Goodbye Kubota, hello EarthForce

MChalkley · Mar 2, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Don't worry, Charlie - the tougher challenges are definitely coming. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I'll keep you posted.

JATO_RaT · Mar 8, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Dang Mark, I havent even had time to attach my free R&B tiltmeter. I now have almost 100 hours on my tractor. The amount of work I've been able to get done with it is fantastic. Does better then I thought. The loader is so strong that if I'm not careful, my toothbars gonna be bent to heck. The bars are very thick but believe it of not, they can bend from the bucket curl force being applied to them if I'm not careful and grab just one of them on a root or rcok. I did add TnT myself, its great. The hydrostatic on the L 48 is silky smoooooth. Thanks for recommeding hydrostaic in the first place. The control is FANTASTIC!!!. Folks who drive it figure there has to be more to do then just step on the pedal. As far as having the single rocker HST pedal vs two separate pedals like JD, the big single rocker on the L 48 is perfect for me and my size 13 boot. I do use the L48 much like the Bobcats in terms of forward to backwards movement. I think that the wear and tear on an HST must be less then a manual tractor simply because it is so smooth and no clutch to use/wear out or brakes for that matter. Thanks again for all your positive comments about HST, Rat....

gerard · Mar 8, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

re coupling the hydo hoses while under pressure -
all the quick connects I've seen have a spring loaded metal ball that takes the pressure to prevent leakage. Can't you just depress that to let a little fluid out instead of cracking a fitting or is the pressure too great? Seems like you could use a wooden dowel to depress it without damaging it. (Just thinking out loud here as I haven't actually done this!!)

JATO_RaT · Mar 8, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Yes you can depress the spring loaded ball and in fact that is exactly what you are doing when you attempt to push the two fittings together. The problem is that ball, while surface wise is not tremendous, a few hundred or even thousand pounds of pressure against will make pushing by hand difficult at best. I have almost always been able to relieve pressure via a spool if that is what it is tied too, otherwise I will crack a fitting. The time it takes to do this though far exceeds the time to couple my PTO shaft to my tractor (sorry Mark, just had to get that dig in). I have never put a bolt in and taped it with a hammer. While it would most likely work, that ball is part of the seal and any scratches are potential leaks while disconnected. Rat...

Bird · Mar 8, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Gerard, you've got the right idea, of course, but there's no way you're going to depress that little ball by hand if you couldn't do it hooking up the hoses. I just wrap a rag around the fitting, and use a drift pin, and one sharp rap with a hammer depresses the ball enough to release the pressure (and have never lost more than a few drops of hydraulic oil).

MossRoad · Mar 8, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

That sounds like a good idea, Thanks! I'll try it if I get in that situation again. I'll just have to remember to park the attachments in the shade next time /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.

MChalkley · Mar 9, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Rat - I'm glad you're so pleased with the L48 - it's a lot of tractor, that's for sure! As for the hydrostatic, I'm still convinced it's by far the best choice for 95% or more users, and your experience is one more in the affirmative. I still don't know anybody who's switched from HST to something else, though there are lots of examples of the process happening the other way around.

Another advantage of the hydrostatic, for me, is that I might very well have bought an EF-6 if it was HST, and that would've been way too much machine to haul around! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif As it is, with the EF-5, the 4-in-1 2/3 yd bucket, the 1.5 yd high-capacity bucket, and a backhoe bucket on my trailer, the whole rig runs 25,000 pounds, if the fuel tanks are full - and I don't care to gross any more than that.

I did a quick job Friday loading some stumps I'd dug out a while back (with the L4310HST/Bradco 609 combo). After I'd gotten them out, the L4310 wouldn't load them in the dump truck, so I just left them, knowing the EF-5 would handle it when I finally got it. One of them I was actually able to load with the backhoe and thumb, but the other one required the FEL. While I was at it, I moved 10 yd or so of topsoil with the high-capacity bucket from one pile to another existing one. The pile had been there a few years, so it was quite compacted, but the EF-5 pushed into it pretty easily, even though it uses the low-power, weak kind of transmission your L48 has - you know, the hydrostatic kind. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif The more I use the EF-5, the more impressed I am with how well balanced it is: It seems to have just the right amount of power to do whatever I need it to do. If I'm pushing into a pile of dirt, it's got just enough to slip the tires, but a little lifting action with the FEL curbs it immediately. If it had a lot more power to the wheels, I'd be looking for a way to put wider tires on it, but they aren't needed. The limited-slip diffs seem to do their job effectively, too. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a little more power to the wheels, but then I remind myself how much more it's doing than the L4310 would do in the same situation handling much lower weights, and with only 13 more hp - that puts things back into perspective pretty quickly.

MChalkley · Mar 9, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Bird - I used to release the pressure in a line the same way you described, but unfortunately the type of couplers used on the EF-5 and most skid steers these days are what they call "flat face" couplers. They have almost zero leakage and are easier to keep clean, but they have the disadvantage of being pretty much completely sealed. I haven't quite figured out the advantage of low leakage couplers when you have crack a fitting to get them connected... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I'm trying to figure out a way to make a handle of some sort that you can grip with both hands to put more pressure on the fitting to make it easier to connect them. I sure wish somebody made something already - I'll bet they do, but finding them is the trick.

JATO_RaT · Mar 9, 2002

Re: EarthForce EF-5 usage report

Mark, one more thing about HST that works well for me (kids, don't do this at home) is hooking up any 3 pt. implement. I do not have a freedom hitch, its still done the old fashion way. I used to think telescoping links would be great, well, I have them with HST. With a simple press of the hand on the pedal, I can creep it as much as I need forward or reverse. Whats more is when it stops, it stays put and won't roll. You are correct about the power transfer. I figure my tractor with 1100lb box and tires filled comes in somewhere around 6500lbs. Going into a pile of dirt will slip my tires but lift on the loader puts a stop to that pretty fast. One thing about the L48 that I have yet to witness on any other tractor regardless of make is how well the power steering works. Whether the bucket is heaped with toothbar on adding a few more cubic feet approx. 22 cu. ft. in total capacity it makes no difference period no matter the surface to the use of the power steering. It is quick and very strong. It makes manuvering the tractor all that much faster. There are times I could use hoe. Perhaps down the road. Pictures of the EF5 look great, I'll have to send some of mine your way. The weather here has been very obliging to tractor work so I'm taking advantage of it while I can. All of the fruit trees are either blooming or have bloomed which means great grass seeding time around here. Best of luck, Rat...