1/4" Valve Haters---Read This

[toothdoc]

Those last pictures are QI valve-not position control.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I just went to the shop and operated the lift.
When I pull the lift leaver HALF WAY UP, the lift starts raising very slowely and continuous--moving the leaver just a small bit further causes the lift to raise rapidly.
If I have the tractor idling and the lift arms lowered to maximum I can quickly move the leaver up to the stop, and the lift will raise completely in less then 3 seconds.
As you can see from the photos, moving my lift leaver to me or away from me makes no difference.
The difference I have noticed in this Kubota, from other tractors I have owned, is that after the emplement is raised to the desired position, the lift leaver returns to neutral position. On all other tractors I have had experience with, the leaver stays in that position and moving it down results in the empliment lowering. Mine will lower only when the leaver is pushed down past the neutral position.
Is it possible that this tractor is supposed to have QI and it is not working
What has me confused is that I have read that pulling the leaver toward you and moving it will result in 1/4" of lift.
Am I assuming wrong?

I can see from just looking at the photos that your stops are probably not set properly. Go reread my posts in this thread and you should be able to readjust them and make it work. When we are saying pull the lever toward you or away from you, all that is doing is catching a different part of the stop. You will notice on the stop that they are 'stepped', the part closer to you limits the motion of the lever more, if you move it to the outer area the lever moves about 3/4" or so further. It is meant so that when you hold it against the inner step, the arms move very slowly and you can make them only move a 1/4" if desired. If you go past that and push it against the outer portion of the step, they will move at full speed. My guess is your stops are not adjusted correctly.

I still wonder what would be involved with converting a QI to position control. Maybe we should start a thread about that and see if anyone has done it?

Let us know if you need more help setting up the 3pt control.

I've looked at this a little myself and from what I can tell, it's possible, but neither easy nor cheap. IIRC the 3pt control valve on the B2910 (maybe the b2320 Narrow also?) can swap into the lift cylinder housing on the B7800/B3200 and probably the smaller B series as well. The problem is that valve is nearly $600, then you also need all different linkage to control it, which would probably be another $100-200. Then you have to remove the lift cylinder housing, swap valves and reassemble. While that's not particularly difficult on this tractor, it's also not something that I would advice the home mechanic to try. I may look into this more someday (after my warranty is up), but I just don't know if it's worth the $700-$800+ that it would cost to get it all done.

 

[BrierPatch]

I've looked at this a little myself and from what I can tell, it's possible, but neither easy nor cheap. IIRC the 3pt control valve on the B2910 (maybe the b2320 Narrow also?) can swap into the lift cylinder housing on the B7800/B3200 and probably the smaller B series as well. The problem is that valve is nearly $600, then you also need all different linkage to control it, which would probably be another $100-200. Then you have to remove the lift cylinder housing, swap valves and reassemble. While that's not particularly difficult on this tractor, it's also not something that I would advice the home mechanic to try. I may look into this more someday (after my warranty is up), but I just don't know if it's worth the $700-$800+ that it would cost to get it all done.

I am definetly not that dissapointed in my QI versus the position control. Actually I would be on the fence of which I prefer. I guess it depends on the task I am doing. Thanks for the info, but I personally have no intention of ever trying to convert mine.

 

[Giles]

I can see from just looking at the photos that your stops are probably not set properly. Go reread my posts in this thread and you should be able to readjust them and make it work.

Then wouldn't it make sense to adjust the stops, as mine are, to do away with QI If someone disliked the way it operates.

I just don't understand why someone would dislike the QI system if they don't have to use it?

With the way my leaver stops are adjusted, QI DOES NOT WORK:thumbsup:
As I stated, if I move my leaver to the first stop---"slow lift"--my lift arms will travel the full distance in less then 3 seconds. There is nothing slow about it and it definately doesn't move only app. 1/4"

Before purchasing this tractor, I checked out two other used machines that operated the way you people state. That's why I was surprised, after purchasing, to find that this B2320 operated differently

Is it possible for me to post a video demonstrating the operation of my lift?
Is it more difficult then posting pictures?

I am not complaining about my lift operation--I have no problem with it:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

I just don't understand why someone would dislike the QI system if they don't have to use it?

It is not the 1/4" function we hate, it is the lack of position control and the fact that it will not maintain an intermediate height or have a repeatable height setting.

My BX2200 didn't have the 1/4" feature and I hated it worse than my BX2660 or JD2305 with 1/4" valve.

As far as I can tell, the stops are just a point of index.

I only use mine hooking up equipment and would gladly pay $800 right now for position control.

 

[Giles]

It is not the 1/4" function we hate, it is the lack of position control and the fact that it will not maintain an intermediate height or have a repeatable height setting.

My BX2200 didn't have the 1/4" feature and I hated it worse than my BX2660 or JD2305 with 1/4" valve.

As far as I can tell, the stops are just a point of index.

I only use mine hooking up equipment and would gladly pay $800 right now for position control.

will not maintain an intermediate height
Could you expand on this---Do you mean that the implement will not maintain the setting?
For instance---you are using a landscape box in soft dirt and you only want to move 2"---will the lift not allow this? Mine will:thumbsup:
My intent is not to argue or drive this post into the ground--I just want to learn:thumbsup:

 

[Movintgt]

I to have the problem of maintaining height on my 3200, not that I've needed to maintain it for ground work but rather when I have my PHD on and lift it to full up position to do FEL work. It will drift down over time, probably a foot in 10 minutes or so. not a problem as long as I remember to bring it up now and then but if I forget to, I'll be dragging the PHD around or worse, pogo the back end when backing up. I haven't worried too much about it but I think I recall that on my L3130 I could lift it full up and forget it, an hour later it would still be full up. I think the 3130 had position control, I was thinking that the downward drift was a trade-off of the cheaper 1/4 inch 3PHT. I figured I'd mention it to the dealer after I finish this little "rush project" I'm doing.

 

[TripleR]

will not maintain an intermediate height
Could you expand on this---Do you mean that the implement will not maintain the setting?
For instance---you are using a landscape box in soft dirt and you only want to move 2"---will the lift not allow this? Mine will:thumbsup:
My intent is not to argue or drive this post into the ground--I just want to learn:thumbsup:

What Movingtgt said, they will drift down or settle. There are several threads here on that "problem". Some put check chains on while most just routinely "bump" the implement back up. It is aggravating while using a bush hog as you don't have a uniform height.

If you can maintain a uniform cutting height, you are a better man than I.

I will check back later; got my M8540 fueled back up and ready to go again.

Don't worry about too many questions; no such thing:thumbsup:

 

[DiezNutz]

REALLY
I am 64 years old and I have owned, no less, then twenty tractors! I think I know how a tractor lift system works.

If you think I have QI ---Good for You---I have no problem with that:laughing:

So... wanna try that again?
I said what I said to you in a half-joking manner, which was my way of telling you that you really did have a QIV, without flat-out saying "you're wrong". I thought that was a nicer way to go about it. If I didn't think I knew what I was talking about, I wouldn't have said anything.

If you had a PCV, then the control lever and the lift arms would always move proportionately to each other, and at the same raising speed. In other words, the lift arms would track/mimic the position of your control lever, and always stay where the lever is set. :thumbsup:

EZ guys geez one of the things that makes this forum nice is that everyone is polite - Well except Diez.

Gee thanks buddy... what'd I ever do to you.

 

[KU Gator]

What I like about the 1/4" valve is when I hook up an implement, by using the slow side of the control slot, it makes nice slow movements and doesn't jerk up and down. The negative is it will not stay up or at a set height. As mentioned by another, it I am using the FEL, I usually have the box blade on as a counter balance, so you just have to remember to bump it up once in a while. Not a real big deal. More of an issue to me when using the bush hog. Since all of the weight of the front of the bush hog is carried by the 3 pt hitch, the fact that the 1/4" valve will not maintain a height requires you to bump it back up once in a while. I have now added some chains that I use to limit how low it will drop. It is my understanding that with a position control valve, it would hold the height you set. There are some other ways to work around it, but none as easy as just putting it at a position and it will stay there.