Loader B2320 Loader Issue?

[maximus1277]

I have a brand new B2320 with FEL and Woods B70X backhoe. This was my first weekend doing some "serious" work... mostly grading the back of my house where I needed to make and them move a few piles of dirt. Honestly, I am a bit disapointed.... the front end loader on this machine is not strong enough to get a full bucket of dirt. This is my 4th tractor and my third kubota and I have never experienced an issue like this. The loader can only lift enough for a flat bucket... it is nearly impossible to get a nice full load. Granted, the dirt was wet and mixed with grass roots, but still there should be enough power to slowly fill the bucket from a pile without the need for jerky movements of the stick. Does anyone else have the same issue? Second issue: the woods b70x was recommended over kubota backhoe. With subframe and backhoe I find the front end of the tractor to be too light.... it plows when turning or wheelies when starting in a higher gear. Does Kubota make weights for this machine which would work with FEL and the gril/hood protector?

 

[gyro433]

I have no issues with mine, but I don't have the backhoe

I am not sure if I understand your loader issue correctly, do you have problems filling your bucket because the tractor lacks traction to push into the pile, or when the bucket is full it will not lift up ?

 

[bp fick]

I do not have a backhoe, but I sure can visualize the front end being light if there were a backhoe on the rear. Yes, the front end is light on the 20 series B. It is a small, light tractor, front to back. I will also be putting some suitcase weights, or having some engineered, for the front. Yes, simply put. More front weight is required.

I mentioned this issue when middle buster plowing last fall, in my review of the tractor.

I have not yet attempted dirt, but I have had no power lifting issues with packed, heavy snow with the FEL.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

We do both the Woods and Kubota backhoes, the Woods is easier to remove, but the Kubota defentialy balances on the tractor much better.

 

[J_J]

maximus1277,

What is the advertised lift for the FEL? Maybe they set the relief valves low for a purpose.

 

[gyro433]

Your bucket capacity based on the operator's manual is:

Struck : 5.2 CU.FT. (capacity of your bucket if you would fill it with water to the rim)
Heaped : 6.2 CU.FT. (capacity of your bucket when material is heaped over the edge of your bucket, i.e. Full bucket)

Materials weight based on their density multiplied by the heaped capacity.

Wet clay excavated: 114 lbs per CU.FT x 6.2 = 706.8 lbs
Earth dense : 125 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 775 lbs
Earth excavated wet : 100 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 620 lbs
Earth excavated dry : 78 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 484 lbs
Sand with gravel wet : 126 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 781 lbs
Stone crushed : 100 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 620 lbs
Snow freshly fallen : 10 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 62 lbs
Snow compacted : 30 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 186 lbs

The worse case being sand with gravel wet with a heaped bucket at 781 lbs.

Your breakout force at the tip of your bucket is rated at 1222 lbs and 1648 lbs at the pivot pin.
Your lift capacity is about 771 lbs to bring the bucket mid point.

We rarely have a completely full bucket, you should have no problems lifting it off the ground. In the worse case scenario you would be limited in lifting height maybe.

Do you rev up the RPM to get full hydraulic pump capabilities ? if you are, then something wrong with the valve adjustments possibly like JJ said.

Gyro

 

[ericdube]

Your bucket capacity based on the operator's manual is:

Struck : 5.2 CU.FT. (capacity of your bucket if you would fill it with water to the rim)
Heaped : 6.2 CU.FT. (capacity of your bucket when material is heaped over the edge of your bucket, i.e. Full bucket)

Materials weight based on their density multiplied by the heaped capacity.

Wet clay excavated: 114 lbs per CU.FT x 6.2 = 706.8 lbs
Earth dense : 125 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 775 lbs
Earth excavated wet : 100 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 620 lbs
Earth excavated dry : 78 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 484 lbs
Sand with gravel wet : 126 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 781 lbs
Stone crushed : 100 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 620 lbs
Snow freshly fallen : 10 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 62 lbs
Snow compacted : 30 lbs per CU.FT. x 6.2 = 186 lbs

The worse case being sand with gravel wet with a heaped bucket at 781 lbs.

Your breakout force at the tip of your bucket is rated at 1222 lbs and 1648 lbs at the pivot pin.
Your lift capacity is about 771 lbs to bring the bucket mid point.

We rarely have a completely full bucket, you should have no problems lifting it off the ground. In the worse case scenario you would be limited in lifting height maybe.

Do you rev up the RPM to get full hydraulic pump capabilities ? if you are, then something wrong with the valve adjustments possibly like JJ said.

Gyro

This is excellent information! Thanks for posting such a detailed answer.

 

[maximus1277]

Thank you all for the great answers.... I will do some more testing to better isolate the problem but I think the issue is with the weight I tried to lift. Wet clay when loaded manually to the top of the bucket is not an issue.... However, when trying to load the bucket by raising it from the bottom of a wet heavy dirt pile must be too much for the relief valve.... Even when I increase the revs. That is why if I pull away a bit from the pile the weight exerted on the loader is reduced and the loader lifts up. So in other words, a heaped bucket is ok, but trying to lift more than that will be too much for this machine.

 

[bp fick]

I understand better, I think. If you stick your bucket into a pile, you are not only lifting the dirt in the bucket, but also the weight of the dirt above the bucket, in the pile. Seems possible to have 2 or 3 times the pile weight above the bucket than it's lifting capability.

Perhaps others will comment.

 

[gyro433]

Maximus,

If you rev is up then you are getting closed to the limit if you dig into the wet pile at the bottom. One thing I do if I dig into a heavy pile is stop completely before lifting the loader. If you are pushing forward with the HST and lifting at the same time you lose capability. I stop then raise the FEL.

Gyro