Flail mower adjustment

[ovrszd]

So how long does it take to leak down and are you planning some sort of fix?

Ricn

It's my friend's tractor. One of a dozen he owns, and the smallest. He doesn't worry about it. Nature of the beast.

I just posted the pic to show that it's common. If it's something you can't accept then I suggest a Dual Pilot Control Valve which will lock the cylinder from drift in either direction. You will sacrifice the float function.

 

[Ricn]

Thanks for that info. If Kubota says they can't do anything well, I might go the control valve route. Tilt function is not something I have to use often, just that it came with the total package when ordering. We spend our money then expect things to work, don't we? Could also put the manual tilt system back on easily and just forget the cylinder altogether and the threaded tilt arm would work much better when using the mower; adjust it once and forget it.

Ricn

 

[ovrszd]

I have hydraulic tilt on my Kubota and use it a lot.

I have mechanical tilt on the Ford and rarely need more.

Just depends on your uses.

Yes, if I paid for it I expect it to function at the best possible level (pun intended).

 

[Ricn]

My intentions are, to give Kubota guys the best chance to make it work, after all, they sell this stuff all the time so hope it is just an irritation to them and something they see often enough to have some solution that makes it right. At least that is my goal at the moment. With others telling me here, there is no valve adjustment, this may not be fixable but could still be a bad cylinder or other? Does your Kubota leak down as well and if so, how quickly?

Ricn

Ricn

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, my Kubota leaks down. 15-20 minutes on the brush cutter before it's noticeable. My brush cutter is very, very heavy.

Against stiff opposition here on TBN I believe it's possible for a faulty cylinder to cause "some" drift. But sagging the length of the cylinder is valve problems, not cylinder problems.

Not trying to cast a dark shadow, just playing odds. Your dealer isn't going to be able to fix this problem without adding some sort of "locking" valve on the cylinder.

 

[Ricn]

Could be heading in that direction alright as several guys are saying "valves have no adjustment". What is disappointing; the total cost of dealing with Kubota and getting something like what I now have. I can live with a Lockout system if things end up there. Sometimes we learn to ask questions the hard way, this such a time.

Ricn

 

[Fallon]

My valves & TnT from FitRite took days to leak down on my old L3200. One of the junk TnT cylinders that didn't leak externally leaked down all the way in a few hours on my new L4060. Unplugged it & it didn't leak down at all. Do the problem is likely my valves. My dealer knows it is likely comming, once I get good TnT cylinders to test with. There is a spec for acceptable leak down rates my most valve manufacturers. It's typically a few teaspoons or tablespoons per hour. That generally translates to under an inch every couple hours on most cylinders.

The piloted check valve or some manual valve is a bandaid, but will fix it. **** no, no way, not an option on my new under warranty tractor. They will fix it (replace valves until they get one within leakdown spec in this case). But if it was an older machine I might consider piloted check valves rather than tear it apart to rebuild or replace valves.

 

[Ricn]

Fallon - I too feel as you do, no way on a new tractor. My TnT was added on six months after buying but all the parts are Kubota, or at least sold by Kubota. They are all dealer installed as well so as for a warrantee on all this, I just pray there is one! The dealer had no issues coming out and picking it up so maybe they will do something to help fix the issue. As with cars and trucks, warrantee is always a crap shoot!

Ricn

 

[Fallon]

I'm on good terms with my dealer. This was my 2nd machine from them in 3 years. They tried making the TnT right, but just had a crap supplier. They know the valve issue is likely going to be coming up & what the Kubota leakdown spec is that I will hold them to (if I can dig up that Email they got from corporate with the soec) But we agreed to table the issue until I had good TnT cylinders to test with.

 

[Ricn]

Yes, I too am on good terms with my dealer. So, after all this discussion and, going back to the dealer a couple times here are the results agreed to with my dealer early this morning:

Dealer has my tractor as stated looking at the valve situation including my flail mower. Their shop foreman verified there is no valve adjustment rather saying, the valves used in my TnT from Kubota will leak off above 800lbs weight but "having Zero bleed down with a 700lb mower hanging out there just is not going to happen". He also tested the bleed off time saying, the valve was in "speck" with the 700lb mower. He added that, when driving to and from fields or on roads with implement weight bouncing up and down can raise the pressure on the system beyond 800lbs causing bleed down to sometimes happen quicker. For now, I must believe him, not having spec sheets and all for these valves but also feel he is being honest with me AND, am not opposed to trusting folks until they prove otherwise..

Solution:
Dealer offered two fixes, either work for me:

1. remove the tilt cylinder and hoses plus replace the manual system along with some credit or cash return, whichever I want. This results in top cylinder being left in place but having original manual tilt adjustment when needed.

2. Install the lockout valve (Leonz suggestion) leaving the tilt cylinder in place then, when wanting to "tilt" just open and close the valve. He said Kubota factory does not recommend the lockout valve but he says there is nothing to damage by having one? I asked about my tractor warrantee et all, he responded nothing he would do will affect warrantee. I said go ahead and put in the "lockout" as I may want to use "tilt" at some time later.

So, thanks everyone for all the heads up, your knowledge and your suggestions. Have learned quite a bit about rear hydraulics and Flail Mowers both this past two weeks or so. Now, waiting my tractor coming home tomorrow and BTY- my dealer says "no charge" for anything including pickup and delivery of 25 miles each way...

Ricn