New member. I purchased a 2001 L48 w/600hrs. The Trans/Hydro fluid was low/very low and now the medium speed is very slow; it doesnt respond much to a very high idle in medium. The low and high seem the same. The high is a dog with just a little loading. Could something have blown or should I start with filters and new fluid? Thanks for help.
Kubota L48 HST ---SLOW
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LarryRB
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I have an L 48 with none of the problems you list, I do however change all filters each 50 hours and change the hydraulic oil three times so far in 350 hours... Perhaps change out the filters first and go from there..
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
Start with new fluids and filters, hydrostatics are somewhat tollarent of being run with low fluid - but damage can be done if it goes too long or too low.
slowzuki
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The medium range is very low geared ask RAT, that is why he got rid of his, too slow for mowing. The high range is a transport only range, no good for doing anything with.
_RaT_
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slowzuki said:
Very good memory. The medium range is about 4.5 mph and low is about 2 mph with high jumping all the way up to about 17. For whatever reason, high on the L48 is very weak compared even to the high on my L3830. Both are about the same mph but the high on the L48 has trouble with its own shadow while on the L3830 with basically one less cylinder then the L48 does quite well in high. The L48 differs that it has a planetary rear end versus the spur gear of the L3830. The L48 does not need its filters changed every 50 hours thank goodness, it would get costly very quickly. If your getting them dirty that fast, you have some other problem. The L48 uses two hydraulic filters, one HST hydraulic filter and one engine oil filter. I would certainly suggest changing out the oil and hydrstatic filter at a minimum.
monkeymonk
Silver Member
Well said Rat,Very well said!
I don't think id want to mow with my 48. Though, maybe brush once or twice a year.High gears good if ya live on the flats or for rolling down the road. I stay in med most the time and low when really working her hard Log decking,car coralling,heavy debris/spills rock&mud. I just crank up the rpm's in medium when scooping and lower them once I've picked up.
I sure dont want to change my oil every 100 hours and filters every 50,but hey if it makes ya feel better go for it it can't hurt it.
These are Kubota's TLB/ construction models if ya want to mow you do what Rat did and get an L series, I sure wouldn't mind having a BX,or a small L for doing lightwork/mowing
Sure glad i didn't buy a case either......L48=versatility
I don't think id want to mow with my 48. Though, maybe brush once or twice a year.High gears good if ya live on the flats or for rolling down the road. I stay in med most the time and low when really working her hard Log decking,car coralling,heavy debris/spills rock&mud. I just crank up the rpm's in medium when scooping and lower them once I've picked up.
I sure dont want to change my oil every 100 hours and filters every 50,but hey if it makes ya feel better go for it it can't hurt it.
These are Kubota's TLB/ construction models if ya want to mow you do what Rat did and get an L series, I sure wouldn't mind having a BX,or a small L for doing lightwork/mowing
Sure glad i didn't buy a case either......L48=versatility
_RaT_
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You do not need a 15 gallon container, just go to the filters first and drain out from those, then the lower plugs. There are a few times that you may need to screw a plug back in, but done quickly, you get very little fluid on your hands and it is so clean, it comes off very easy. I just use 5 gallon buckets.
kjbpe said:It appears that medium is just slow and high is underpowered after the responses. I did get the fluid and filters and when I find a 15 gallon containerI'll change them out and see what happens. Thanks for the responses.
RobertN
Super Member
kjbpe said:
Check you manual for location of strainers too. Some HST machines havew strainers on the hydraulic lines; these can get blocked up.
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LarryRB
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I hog mow with my 48 quite a bit, Just never thought about the actual speed I do it in. In my case, I cannot use the high range and always use medium.. Medium is not very fast, for sure.
_RaT_
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4.5 mph or about that is pedal to the metal full throttle. I found mowing with the L48 I only needed about 1900 RPM with no noticeable improvement in power and no difference in the cut. The fuel consumption went down, but the speed dropped to much. With my L3830, I cut at about 2200 RPM in medium. The L3830 does 7 mph at full throttle so I would say I am going about 4 to 5 mph at 2200 mph. After using the L48 for a few years to mow, yeah, my opinion is that medium is to slow even for loader work where your moving material any distance. I got pretty good at shifting from medium to high to move the load. I would suggest the L48 either have another range or bump medium range a couple of mph. It was a great dirt digging/ripping tractor.
Sully2 said:
I checked the speed in medium against a 200' tape and a stop watch. It was within 1/10th of a second of the published medium speed. I guess it's just my perception, but it's slow for loader work. Is it true that the L39 has about the same capacity/breakout forces as an L48? If so, it seems the L39 would be more versatile for small jobs. Oh yeah, I bought the oil SUDT and the three filters, WOW a $350 oil change! It makes me wonder if the guy who owned it before me actually changed the oil every 200hrs.
MessickFarmEqu
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_RaT_
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MessickFarmEqu said:
Neil, I cannot understand why high is so weak on the L48. As I mentioned, I would bet my L3830 HST with one less cylinder could pull the L48 in a tug of war with both in high range. There is no question the L48 could outpull most anything in medium including my L3830 in low where they both have close to the same speed. I have yet to try the L39, but I'm pretty sure the L48 will outpull it in any range but high. High is just so weak even though the top MPH for it is almost identical to my L3830. I don't get it. It needs a MH range for loader work or something like the NH where you can press a button to get to a different range. Medium speed of 4 mph is just to slow for many, many things.
monkeymonk
Silver Member
_RaT_ said:
I think we need an explanation from kubota on this one.
I agree with you High is weak Unless your on a total flat area just cruising.
Is that what its for? cruising to jobs or just back and forth from this to that on the flats?
I wouldn't trade or sell my 48 for nothing!
The L39 just doesn't have the weight or power. I liked the 39 I tested but not more than the 48.
For me Medium is just fine for loader work, its not like Iam in a loader marathon,take it slow with heay loads
Anyway someone (dealer/kubota) with the answer PLEASE chime in.Why is High so Weak?
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
I've talked to an engineer about it before, there is a mechanical reason for it. I can't really recall exactly what it is, but there is some kind of scaling problem with hydrostatic drives and the L48 is about the limit when it comes to size and weight for this kind of transmission. High is ment to be a travel speed, why they would not have just geared down just a bit lower - I don't know.
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LarryRB
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I agree, high is just for travel only, although I can rarely use it.. Too many hills here to be effective.,. It would be nice if medium was two or so miles per hour faster... As for loader work, and mine has done a lot of it. medium works fine. Again. not much level or near level in my neighborhood, so it works out well. Now that Neil has said it will be getting an upgrade sooner or later,,, I think Kubota and the other tractor mfg's have it figured about the time you pay off the machine, a new design conveniently works it way to the forefront.
