idea of what it looked like.

Will be interesting what you can come up with although like others have said when you lay out $35k+ you expect obvious issues to have already been dealt with by Kubota.

Maybe someone like WR Long will step up and offer well thought out bolt on protection. Although when I think about it why would they as they offer their own 3rd function setup. But I think it would make them look pretty on top of things to offer the choice.....
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #48  
Don't forget it is a compact tractor not a skidder.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #49  
Don't forget it is a compact tractor not a skidder.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet

Yeah, I agree with that Roger. But it doesn't appear to have taken much thought to improve on the design.

What's the attachment used most with 3rd function hydraulics??? I'm gonna guess a Grapple.

What's the most used function of a Grapple. I'm gonna guess moving brush.

So logic would dictate that 3rd function hydraulics should come better protected. In this case it looks like my teenage Grandson went to the Farm and Home store and bought a bag of fittings and hoses....

In the case of my M9540, the 3rd function hydraulics are very well protected. Valve is hidden away between the transmission and the joystick valves. The hoses running to the connectors are also fairly well protected and hidden.
 
   / Opinions on l60 vs l40, esp FEL hydraulics routing? #50  
Yeah, I agree with that Roger. But it doesn't appear to have taken much thought to improve on the design.

What's the attachment used most with 3rd function hydraulics??? I'm gonna guess a Grapple.

What's the most used function of a Grapple. I'm gonna guess moving brush.

So logic would dictate that 3rd function hydraulics should come better protected. In this case it looks like my teenage Grandson went to the Farm and Home store and bought a bag of fittings and hoses....

In the case of my M9540, the 3rd function hydraulics are very well protected. Valve is hidden away between the transmission and the joystick valves. The hoses running to the connectors are also fairly well protected and hidden.

It's not that bad. Kubota should have done better, but with that said I've had numerous new vehicles, tractors, miscellaneous toys and two houses and every one of them needed something done to them to suit my needs and wants. Thankfully this appears to be an easy fix.
 

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