Fender mount FEL joystick on B3030

[bandit67]

For those of you considering going with the fender mount loader joystick on your new B3030 (or B2630), and have had your dealer tell you that it couldn't be done with the LA403 loader (a local dealer sales mgr told me the same thing), they're completely full of bull. Yes, we've seen other TBN members pics of theirs, so that's why some of us have requested the option. The fender mount loader joystick is an optional mount developed for the B3030 cab model. It consists of the main vertical leg that the joystick attaches to, plus a horizontal, bent-to-fit-around-the-fender brace that bolts to the pan that the seat is mounted to.

I was quickly thumbing through the Assembly/Installation manual for my new LA403 loader last night, and found a separate graphic image of how to install the fender mount on BOTH the cab model AND the ROPS model, and that the cables on the ROPS models are to be routed outside the deck, as we've seen in a number of pics from other TBN members.
I am considering drilling a hole in the deck and re-routing the two cables (they're not hydraulic lines) and enclosing them in a plastic, painted sheath, but that will probably be a winter project. I was concerned that the cable layout might leave them exposed to potential damage, but it doesn't look like it'll be much of an issue, once I was able to look at them closer in person.

The point is, if you are being told the fender mount cannot be done, or will void your warranty, you are being fed a line of #$@%, and I recommend you find another dealer, as that one probably can't be trusted to properly service or repair your machine.

 

[Ductape]

If you get a chance, post a pic or two of your setup. I'm curious how the cables are routed on your ROPS model.

 

[bandit67]

Here are a couple of pics. I made them small for the slower computers.

 

[Turtro]

For those of you considering going with the fender mount loader joystick on your new B3030, and have had your dealer tell you that it couldn't be done (a local dealer sales mgr told me the same thing), they're completely full of bull. Yes, we've seen other TBN members pics of theirs, so that's why some of us have requested the option.

I was quickly thumbing through the Assembly/Installation manual for my new LA403 loader last night, and found a separate graphic image of how to install the fender mount on BOTH the cab model AND the ROPS model, and that the cables on the ROPS models are to be routed outside the deck, as we've seen in a number of pics from other TBN members.
I am considering drilling a hole in the deck and re-routing the two cables (they're not hydraulic lines) and enclosing them in a plastic, painted sheath, but that will probably be a winter project. I was concerned that the cable layout might leave them exposed to potential damage, but it doesn't look like it'll be much of an issue, once I was able to look at them closer in person.

The point is, if you are being told the fender mount cannot be done, or will void your warranty, you are being fed a line of #$@%, and I recommend you find another dealer, as that one probably can't be trusted to properly service or repair your machine.

So your dealer intalled the joystick this way? Wasn't clear from your posting if you or the dealer installed it?

Thank you for explaining this, I wonder if this can be done on the L3400 model also? Anyone here have a L3400 with a fender mounted FEL stick?

 

[bandit67]

1. Dealer installed it.

2. No, this fender mount joystick is specific to the B3030/2630 fender and the LA403 loader, so this particular joystick wouldn't work on any other loader model without modifications. Plus, in that case, there would probably be a warranty issue.

 

[stimpee]

The point is, if you are being told the fender mount cannot be done, or will void your warranty, you are being fed a line of #$@%, and I recommend you find another dealer, as that one probably can't be trusted to properly service or repair your machine.

Although I think a dealer should probably know about this, I think your conclusion here is a bit extreme. In my case, my dealer was claiming it was not easily do-able without some modifications based on information that they were supposedly fed directly from Kubota tech support.

In any case, I found some of the pics here of the setup, and I personally just decided I didn't want to do it (my dealer was willing to give it a shot based on the picture). I decided not to do it, since the setup looks cobbled together to me. Doesn't look well thought out, or that it was "meant" to be that way. I figured I would either figure out a better way to integrate it myself at a later date, or just deal with a little longer reach to the well integrated loader mounted handle. Or even consider just making a modified/longer handle for the regular valve, since I get on/off the tractor on the other side 19 of 20 times.

I have only used my loader a bit, but I havent found the location of the regular stick to be a problem. Maybe I would feel different if doing hours of loader work, but I doubt that will be happening too much. If I need to spend that many hours with the loader on MY property, then I bought too small of a tractor!!

 

[Turtro]

My friend has a New Holland, and had a fender mounted joystick option done,
No hanging connections, New Holland used armored connections, and mounted it under the tractor, and up thru the floor to the fender. A much
neater install, and safer than having those cables just hanging.

 

[Ace3]

Bandit,

I can't believe that your dealer installed the Cab Loader Valve where he did. All of the other B3030's that I have looked at had the valve installed on the inside of the fender and the cables run through the floor just like they are for the cab model. I agree with Stimpee, it looks cobbled together.

I am about to order a B3030 with this option and will make sure that the dealer mounts the valve like they do on the cabs.

 

[stimpee]

Ace,

Please point to, or share pics of this setup if you can find them or do it on your tractor. I would be curious. It is doubtful I will spend the money to do it anytime soon, since I havent found the other location problematic, but you never know! I would imagine that buying the setup now, and adding it on/replacing the regular valve, would be somewhat expensive and potentially not worth the result, since it would not be offset by the "cost" of the standard valve like on a new tractor. I assume on a new tractor you would only be paying the difference between the two valves with the cab valve being slightly more expensive?

Steve

 

[Ace3]

The dealer quoted me a price of $150 installed for the Cab Valve. All it does is attach to the regular loader valve with cables led back to a fender mounted joystick. I think its a really slick setup.