L2800 "standard" tractor - 3 point hitch videos

[Double Orange]

I had a 2003/4 L4300 When I purchased it Kubota refered to it as a Work Horse. Lots of power for the $$'s but no frills. No frills doesn't mean junk! I guess I was lucky, put 850 hrs. and not one bad thing to say about it or the dealer . Since then I've purchased three more Kubota's. BX 23TLB, B 3030 Cab and a RTV 1100. If I called my dealer and he blew me off ..I'd be standing on his desk. Gurantee he'd take time to talk to me now. Good Luck

 

[machmeter62]

I'll be going up to the "farm" this wk/ed and will try the "flow regulator". I have a 525 pound attachment that I have to unload from the trailer. The spray rig in the video is around 400 pounds and a bear to move. I will take video of the 525 pounds out on a 6 foot boom.

The reason for running the tractor at 2000 rpm is the dealer said "any time you move the tractor, run it at 2000 rpms to cool the oil" (I have a HST). I will also shoot video of the spray rig with the PTO at 1000 rpm's (If I remember correctly, it was WORST).

Since not many have replied, I might be the last one with the bad valve...

TEG: I agree with your feelings about the "inching valve" on the three point on the L2800/3400; instead of the infinite positioning one. Kubota is guilty of not revealing this on their brochure, and dealers don't mention this either?? They assume you may know already? I also think it has created a lot of hard feelings towards Kubotas marketing strategy? There has been many complaints on this forum, and Kubota has replaced the inifinite valve free!

 

[teg]

machmeter62, Yes Kubota has replaced many valves *early on* but it's a different story now. At first, the dealer will say that they never heard of anyone having the problem with the valve (but you get talking to the mechanic in the shop... after awhile they'll say that they HAVE changed a couple of these valves). Next they'll tell you that you have an "economical" tractor and that's the valve you get. After that doesn't work, the dealer will finally "look into it"... I was told that the dealership can not "OK" the replacement valve, the area rep is doing it on a case by case basis and he'll be here next month. I got busy and called him 2 months later, "oh, he never showed up"... something about he'll be by soon. (I guess they don't have phones in this town).

Another month goes by, finally given the same line "Economical tractor" from the "area rep" (I did not get to talk to him this is what the dealer said) but they (Kubota) would pay half for the valve ($150 of the $300) and the dealer would "help" me on the labor costs!!! (gee, thanks but no). So, from another dealer, I got the address to customer "service" (& I use that term loosely) and got no reply at all from my letter. I guess I should have sent it as a certified letter.

So I'm trying again before the warranty runs out next year with another dealer who said bring it in and I'll take a look at it. 60 miles away and I have to borrow a truck and trailer, but first I'm going to try what has been said above... but I'm pretty sure with the 1" valve, this tractor will be far from any STANDARD tractor that I know of.


Side rant: 16K for a tractor is NOT economical when I still can not afford a box blade of my own. The valve can not be used for grading (wasn't that one of the purpose of a tractor?)

 

[swmpbgy1]

I have a 525 pound attachment that I have to unload from the trailer. The spray rig in the video is around 400 pounds and a bear to move. I will take video of the 525 pounds out on a 6 foot boom.

Teg:

I must say......watching your videos really surprises me how bad your 3pt shudders. If I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it. Before I traded my BX2230, I pulled a 400lb brush hog with it. The 3pt was smooth as silk and the BX is about half the cost of your L series "standard" model.

What to do? What to do?

Swmpbgy1

 

[Goog]

That is how bad mine was before the valve was replaced. I was ready to return the tractor and get something different. This is my first tractor but I have been around them and used them for some time. When I first looked at the L2800/L3400 I never thought to ask if the 3pt. lift was useable or the joke that it was sent out as.
Kubota should be embarrased to still be selling tractors that act like that. It is stupid and not good for customer relations.
Don't put up with it. Good luck, Brian

 

[garren]

I bought mine in April of this year and it doesnt seem to have this problem. Did Kubota start putting good valves in the newer ones? I checked it yesterday with a 5' box blade after reading this thread. It seems smooth. RPM @ about 2000 with the adjustment knob under the seat about mid point ...how do I know for sure which valve I have?

 

[canoetrpr]

I had written a letter on a few things to Kubota. Specifically on the valve the Kubota service rep. again repeated the rhetoric about the "economy" tractor and how the original valve was normal and how they had provided me an "upgrade" only under goodwill.

Here is my response that I have sent out on this particular issue:

"On the issue of the 3PT valve; frankly I find it astonishing that you
or any one else at Kubota considers a 3PT valve that moves in 1 inch
increments and violently shakes the tractor as a result when any
implement is attached to it to be normal for any tractor, let alone
a brand new one in this day and age.

The service representative who came to examine the problem showed me
the service bulletin outlining the change to the valve from the older
Grand L series (L3010) tractor to new production models of the L3400.
He pointed out that the valve ought to be smoother than it worked.

I did not consider the original valve to have been normal, nor should
I have been expected to.

I should note that your statement that "The new valve they installed
was out of a higher class tractor at that time" seems inaccurate to me
based on the service bulletin I saw at the time since the L3010
tractor was an older model that the L3130 which was the current grand
L tractor at the time.

Yes he did point out that Kubota considered this an "upgrade" for
machines in the field and I continue to be find it astonishing that
Kubota continues assert that it is was ok to have such a substandard
3PT valve installed in the early models of the L3400 even after this
was changed in production.

Regardless, since I had pointed out this issue to the dealer at the
time of purchase, due diligence would suggest that the dealer or
Kubota point out to me prior to delivery that what I was asking for
was an "upgrade" that may or may not be considered under goodwill and
that I might want to consider a "non-economy" tractor. Since this was
not done, I expected the dealer to either have had this issue
addressed goodwill or not, prior to delivery, as I had pointed it
out when I test drove the tractor, or to have offered me the
opportunity to cancel the sale or to upgrade to one of the grand L
tractors prior to delivery.

Instead it was left to me to figure out that the problem of the 1
inching valve that I had pointed out prior to the sale was not
addressed. In one letter to the dealer soon after delivery I asked if
"any pre-delivery inspection had been performed on my tractor at all",
given the few issues I encountered.

You continued in your letter to point out to me that:

"Many people purchase the model L3400 tractor for the price, but
economy models do not have the features of the more expensive model"

It is my opinion that Kubota has been actively misleading its
customers in this regard. The sales brochures for the standard L and
the Grand L tractors point to the difference between features such as
a more comfortable seat, telescoping 3PT hitch, higher loader and 3PT
lift capacity, digital gauges etc.. Neither any of your current or
past sales literature nor did my dealings with the dealer at the time of
sale reveal a difference such as a 1 inching valve. If, as you
believe, this are normal for an "economy" tractor as you point out the
L3400 is, I would strongly encourage Kubota's sales team to be upfront
about this so that customers are well informed.

I am CCing <Kubota Regional Sales Manager> to
implore him to ask dealers, and the sales literature to better
represent the differences between the standard L and Grand L tractors
if obvious deficiencies like a 1 inching valve is considered to be
normal for this tractor. There are other models in the Kubota lineup
such as the B7800 whose sales brochures clearly point out that the
valve is inferior in more ways than lift capacity to the premium
B3030. Similar clarity would be appreciated by all purchasers of the
L3400 I am sure.

Frankly I am very disappointed that only once the customer has signed
the dotted line only then is he exposed to this rhetoric of the
standard L tractor being an "economy model" and that this relates to
lack of basic functionality like 3PT valve which does not violently
shake the tractor.

Since you monitor tractorbynet, you probably know that more than half
of the owners of L2800/L3400 experience cognitive dissonance post
purchase when they run into issues such as the 1 inching 3PT valve and
then are informed as you have informed me, that it is acceptable since
they have purchased an "economy model".

It appears that someone from Kubota's marketing team understands this,
which is why the tractors are referred to as the "standard L series"
rather than "economy". Their efforts are unfortunately in vain since
post purchase Kubota's service representatives, are very quick to
point out that the tractors are lacking basic functionality like a
smooth 3PT valve because they are the "economy model".

The issue of the sub-standard 3PT valve has gained a lot of negative
attention on tractorbynet as you probably know. As of the time of
this writing, one user of that forum advertises his/her displeasure by
appending the following to his signature on every post he/she makes:
__________________
my L2800 HST has a JERKY 3PH that's almost useless and a PTO that will
most likey BREAK if I use it with my roto-tiller. NO LONGER A PROUD
Kubota owner.

I would implore Kubota to give up the post sales rhetoric that the
standard L series tractor owners should accept a sub-standard 3PT
valve which violently shakes the tractor because it is an "economy"
model."

 

[Jw5875]

Since that you are north of the border, I don't know what you have as consumer protection laws. Here in U.S most states have such laws and it takes
some time etc. but usually gets satisfaction for the consumer after a complaint
is filed.

Perhaps you can get Legal advice, this valve ISSUE to me shows "SAFETY ISSUES" FOR kUBOTA TO ADDRESS!

Show the video on as many sites possible, perhaps "YOUTUBE" or whatever it is, it get's lots of viewing.

Good Luck and you have my support.



JW5875

 

[canoetrpr]

For the record, my valve was replaced soon after delivery. In my case I had pointed out the poor valve before I purchased the tractor - I knew to look for it because of TBN.

My recent communication with Kubota covered several topics, including most importantly the relationship with the dealer. The valve was brought up among other things that convinced me that the dealer lacked attention to detail.

The opinion of the person responding is that they have gone above and beyond what is required of them anyway by installing me an "upgrade" for the original valve given this is an economy tractor.

 

[GMtb42]

This 3PT problem may be why when I went to a Kubota dealer and asked about new tractors , they push the L4400 now .
Make a DVD and send it to Cooperate and see if it does any good .
My wife and I are going to make one (DVD) titled "How to make a Milk Shake with a 3 Point Hitch on a Kubota tractor" .