Kubota "Shockless Ride", SoftDrive or equivalent accumulator?

[mcfarmall]

Anybody have one of these on their loader? Thinking about getting one on my tractor when I order it.

Pros-Cons...is it worth the $$$ or not so much?

Watched a couple vids on YouTube and it looks like it might help when transporting loads over rough terrain.

Thanks in advance.

 

[orezok]

Yup... thats a definite maybe

 

[Farmer495]

Never used one, but dealer told me once you have it, you don't want one with out it. Mind you that was on the ALO Quicke built Kubota loaders we can get in Canada on the M series.

 

[jeff9366]

Anybody have "Shockless Ride" on their loader?

It looks like it might help when transporting loads over rough terrain.

I have W.R. Long's aftermarket "Comfort Ride" on my Kubota L3560.

If you transport full bucket loads of dirt or brush on pallet forks over significant distances material drop is reduced 95% with a Loader damper installed. (Transporting dirt over residential roads this means minimal to no spillage to clean up.)

I do considerable property maintenance which includes transporting brush and downed trees 1/3 mile to a community burn pit and transporting dirt in the opposite direction, hence a worthwhile productivity enhancement as you are able to drive 50% faster.

Photo #2 is the actual "Comfort Ride" unit.

 

[Hay Dude]

Anybody have one of these on their loader? Thinking about getting one on my tractor when I order it.

Pros-Cons...is it worth the $$$ or not so much?

Watched a couple vids on YouTube and it looks like it might help when transporting loads over rough terrain.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, get it. Highly suggested.
I have it on both my big Kubotas.
Does great job of taking the heavy pounding out of carrying objects with your loader. Enables you to travel faster over rough ground without bouncing the load out of bucket or forks. I would never own another tractor/loader without it.

 

[rScotty]

Nice feature. It is useful on washboard travel or at road speed even empty; anywhere that FELs tend to get bouncy. It takes about 75% of the bounce out.
That should reduce wear on the whole loader & hydraulics....maybe on the front axle pivots too.

JD calls their version "Comfort Ride". It engages/disengages when stopped via a dashboard solenoid switch. The solenoid switch makes it handy.

I'd get it again, especially at Kubota's add-on price. And I'd combine it with an aftermarket Grammer air ride suspension seat.
rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

Nice feature. It is useful on washboard travel or at road speed even empty; anywhere that FELs tend to get bouncy. It takes about 75% of the bounce out.
That should reduce wear on the whole loader & hydraulics....maybe on the front axle pivots too.

JD calls their version "Comfort Ride". It engages/disengages when stopped via a dashboard solenoid switch. The solenoid switch makes it handy.

I'd get it again, especially at Kubota's add-on price. And I'd combine it with an aftermarket Grammer air ride suspension seat.
rScotty

RScotty brings up a small thing I don’t like about the Kubota shockless ride....
On the Kubota, you have to get out of the cab and turn a knob to turn it off/on. Probably cheaper and more reliable that way, but other brands like Deere have a switch on dash to turn off/on. Personally, Id rather be able to turn off/on from cab
It’s also possible Kubota now offers a more modern version with a dash mounted switch....

 

[ericm979]

It looks like it's just a hydraulic hose to the accumulator. You could plumb an electric solenoid valve into the hose.

 

[Hay Dude]

It looks like it's just a hydraulic hose to the accumulator. You could plumb an electric solenoid valve into the hose.

Before the manual valve? And just leave the manual valve in the on position, I guess?

 

[Smokeydog]

This post peaked my interest. I carry heavy loads at low speed all the time over rough ground. Don’t know if Kubota makes a kit for TL1350 loader. Looked at WR Long site and Kubota. Each had two accumulators.

In Long description two different pressure ratings for the accumulators. Maybe both the same accumulator with different charge pressures. Some hoses and brackets.

Kubota had lots of hoses, hard lines , accumulators and brackets for specific loaders.

May need two accumulators to cushion in a broader range of pressure/weight?

Anyone diy an accumulator for cushion? Maybe I have a too simplistic view of what is needed. A tee into the loader lift line from the loader valve. One line to the accumulator. Like the idea of a solenoid valve to turn off for maximum breakout/lift force. A solenoid valve would also reduce lines needed to access a manual valve.
Next would be pressure rating and charge pressure. While the pump is -2300psi max, the pressure by a bouncing load is 3,000?, 5,000 psi?

Always wanted a permanent mount pressure gauge to measure loader lift and be calibrated for weight. They make such things too. Utilize the same line also.

 

[ericm979]

Before the manual valve? And just leave the manual valve in the on position, I guess?

Or you could replace the manual valve with the electric one.

 

[Reb954]

Why would a person need to shut it off? Any drawback to leaving it on all the time?

 

[jeff9366]

May need two accumulators to cushion in a broader range of pressure/weight?

I have W.R. Long's aftermarket "Comfort Ride" on my Kubota L3560.

I like everything on my tractor as simple as possible. The valve is open 99% of the time. The other 1% I manually close the valve when lifting absolute max weight logs on Pallet Forks if I will be traversing very uneven ground with the load. (This means 1,200 pound Disc Harrow as counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch.)

While the pump is ~~2,300 psi max, the transient pressure of a bouncing load is 3,000?, 5,000?

I do not see the need to turn the valve on/off with an electrical switch when it is open 99% of the time, at least on Kubota LA805 Loader with 1,700 pounds lift.

I'll speculate the two offerings from Long involve different diameter orifices and nothing else.

One installation has been ample for my applications. There is only one set of hydraulics to the FEL. Where would you install a second hydraulic damper?

 

[Smokeydog]

I like everything on my tractor as simple as possible. The valve is open 99% of the time. The other 1% I manually close the valve when lifting absolute max weight logs on Pallet Forks if I will be traversing very uneven ground with the load. (This means 1,200 pound Disc Harrow as counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch.)


I do not see the need to turn the valve on/off with an electrical switch when it is open 99% of the time, at least on Kubota LA805 Loader with 1,700 pounds lift.

I'll speculate the two offerings from Long involve different diameter orifices and nothing else.

One installation has been ample for my applications. There is only one set of hydraulics to the FEL. Where would you install a second hydraulic damper?

It looked like either system uses two accumulators connected together instead of one bigger one. Yours only have one?

 

[mcfarmall]

Interesting discussion...I'm leaning toward getting it. Thanks for the replies!

 

[MHarryE]

My M135GX had it - simple manual shutoff valve outside, then hose to the accumulator. Dealer installed option - my dealer mechanic didn’t tighten the hose and I lost a lot of fluid first time - got to watch those people as they just installed it including the decal and didn’t try it out. It is standard on my M7, controlled from touch screen in the cab. That plus the front suspension which has 2 accumulators and I can really gather large round bales quickly - like 20 mph working speed in the field. Realized the difference when I needed to use my nephews M110GX this summer for a day. No KRS and it was bone jarring let alone fear of damaging the loader.

 

[Hay Dude]

My M135GX had it - simple manual shutoff valve outside, then hose to the accumulator. Dealer installed option - my dealer mechanic didn’t tighten the hose and I lost a lot of fluid first time - got to watch those people as they just installed it including the decal and didn’t try it out. It is standard on my M7, controlled from touch screen in the cab. That plus the front suspension which has 2 accumulators and I can really gather large round bales quickly - like 20 mph working speed in the field. Realized the difference when I needed to use my nephews M110GX this summer for a day. No KRS and it was bone jarring let alone fear of damaging the loader.

Love the front suspension in my M135x and my Massey 7495!

 

[Hay Dude]

Why would a person need to shut it off? Any drawback to leaving it on all the time?

You dont want to dig dirt or unearth boulders with it on, it makes it more difficult for the operator, feels spongy, too much slop in the loader. Also, not suggested.

 

[jeff9366]

It looked like either system uses two accumulators connected together instead of one bigger one. Yours only have one?

See photo in Post #4. If the bulbs are accumulators, my Comfort Ride has two, at right angles.

 

[Thunder chicken]

i have 'Soft Ride' on my Quicke (ALO) loader. i had to wait for it so got to use the machine for almost a year without it. Now having it, it is a nice feature. I road a lot into town. Even with the empty bucket/forks it helps with bounce.
Doing precise work is not easy with it 'on' as the loader is spongy feeling and will bounce a bit when you stop moving.
I'd likely get it again, but could live without it if I had to. it was a $1000 touch here in canada.