GL3240 Delivery Day :)

[TalonDancer]

NICE. Congratulations! Curious - why only a 12" bucket?

Thanks. I got the 12" bucket FIRST

Most of my early backhoe work will be cleaning soil off of eroded limestone ledges in prep for the jack hammer work to make room for the rain water collection tanks behind the garage we'll build "real soon now". I thought the 12" would be easier to control getting the soil out of the nooks and crannies, etc. FWIW I want the soil because good top soil is scarce in these hills

I plan to get another bucket later after I build better BH skills and know what size would be best. I'm currently thinking 18-24"

BTW I was very disappointed that the BH90 only came with pin on buckets with fixed teeth (i.e. removing the replaceable tooth part, does not make a smooth edge). I think my next BH bucket will be 3rd party and have bolt on teeth.

Talon Dancer

 

[canoetrpr]

I had to hold myself back from asking about a trade L2800 to L3240. The only thing that stopped me was that the 3240 had a PTO cable similar to the one on the 2800 which is the only problem I have had with my 2800. Kubota redesigned the cable setup on the 2800 because of all the problems hopefully the engineers at Kubota applied the lessons learned on the 2800/3400 and the 3240 will be problem free in the PTO cable area.

I tried the L3940 recently... really nice machines the Grand Ls. Unfortunatley I have not yet had PTO cams changed (and they way it is going thats probably the way it will be) and unless something actually breaks does not look like my tractor will be going to a Kubota dealer.

I've not had a single problem on the tractor however so I'm not terribly concerned.

I'd say that a cable setup like the one we have Marcussen is a very very very old design. Can't see why it would be any less reliable than it has been on past models. Any reason to think that there is something special / new about this design? Of course if mine had failed twice, I'd be irritated.

 

[crazyal]

I know someone who's not going to be sleeping tonight. Congrats!!!!!!!

 

[TalonDancer]

Deliveryday part 2... The TUFFTOP XLR-52 came via DHL today.

It is very well engineered. It took me a little more than the advertised 30 Min to assemble & install. But then I took time to read the instructions (for a change) The only difficult part was installing the black vinyl edging "using the heal of my hand" as instructed. I quickly switched to a little rubber hammer and it went on quite easily.

The TUFFTOP was a life saver in the blazing sunshine and near 100 degree heat this PM. It is SOO much nicer sitting in the shade, up high enough to catch the breeze.

I'll post more info about how well the TUFFTOP works flipped backwards to cover the BH90's operator station in this thread.

Talon Dancer

 

[johnk]

How long does it take you to unhook the backhoe and put your 3 pt hich back together to use the box scraper and vice versa?? I would like a backhoe but always wondered how much work and time it would take to switch between the two. Thanks.

 

[TalonDancer]

How long does it take you to unhook the backhoe and put your 3 pt hich back together to use the box scraper and vice versa??...

I haven't taken this BH off yet. But I took the BH off the L39 I rented a couple of times.

After the first time it took about 30 minutes to...
* remove the BH (easy)
* install the 3 point gear (fairly easy on the L39)
* actually hook up the box blade (PITA on the L39 with std linkages)

I've looked at the L3240 procedures and would guess that
* removing/installing the BH will be about the same (one less hose to fiddle with and no floor board to fall shut on my fingers).
* installing the 3 point gear will be more difficult (the L3240 uses bolts instead of pins for everything except the top link)
* installing the box blade _should_ be easier due the the telescopic links and easier adjustments.

So I'm guessing it will be a wash.

FWIW I haven't swapped the BH for the box blade yet because I have a lot of BH work in the queue before I smooth/crown our construction driveway. I like to think of the rougher bits as random speed bumps.

OTOH I switch between the FEL bucket and pallet fork a couple of times a day using the SSQA without really thinking about it. I don't tote nothin' no mo'

Talon Dancer

 

[johnk]

Thanks for the insight Talon. I talked to the dealer and he told me about 10minutes for the change but I thought different.

 

[TalonDancer]

Thanks for the insight Talon. I talked to the dealer and he told me about 10minutes for the change but I thought different.

I'm sure there are many people who can make the switch MUCH faster than I can. I only have just over 40 hours on ANY tractor -- 30 on the L39 and 12 on my L3240. I still have to think about what I'm doing

FWIW I don't expect to be switching betwwen the BH and 3 point stuff all that often. Most of my planned projects involve one or the other. But If I'm wrong, I'll just have to get quicker at making the swap

Talon Dancer

 

[crazyal]

12 hours in one weekend, I'm sure you're having fun.

 

[TalonDancer]

12 hours in one weekend, I'm sure you're having fun.

I would have more hours on it, if the TUFFTOP had shown up on Friday The sun is brutal here in August. So I've been restricted to a few hours in the early AM and late PM till today.

BTW despite appearances, I am NOT having fun with a new toy! I'm working my a** off using a necessary tool. That huge grin is because I just thought of something very funny. That my story and I'm sticking to it.

BTW I was talking to our architect about the soil profiles I dug. I suggested that the next time he came for a site visit, I'd have the BH ready so I could quickly check the location of the buried limestone ledges anywhere he thought was needed. He asked if he could dig a little too. I told him I wasn't prepared to pay his hourly rates for an unskilled BH operator. He said not to worry, he was just hoping I wouldn't charge him for using my tractor

Talon Dancer