L6060 3rd Function Hose Guard

[Hilbilly]

Well I finished making a guard for the 3rd function hydraulics and here are some pics. The first pic color is wrong, not sure what happened there.


After installing this I realized it may not be a great idea, since the whole thing hangs lower than the rest of the undercarriage and makes it more susceptible to getting hit. So I thought about it for a bit and realized the real problem is that the hydraulic lines should be routed somewhere that they will not be exposed to potential damage. After looking at the setup for a while I believe I found a solution that is very simple. I just need to talk to my dealer to see if there is some reason that I can't reroute the lines the way I want to. Maybe they will be too close to some major heat source or something else but I don't see anything obvious. If he says it's OK I may give it a go and remove the guard. If I do this I will post pics.

 

[SDT]

Well I finished making a guard for the 3rd function hydraulics and here are some pics. The first pic color is wrong, not sure what happened there.
View attachment 616182View attachment 616183View attachment 616184View attachment 616186View attachment 616187

After installing this I realized it may not be a great idea, since the whole thing hangs lower than the rest of the undercarriage and makes it more susceptible to getting hit. So I thought about it for a bit and realized the real problem is that the hydraulic lines should be routed somewhere that they will not be exposed to potential damage. After looking at the setup for a while I believe I found a solution that is very simple. I just need to talk to my dealer to see if there is some reason that I can't reroute the lines the way I want to. Maybe they will be too close to some major heat source or something else but I don't see anything obvious. If he says it's OK I may give it a go and remove the guard. If I do this I will post pics.

Mine have 45s where they come out of the bulkhead routing the hoses upward.

Still vulnerable but not so much.

Dean

 

[Hilbilly]

Mine have 45s where they come out of the bulkhead routing the hoses upward.

Still vulnerable but not so much.

Dean

That's what I was thinking would be a better solution. At least that way the lines are sort of protected by the front tire, unless you climb over something with it. Have you got a picture of your setup?

 

[SDT]

That's what I was thinking would be a better solution. At least that way the lines are sort of protected by the front tire, unless you climb over something with it. Have you got a picture of your setup?

Sorry, no photos but I'll take another look. I cannot remember if they are 45s or 90s.

SDT

 

[buck12]

Looks great. Thanks for posting.

 

[Smokeydog]

Nice fabrication skills.

With that level of knowledge I would see no problem with you rerouting the lines.

I often make or modify equipment to meet my needs both professionally and for personal use. You would think tractor manufactures don’t design tractors to use around trees. Have harden several of my tractors to safely mitigate hazards and damage.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hilbilly]

I went to the Kubota dealer today and talked to the salesman and the service manager about this issue. Told them it was a very bad design, especially considering that the rest of the tractor underbelly is well laid out protected. The service manager agreed. I told him there was very easy fix to make it better and explained how it should be routed. He liked the idea and asked me to take some pics and email him so he can forward to Kubota. He said they might do something about it but couldn't guarantee it. I asked if he had the equipment needed to bend the steel lines or make some new ones and he said no. The kit comes with the lines preformed. They just install them per the directions that come with them. It will likely be up to me to fix this flaw on my brand new Premium (expensive) tractor.

There are a LOT of things I like about this tractor and some that I REALLY like but this install is not one of them.

 

[foggy1111]

100% Agree with this needing a solution. I had my dealer make a fabricated plate that I saw here on TBN.....and protect those vulnerable fittings. So far so good. I cannot understand what they are thinking with this situation. Just asking for trouble.....IMO.

 

[SDT]

That's what I was thinking would be a better solution. At least that way the lines are sort of protected by the front tire, unless you climb over something with it. Have you got a picture of your setup?

The angle fittings on my 6060 are 90s rather than 45s. They are directed upward and slightly to the rear.

I broke one of the straight fittings the very first time that I took my 6060 into the rough, destroying one of the hoses and one of the bulkhead fittings. The modification was made when the hose was replaced. FWIW: Kubota must have paid for this because I was not billed, and I can guarantee that my dealer did not eat the costs.

Sorry about the delay in responding.

SDT

 

[Hilbilly]

The angle fittings on my 6060 are 90s rather than 45s. They are directed upward and slightly to the rear.

I broke one of the straight fittings the very first time that I took my 6060 into the rough, destroying one of the hoses and one of the bulkhead fittings. The modification was made when the hose was replaced. FWIW: Kubota must have paid for this because I was not billed, and I can guarantee that my dealer did not eat the costs.

Sorry about the delay in responding.

SDT

That's great!

Anyway you get get some pics and post them? I would love to send them to my dealer, together with your story and maybe I could get the same thing done at Kubota's cost. As it should be.

 

[SDT]

That's great!

Anyway you get get some pics and post them? I would love to send them to my dealer, together with your story and maybe I could get the same thing done at Kubota's cost. As it should be.

Sorry, no pics.

Not easy for me to do with the electronics that I have.

SDT

 

[Hilbilly]

OK thanks.

 

[mljenkins]

The angle fittings on my 6060 are 90s rather than 45s. They are directed upward and slightly to the rear.

I broke one of the straight fittings the very first time that I took my 6060 into the rough, destroying one of the hoses and one of the bulkhead fittings. The modification was made when the hose was replaced. FWIW: Kubota must have paid for this because I was not billed, and I can guarantee that my dealer did not eat the costs.

Sorry about the delay in responding.

SDT

My dealer just did something similar to help mine. My front hose came loose one when I had it in the field. I tightened it back and it as fine. Now here recently the hose sprung a leak from the fitting where the hose is crimped. I am not sure if something hit it (doubtful since I was in our grass pasture) or if it just gave out because of the straight fitting off the third function box. Nonetheless, they told me they put a 45 on it I think.

If I ever get it back I'll post pictures. It has been in the shop over 4 weeks now for various issues and I can't seem to get an answer when things will be finished.

 

[Hilbilly]

My dealer just did something similar to help mine. My front hose came loose one when I had it in the field. I tightened it back and it as fine. Now here recently the hose sprung a leak from the fitting where the hose is crimped. I am not sure if something hit it (doubtful since I was in our grass pasture) or if it just gave out because of the straight fitting off the third function box. Nonetheless, they told me they put a 45 on it I think.

If I ever get it back I'll post pictures. It has been in the shop over 4 weeks now for various issues and I can't seem to get an answer when things will be finished.

What year is your tractor and what kind of issues are you having?

 

[mljenkins]

What year is your tractor and what kind of issues are you having?

L6060HSTC purchased end of year 2017 (Dec 27).

The hydraulic hose on bottom going into third-function valve block setup sprung a leak between the crimped on fitting and the hose. I am unsure if they got hit by something, but I was in a grass pasture when it happened so there should have been nothing there. If there was, my rotary cutter ate it without making a sound.

I also had issues with:
- power beyond hydraulic hose had to be replaced (it contacted with lift arm when using my cat2 box blade)
- power beyond bracket had to be moved so it would not contact when using cat2 implement (someone at Kubota forgot to test this new bracket design while using a cat2 implement with the power beyond kit)
- windshield washer hoses had to be replaced because mice chewed through them in the cab
- bottom of cab around linkages was supposed to be better sealed to prevent future rodents from getting in cab because when they installed the remotes they butchered the seal under there
- cab roof had to be replaced due to a 6" widow maker tree top falling on the cab when I bumped it (unintentionally) with the loader while working in the woods
- BH92 backhoe valves were leaking very bad (has been this way since I have owned it)

My two biggest beefs with the tractor are the unprotected third function lines under the tractor and the backhoe. The third function lines are the worst engineering that someone just threw together in a hurry and said screw it, that'll work it's 5 o'clock somewhere. The backhoe has leaked at the valve block since I have had it, and to be honest I would never buy one again. It would have been worth the savings just to rent an excavator when I needed it. The backhoe has been in 3 times now for the same issue, which of course I never find that it is massively leaking fluid until I go to use it, which is not very often. I would strongly advise anyone against putting a backhoe on these machines, especially the cab machine. I should start a thread about all the nuances and issues with it.

 

[SDT]

I major complaint that I have with my L6060 is the adjustable stop for the hydraulic position control handle. It's just about useless as designed.

SDT

 

[foggy1111]

^^ I agree that the low hoses and connections on the Grand L's are poorly engineered and just asking for trouble. I had a plate made that has eliminated any problems for me thus far....and I hope it's adequate for the future. l I brought a picture and a drawing to the dealer and told him he needed to add this to my machine before I would accept delivery. He did this and said they were going to make one for all the Grand L's they sold. I cannot understand how anyone can find these connections suitable for use as supplied by Kubota.

I also second what SDT says about that adjustable stop for the position control handle.....it is one of the more worthless features I have seen......especially for a tractor of this quality. I have lots of problems getting the same setting when doing simple 3 point adjustments to my disk, stump grinder or almost any 3 point attachment. I did read that someone installed a different screw to improve on this adjustment.....but when doing a search I have not found this post again. They made a better adjustment stop back in the days of the N fords than what is put on these tractors. Shameful......IMO.

 

[SDT]

^^ I agree that the low hoses and connections on the Grand L's are poorly engineered and just asking for trouble. I had a plate made that has eliminated any problems for me thus far....and I hope it's adequate for the future. l I brought a picture and a drawing to the dealer and told him he needed to add this to my machine before I would accept delivery. He did this and said they were going to make one for all the Grand L's they sold. I cannot understand how anyone can find these connections suitable for use as supplied by Kubota.

I also second what SDT says about that adjustable stop for the position control handle.....it is one of the more worthless features I have seen......especially for a tractor of this quality. I have lots of problems getting the same setting when doing simple 3 point adjustments to my disk, stump grinder or almost any 3 point attachment. I did read that someone installed a different screw to improve on this adjustment.....but when doing a search I have not found this post again. They made a better adjustment stop back in the days of the N fords than what is put on these tractors. Shameful......IMO.

My dealer made a different stop with two threaded holes for two knobs. Tightening both knobs keeps the stop in place. I found the original plate with a single knob just about useless.

SDT

 

[Hilbilly]

^^ I agree that the low hoses and connections on the Grand L's are poorly engineered and just asking for trouble. I had a plate made that has eliminated any problems for me thus far....and I hope it's adequate for the future. l I brought a picture and a drawing to the dealer and told him he needed to add this to my machine before I would accept delivery. He did this and said they were going to make one for all the Grand L's they sold. I cannot understand how anyone can find these connections suitable for use as supplied by Kubota.

I also second what SDT says about that adjustable stop for the position control handle.....it is one of the more worthless features I have seen......especially for a tractor of this quality. I have lots of problems getting the same setting when doing simple 3 point adjustments to my disk, stump grinder or almost any 3 point attachment. I did read that someone installed a different screw to improve on this adjustment.....but when doing a search I have not found this post again. They made a better adjustment stop back in the days of the N fords than what is put on these tractors. Shameful......IMO.

I agree too. Seems ridiculous that a tractor of this quality would come with these cheesy controls. Especially considering the cost to rectify them would be nothing (or a couple of dollars, tops).

What I don't understand is that the rest of the tractor shows that there has been a lot of thought put into making this a quality machine.

 

[kenmac]

Some of the low quality American engineering is rubbing off on the Japanese.

I had my 3rd function installed by the dealer. The hoses from the 3rd function for the the front of the loader came in a kit from Kubota / land pride

Anyway, After being on for a short period of time. The hose sprung a hyd leak.
I thought hose had burst.
When I took it to the hose shop. the guy there said who ever crimped the hose protectors together with the hose should not have done that. The hose didn't burst, it was where Kubota crimped over those hose protectors making for a weak crimp on the fitting to the hose.
He made me a new hose and said he never crimps over those hose protectors when making a hose.