Loader dvice for a long-time lurker, first time poster?

[davesalisbury]

Hi all-

First, thanks kindly for the insights that the group has collectively posted - a lot of my decisions were made easier as a result. Here's a question that I didn't find anywhere, although I may have missed.

I'm looking to get a FEL for my Kubota BX2230. The local Kubota dealer also sells Woods and Bush-Hog. He's got two Woods 1005 in stock; the Woods (includes grille guard - Kubota is extra) is a little cheaper - looking at something like $3000 (could be lower if labor doesn't take as long) installed with pickup/delivery and demo at my house. The pricing differences are negligible, really.

Here's the data I have (followed by my question). Woods 1005 has (very) slightly higher lift capacity (10 lb more at full height-bucket center), slightly lower breakout at bucket edge (870 v 950). The Kubota has a 3-position valve that stays with the loader (as opposed to a 2-position valve on the Woods). The Woods looks a little stronger when I've seen the two on machines.

Any opinions (fact-based preferred) as to which would be best loader? What about the differences between the valves? Opinions appreciated asap. Would love to hear from Messicks - I've bought blades via the web from you in the past but am WAY too far away for something this big.

Thanks all in advance.

 

[teg]

a knee jerk reaction is both would work just as well and the slight differences would not be noticed.... "The pricing differences are negligible" I would say the same with quality of these named brands. Just my 0.02 cents.

 

[WayneB]

I guess if it was me I would stick with the Kubota FEL, just to keep it with the same brand as the tractor. But, with that said when it came time for me to buy a snowblower I ended up buying a Woods and I am extremely happy with it.

You might be better off working with the dealer and getting the best price you can get. As for the lift limits all I can say is I hardly ever go above the safe load weight on my loader. Using it around the home isn't really putting it to the commercial world test and I have time to get things moved around.

Wayne

 

[bx23barry]

I have the kabota fel with 4 way (really 5 way; bucket up/down/float/dump/curl) valve. The valving would be the "decider" for me. I use down pressure on both funtions. Three way would be useable (bucket up/down and curl) I wouldn't even think about a two way (bucket lift and curl) system.

 

[workinallthetime]

definatly go with the bota unit just due to the valve, you will regret it later on, with a small bucket you are all about time as i am usually dumping curling and backing up at the same time. we had a old massy 175 with a 2 way valve and when moving alot of material in a close area the time it took made you wait on the bucket to get where you needed it. didnt like it at all

hey bxberry whats a "Brinly BST-50 broadcaster" is that for seeds and fertilizer?

 

[jmc]

I'm not familiar with that series of tractor so just a couple of general comments:

Get more info on what a "2 position" or "3 position" valve actually does. I don't think those terms really tell the story.

I've heard that resale value is higher on a tractor with a brand matching loader. Later, it did come up on my Ford tractor with a Dual loader when I was selling it.

Compare how easy it is to remove both loaders if you ever intend to, such as when mowing around obstacles. My Kubota loader on an L4330 is thoughtfully designed in that regard.

John

 

[davesalisbury]

Hi all-

Thanks for the helpful input - between your input and discussing with my dealer (and 2-3 others I've dealt with on other occasions), I think I have greater clarity and a course of action. Of course, while the input was great, some things came up just today that changed some of the decision parameters. Apologies for length.

My original bias was towards the Woods 1005. It looked heavier (and it is actually) than the Kubota LA211. Then I read about the 2/3/4 position valve and wanted to make sure that I was comparing apples to apples (similar capabilities, similar prices). At one point yesterday I was almost certain that I was going with the Kubota. I made my earlier inquiry to the group and phone calls to a couple of dealers who sell both Kubota and Woods implements. One of these dealers validated my belief that if it's the same price it's a no-brainer (go Kubota); if it's a 400-500 dollar difference Woods becomes much more compelling.

At first, the pricing was going to be $3K installed for the Woods and $3150 or so for the Kubota (the Woods includes the brush guard; it's an extra cost option on the Kubota). Still, $150 isn't that big a difference, so I was leaning toward Kubota.

Today, as to the valves, I found out that Woods refers to theirs as a "dual function", but it does lower/curl/raise/dump and has float (in other words, like the Kubota). The Woods is designed to work with the MMM and is easy on-easy-off as well. The loader control stays with the tractor. One concern about the differences removed, leaning back toward Woods.

My patient dealer also answered questions and looked up information for me. After one of his inquiries to the Woods field rep (wherein the discussion of the various positons of valves came into play), the rep told him to drop the price of the Woods by $250 to help make the decision easier. Hence, we hit the $400 difference ($2750 for Woods, $3150 for Kubota - plus tax). Leaning further toward Woods.

For either one the dealer will pick up, return and demo the unit at my house.

I'm still going to make one last trip in to talk face to face and make sure we're all on the same page, but it (for now) looks like I'll be getting the Woods after all.

While I probably won't end up taking the majority opinion on this matter, the change in price coupled with the great advice from the forum about what things to look for and what questions to ask made things work out pretty well. Thanks to everybody for all your help.

I'll keep the forum apprised as I start using the loader (even if I "flip-flop" back to Kubota before actually closing the deal).

 

[bx23barry]

<hey bxberry whats a "Brinly BST-50 broadcaster" is that for seeds and fertilizer?>

Exactly. It's a little plastic tow behind ground operated broadcaster that holds about 50#. Got it at a Monkey Wards outlet store maybe 10 years ago for around $25. I usually just tow it behind the riding mower. More than enough for all the seeding/fertilizing I do on my three little pastures/paddocks.

 

[shaley]

You'll like the Woods unit. They stand behind there products and know how to design and build professional equipment. They own Gannon, TISCO and a host of other companies. I have a '91 Woods FEL and a '99 Backhoe on my Ford and have been very pleased.

 

[davesalisbury]

Hi all-

My tractor (Kubota BX2230) was returned yesterday with a Woods loader attached. A happy event. Shaley was right. The loader lifts strong, and it was pretty easy to knock the rust off the operator (I hadn't used a loader since working construction 20 years ago). The loader so far has been rather useful for some light digging and moving brush piles around.

Of course, challenges always arise, even with happy stuff. Here's the problem. Late today, I lowered the 3-point for the first time since getting the tractor back yesterday, and it won't come back up. The loader is working fine.

I tried a few things thinking that the cause was the loader calling for pressure. I played with the loader control to make sure it was centered. I set the bucket to float. I tried disconnecting the loader's hoses. No joy. The MMM linkage (which is integrated with the 3-point) won't lift either. I checked the hydraulic fluid - full and clean-looking.

That the 3-point was holding in the up position until I lowered it makes me think that a linkage got broken (maybe disconnected during the FEL install?) and the command to the 3-point to lift isn't getting through. I checked for this and can't find anything wrong. The handle feels a little different, but I think this is a function of no resistance from the hydraulics.

Obviously I'll be calling the dealer who installed it Monday, but everything they did to the hydraulic pump looks right; just like the picture in the Kubota manual (although the loader is a Woods).

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[dqdave1]

Sounds like they plumbed something wrong or diverter valve is set incorrectly.

 

[MarkV]

Does the BX have a 3pt speed control that may have been set to the lock position for some reason? The control knob is normally right below the seat in the center.

MarkV

 

[davesalisbury]

Does the BX have a 3pt speed control that may have been set to the lock position for some reason? The control knob is normally right below the seat in the center.

MarkV

Hi all-

I hadn't done anything with the knob lately, but just to check I ran the knob (viewed from a position in front of the operator seat facing toward the back of the tractor) from all the way left (fast) to almost all the way right (slow) and all the way left (locked) and tried cycling the 3-pt all three ways at a fast idle (enough to make the FEL lift at normal speed). No luck.

 

[davesalisbury]

Hi all-

It got wierd then it got fixed. Those who've been following the saga knew that after my Woods FEL (for a Kubota BX2230) was delivered, the loader worked fine but the 3-point hitch was disabled for some strange reason. Things were tried and the dealer rep came out to look (but couldn't find anything obvious at the time - of course we were looking at the linkage and the block attachment to the hydraulics). Since the loader was working we figured they could take it in late this week/early next (I'm off this week) and I could use the loader this week.

And then it got wierd. Day before yesterday, the bucket wouldn't curl (but now the 3-point arms were rising). Then, the bucket would curl but the arms wouldn't lower with pressure (and again the 3-point arms were lifted). The dealer came yesterday morning to get it and check it out. The problem was hiding in plain sight - the installer had gotten the lines mixed up and apparently crossed the PBY and power lines to the valve. No less than three people (original mech, the dealer rep and myself) missed it. Oops. In retrospect, that the loader was working at all seems implausible, but there we go.

FYI, the dealer came to my house, picked up the tractor, corrected the problem and returned the tractor back to my house between 930AM and 3PM (same day - yesterday).

The moral (to me) of the story is that even when folks are careful, dumb things sometimes happen. The test to me is how willing they are to correct the problem rapidly. Given the wierd stuff I was telling them, some dealers would've disbelieved me and put me on a back burner. This dealer has been nothing but helpful and willing to make things right as soon as possible.

Thanks to all who offered advice - I've been using the Woods 1005 for a few days now to move brush around and do light digging. A very nice unit with which I am well and truly pleased (especially now that the hydraulics are correctly run).