Kubota HST in Low Med or High?

[Racer71]

I am digging dirt with my L3400 HST. It is sandy soil. I started with the tractor in low. When the FEL dug in and the tractor stopped going forward the tires would spin and dig in 6-10 inches. I switched to medimum on the trany and the tires would stall while still applying forward pressure. This worked well for digging.

Does this hurt anything?

Here is a picture of my sandbox.

 

[Adam23]

I would not imagine that it would hurt anything. Is your engine bogging at all in Med?

I have only Low and High on mine and use Low when digging in with the FEL or else I end up bogging down the engine.

 

[Racer71]

The engine doesn't bog unless I get a good bite with the bucket.

 

[john_bud]

I've dug a lot with an L3410, which is about the same as your tractor.

Your method won't hurt anything, but it sounds like you may need more weight in the back. Are the tires filled? How much weight are you carrying on the back?

With the R4's filled and about 1000# on the back, it will dig and not spin the tires much. I use medium unless the spoils are hard, then low. Operations are faster with medium range.

jb

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto on what the others said about possibly needing more ballast to keep the rears from spinning so much. As you know, you will have the most torque available in low range..

Soundguy

 

[canoetrpr]

The only problem I've had from digging with the FEL is that since I'm no pro at it I tend to tear up the work area with the tires spinning. I'll just plan to do some regrading after the current project is done.

I mean a toothbar enables me to dig nicely but it ain't no backhoe.

Now that I think about it though, my last bit of digging was without the rears filled and they are filled now.

 

[n8wrl]

I like low range because it forces me to move nice and slow in case there are things trying to tip me over, like holes or stumps. I don't want to be moving too fast when I encounter them.

I also dig like you with the box scraper for added weight. Helps to clean up a bit as I move along.

My tires are filled too.

-Brian

 

[TonyS]

I have a 3 speed HST and provided I am not digging too deeply (in the ground) I can get a good scoop in M - From a pile I take it from near the top otherwise it does bog down - L3400 is nice but it is light even with a BH on the back

 

[wushaw]

Fill your rear tires it will help alot.

 

[tcarter1]

I have a L2800 HST, rear tires filled. I run it in Med for 90% of my work. I agree that ballast with filled tires makes a big difference.