First real test

[bugstruck]

Been out all day working on/with the 3130. Went thru the first time backhoe removal and 3PH installation, and rear blade mounting without incident until I got to the Woods skid shoes. They don't work as supplied from the factory. I'll skip the particulars but 2 hours of modification and now they do. They are the correct skid shoes for my RB84 blade. Yeah sure, $155.00 but they just don't work. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I have been plowing 400 feet of steep asphalt driveway with a JD 325 (well chained and weighted) for 4 years now. Deere said it couldn't do it??? Great little machine but it shouldn't and doesn't touch the new one. We got 7 or 8 inches of snow today and the 4wd was a concern on my 15 to 20+ degree driveway slopes without chains. I actually had the audasity to wonder if it would return up the driveway (unchained) once I had plowed it going down. Yeah, it came up biting a full 84" of rear blade in fresh virgin snow. Wonder no more.

Took a full rear blade bite on a 26 degree access road (dirt)slope and she never spun a tire in any real sense. Good dry snow helped. Like I commented in a general forum post, "man this thing walks" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I want a front blade now. This is a 2 foot snow mover if the tires have clear running, I'm relatively certain of that. Just need a plow with enough height.

I'm new to the 4WD game on tractors. You can't make my driveway in a 4WD pickup or Excursion with 3" on the ground. You can just make it with an aggressive driver at 3" in a jeep grand cherokee, not at 4". It's all over for front wheel drive cars if you can't see 50 to 60% asphalt. I've walked it in every dusting. As a side note: If you have a front wheel drive car and traction control, turn it off if the going gets tough. It's meant for idiots.

Great day, none of the problems I've seen mentioned up here with the hydraulics or tredle pedal in cold weather. I'm not running super UDT. I will change to that however at the 50 hr. service. Can't hurt.

Good machine, never thought of going for the differential lock and still didn't break the tires loose. I tried it fairly hard today.

Impressive! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> I'm not running super UDT. </font>
All <font color="orange">Kubota </font> HST's come from the factory with Super UDT. Got this from factory rep.

 

[Bob_Young]

Sorry to hear about your problem installing skid shoes, bugs. I bought the Woods HBL84-2 medium duty model and the skid shoes went on with one bolt each in 15 minutes. They were pricey though.

Went with the medium duty blade as I sometimes make dumb mistakes /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif and wanted something that would survive the learning curve /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. It's beefy. So far I love it.

4WD is amazing. Nothing in the way of snow seems to faze the new L4300 with R1s.
Bob

 

[bugstruck]

Wasn't aware of that. Just added 3/4 gallon of UDT to top mine off. That's what the dealer handed me when I requested it. I now see that both are acceptable but super UDT is Kubota's recommendation. Also see where they don't want you mixing brands or grades. Great. Guess I'll call the dealer to verify I added the wrong fluid and see what they recommend. I don't know much on hydraulic fluid but I'm having a hard time seeing where 7% (added) of the standard UDT is going to hurt anything. We'll see what they come back with.

Thanks for the info.. I think /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[bugstruck]

Yeah, I don't know how I got to that problem with the skid shoes. Seems the sleeve was welded to the bracket in too high a position. The mounting was as you comment, one bolt. Simple one would think.

Glad to see your having similiar snow experience with the L4300. Not suprised though. That's a serious piece of equipment. I thought about the heavy blade too. But since my primary use is snow removal the lighter one should suffice.