Kubota L3540 HSDC Road Speed

Kubotafan · Feb 15, 2016

I have a L3560 HSTC tractor and am surprised at how much the road speed drops going up a slight incline. It has industrial tires, and on the level will take a bit of time to get up to 13 or 14 mph and that is top speed unless going down hill. On a slight grade it can drop back to 9 mph or less. The tractor has loaded tires, a loader with an angle blade on front and a snow blower on back. I also have a B3030 HSDC and it seems to hold speed on an incline better. Is this normal? I have had the tractor for six years, and this has always "bugged" me, and would give bad marks for my satisfaction with the tractor. The dealer has done a dyno test and it is supposed to be working correctly. Can anyone give me their experience with this or any opinion on if there is a problem. It has been this way since new.

jeff9366 · Feb 15, 2016

Kubotafan said:
It has been this way since new.

The governed TRAVELING SPEEDS for your bare tractor are specified in your Operator's Manual.

For my L3560 HST ( two more horsepower than L3540) it is 16.4 mph, bare tractor. For the Grand L 4060/4760 and L5460/6060 the TRAVELING SPEEDS are identical at 16.8 mph, bare tractor. Geared tractor are no faster, according to my Operators Manual.

With the loader, filled tires and implement weights you are carrying, which are considerable, your 13-14 mph TRAVELING SPEEDS I would consider normal.

In terms of acceleration, it will take time to overcome inertia and liquid friction of loaded tires from zero to TRAVELING SPEED.

It would be worthwhile to check your tire pressures.

If high road speed is more important to you than max pulling power, research tractors with equal size wheels, front and rear.

motownbrowne · Feb 15, 2016

It sounds normal to me. Your 3540 with loaded tires, cab, loader, blade, snowblower is a heavy machine. For 35 HP to keep that moving at top speed up an incline especially through a hydrostatic transmission would be quite the feat. If the tractor checks out on the dyno, and you are otherwise happy with it, don't give it anymore thought. If it bugs you, trade it for a l6060.

Farmer495 · Feb 15, 2016

Normal to lose speed/not keep top speed in almost any tractor going uphill, especially when it has"stuff" on it, i.e. cab, loader, implements, ballast. Hydro's aren't as efficient powerwise as gear drive, so you are "losing power" quicker.

Gator6x4 · Feb 15, 2016

motownbrowne said:
It sounds normal to me. Your 3540 with loaded tires, cab, loader, blade, snowblower is a heavy machine. For 35 HP to keep that moving at top speed up an incline especially through a hydrostatic transmission would be quite the feat. If the tractor checks out on the dyno, and you are otherwise happy with it, don't give it anymore thought. If it bugs you, trade it for a l6060.

Agree. A hydrostatic tractor is not a car or truck. The motor is running at a set speed producing a specific horsepower. Mashing on the hydrostatic pedal when going up a hill is not the same as mashing on the accelerator pedal in a car and truck which increases the engine RPM, resulting in more horsepower being produced which maintains a preset speed or increases the speed. Mashing down on a hydrostat pedal when going up an incline does not equate to more speed, it could in fact result in slower speeds.

Ever driven on the highway behind a yo-yo driver? Exceeds the speed limit going down a hill, barely maintains the minimum speed going up hills and inclines. This is causes by the driver not using his/her right foot to depress the gas pedal to maintain a steady and constant speed. You can't mash down on the gas pedal on a hydrostatic tractor to insure additional horsepower is increased which increases RPM which would then spin the hydrostatic transmission faster to increase or maintain speed.

The Fred · Feb 15, 2016

Kubotafan said:
I have a L3560 HSTC tractor and am surprised at how much the road speed drops going up a slight incline. It has industrial tires, and on the level will take a bit of time to get up to 13 or 14 mph and that is top speed unless going down hill. On a slight grade it can drop back to 9 mph or less. The tractor has loaded tires, a loader with an angle blade on front and a snow blower on back. I also have a B3030 HSDC and it seems to hold speed on an incline better. Is this normal? I have had the tractor for six years, and this has always "bugged" me, and would give bad marks for my satisfaction with the tractor. The dealer has done a dyno test and it is supposed to be working correctly. Can anyone give me their experience with this or any opinion on if there is a problem. It has been this way since new.

It should be against the law for any manufacturer to release a machine like yours with so little power, I feel your pain.

Have you thought about adding a turbocharger?

:thumbsup:

Regards and good luck! Fred