Kubota L3010 and Millonzi Grapple Hydraulic Problems

[MikeB44]

I have a problem with installing Millonzi Grapple onto a Kubota L3010 HST. After a few tries with Millonzi to get the grapple bracket fixed. And then a trip to a local welder to "fix" the "fix". And then time with a grinder to "fix" the fixed "fix". I finally got the grapple mounted to my tractor. (Usually with a 2 lb "persuader").

I ordered a pair of diverters from V&M, got those in and then everything sat for a while until the kids school year settled down. My much better half then reminded me that she still wanted bushes and trees out and I had told her that I needed the grapple to do so. So off to the hydraulics shop for hoses and fittings.

I laughed after I transported the tractor and grapple up to the hydraulics shop that I wished I could bring all my projects to the store with me. It would save me at least a trip or two to Lowes. After about an hour of measuring, fitting, cutting, and installing, my tractor had hoses & connectors & the shop had $370 out of my wallet. (A bit more than the estimate I told my wife of $100 - which came from the same store a numbers of months before.)

I also stopped at the Kubota shop and drooled over the new tractors while picking up 2 quarts of Super UDT for $6 a quart. (cough cough)

I got home and tightened down the connectors and went to hook up quick disconnects to the grapple hoses and @#*&!!! - No threads were cut into one of the connectors (both a machinist and an inspector must have been day dreaming about the olympics some where). Hop back in the truck and travel back to the shop to swap out the part. Yep, not like Lowe's at all....

Head back home, hook up the hoses and connectors. Do not "mount" the diverters or QD bracket, as it is getting late and I want to run the tractor into the barn. Wire up the switch, fuse it, and run a ground wire. Start up the tractor and try the hydraulics. I can raise/lower the arms, curl the grapple, but when I try the switch (to divert the curl function) I hear the solenoids click, but nothing happens.

I stop a minute don't see anything happening and then try it again. Then I see something - hydraulic fluid leaking from the grapple hoses near the QD connectors. @#%&! Okay, get the tractor back to the barn. Shut her down, lower the grapple and "wiggle" the joystick to reduce pressure on the system, as per the hydraulics shop.

So there she sits, waiting for me to figure it out (the tractor that is and not my better half, though maybe she is doing that - I haven't seen her for a bit). And now fittings appear to be leaking fluid from elsewhere in the setup (near the diverter for one place.)

Two things I can think of:
One - should I have tried to cycle the grapple cylinder manually and thereby replace the air in the grapple system with fluid? (With the line sucking fluid from a hydraulic container, for example?)
Two - is it possible that I have the grapple lines reversed, and if I switch the lines (top & bottom of the cylinder) this would fix the issue?

The shop installer said that he hooked up the lines per the diagram (both port 1 lines going to the curl function). I did not check that, but the curl function seemed to be okay & the V&M diagram showed that as being proper.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated, before I have to trade in my tractor for a shovel and hatchet. (If you can point me to a thread on this, I would be very happy to read those as well.)

Many Thanks,

Mike

 

[MikeB44]

Update:

Looks like I can keep the tractor for another day. Swapping the lines on the grapple cylinder did the trick. (Diverter 1 sends to the top of both grapple and tilt cylinder and Diverter 2 sends to the bottom of each.)

I just need to get some zip ties and mount hoses to the loader lines and then drill and tap a couple of holes for the QD bracket.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[kennyd]

That's quite a story Mike Glad you got it all figured out

 

[MikeB44]

That's quite a story Mike Glad you got it all figured out

Thanks, me too. I'm just glad I got it hooked up and running. I'm getting too old to be using a shovel.

I was able to hook everything up and test it out. Works pretty nice. Short of permanently mounting the QDs I think it's ready for some bushes.

 

[AlanB]

Geeez Mike, I think my luck is rubbing off on you...

Takes too long, get the wrong stuff, you get the factory defects that the store tells you "we have never had any problems with these" The guy you pay to do the work does it wrong,

But you got it in the end.

Cool, can I borrow it?

 

[MikeB44]

Cool, can I borrow it?

Sure Alan, you just first need to practice with it by digging out the bush next to the propane line. That's one that the Mrs wants out.

BTW - thanks for all your help with this project. I wouldn't have gotten this far without your help!

 

[3RRL]

Very cool switching the hoses fixed your problem and you are a good story teller.
I love it when that happens,
But dang, I was looking forward to some good shovel stories too.

 

[MikeB44]

Very cool switching the hoses fixed your problem and you are a good story teller.
I love it when that happens,
But dang, I was looking forward to some good shovel stories too.

Thanks Rob,

I have enjoyed reading a number of your posts and was glad to be able to provide a good story.

I, however, was not looking forward to telling (or living) a shovel story.

Alan - All is safe now. I was heading toward the bush near the propane line and the boss gave it a last minute reprieve. (Looking back, I think she saved more than the bush.... ) So C'mon out!