Kubota l3400 FEL Seems Lacking

[sbailey]

I am new to the FEL and Kubota. The question I have is that I don't feel that the FEL is picking up what it is capable of. For instance I filled it with some dirt and wood chips and it struggles to pull it out of the pile. I don't know if there is an adjustment or if I am doing something wrong. How can I check to see if it is under performing.

 

[davitk]

Give it some throttle.

 

[canoetrpr]

I don't find it to be lacking at all. I regularly move manure, dirt and have moved bucket fulls of gravel.

What RPM are you operating at?

Might be worth getting the pressure of your hydraulic system tested.

 

[ChuckinNH]

When I first started using my loader, I assumed that you could drive into a pile, and just pick up a load of dirt. Eventually, it occurred to me that I was trying to lift the whole pile, and not just a bucket load. I found that "slicing" the front of the pile by going forward as I curled the bucket helped a great deal. It took a little practice to get the timing right, but it is fun when mastered. Another thing that helps sometimes is backing slightly out while curling the bucket........ good luck in your efforts!

 

[TalonDancer]

I am new to the FEL and Kubota. The question I have is that I don't feel that the FEL is picking up what it is capable of. For instance I filled it with some dirt and wood chips and it struggles to pull it out of the pile. I don't know if there is an adjustment or if I am doing something wrong. How can I check to see if it is under performing.

Kubota FELs appear to be designed to lift their capacity of almost any raw earth material (e.g. materials with a density of 80-120 lbs/ sqft). Raising the RPM will speed things up. But the FEL will lift the same amount at any RPM just slower.

Technique is important when working a "pile". You need to curl the bucket before lifting. AND you need to just lift the capacity of the bucket. With a large "pile" it is easy to drive into the pile near the bottom and try to lift 2+ times the capacity of the bucket because the bottom of the bucket is under that much stuff. But if you curl the bucket when it is full, you will only need to lift the capacity of the bucket. In a large pile this may mean that you will work it down from the top. Basically you raise the FEL to a height so that when it touches the pile there is 1 bucket depth above the bottom of the FEL bucket. Drive into the pile and curl the bucket as it reaches capacity. Then lift the bucket as you back away. This allows any extra material to fall back into the pile and not overload the FEL.

Talon Dancer

 

[sbailey]

"Eventually, it occurred to me that I was trying to lift the whole pile, and not just a bucket load."

That just hit the nail on the head. So it is not the machine but me. Now I feel like a idiot. I can't say enough good things about the people on this site. I again learned something new today.

Thanks to everyone

Scott

 

[art]

Scott, I've never seen anyone get it right all the time even after having experience! Conditions change and that alone can make a big difference, even with the same unit.

On that model I like to use the middle range for better sensitivity to the loader. The transmission will give you a little more feeling as to the forward load of the loader to the tractor. Setting the throttle half to two thirds should get you good results.

 

[Mahana79]

I think you have figured out what the deal is but I still have to post this picture just because "people" said that "that little thing cant do it"

 

[sbailey]

Thanks for the pics. Now for another question related to the first. How much does this plow weigh approx? The reason I ask is that I had to pick it up with the forks this morning and I could not lift it over 4ft high and that was going about 1 inch per minute at about 2500 rpms. It would curl easily but upward motion barely would do it.

 

[canoetrpr]

Mahana:

After seeing your pictures I ordered a 3PT spear and had zero problems as you said I would lifting 5x5 bales with my 3PT.

The L3400 has been able to handle everything I have thrown at it effortlessly.

I've pondered getting a skidsteer QA so that I can get a front spear and front forks but I don't have any real serious need for either so I haven't done it yet.