3-Point Hitch Need advice for 3PT float position on Kubota B7100 HST

[Wilburn Cox]

I have read many articles on float positions of 3 PT hitches and all are enlightening. I have a Kubota
B7100 HST. When using box blade to move soil or level areas I continually leave piles of soil when the tractor moves upward even slightly. most of my 4 acres is pretty level but I need to further level off some spots.
I understand there is no down pressure on almost all 3 PTS. My tractor is a 1994 model and when I contacted the dealership where I purchased it, they said there was no float position..
From all the posts I have read I find this hard to believe.. All posts say the lowest point on the 3 PT is always a float position. Can someone with experience on a Kubota B7100 please help me out.
All suggestions will be considered and much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Red Cox

 

[Egon]

Trust your Dealership. There is no float position as such.

 

[284 International]

Your three point lift is, in a way, constantly in float until it maxes out the upward travel of the lift piston. Traditionally the term "float" is used for hydraulic cylinders that are dual acting; the lift cylinder on your tractor is only a single acting cylinder. If there is no implement on the lift, irrespective of the position control lever, you can lift the arms from wherever they rest to the top of their upward travel. The position control lever controls how far DOWN the implement can go; upward travel is limited by the mechanical aspects of the lift.

If your lift control is fully down, but going over a bump causes the box blade to lift, your box blade may already be operating close to its lower limit of travel. When the back tires rise, the implement doesn't have sufficient down travel to make up the difference, and the implement will also rise, leaving the pile of the soil. Moving the attachment point of the pins on the implement may be an option.

If your box blade has sufficient down travel, you may just need to get better practiced at quickly lowering the position control lever as the back tires go over a bump, to let the implement stay in contact with the ground.

 

[Egon]

Good luck with using the control lever to regulate height on the move.

 

[284 International]

Good luck with using the control lever to regulate height on the move.

I agree; I should have put an emoticon in there.

 

[Tul01]

Red, what I have found is going forward trying to adjust the height of the blade to account for the oscilation(sp?) of the blade due to the tires going up and down is next to impossible once you get close to your final finish. What I've found for me works the quickest is going backwards, allowing the blade to meter a level area for your tires to travel on as you go, reducing the up and down of the tractor. Typically going forward to pull/move the majority of material, get it close and then cleaning up the dirt in reverse.

Brent

 

[/pine]

Try opening the 3PH drop rate valve (usually in front of the seat)...it may help the attachment to follow the grade better...

 

[s219]

If you drop the 3-pt all the way down, the box blade will be floating except in cases where there is a real undulation in the ground and you bottom out the 3-pt mechanism. It would have to be quite an undulation. I run my box in float almost exclusively, and it pretty much hugs the ground all the time.

I disagree with the dealer. Because they provide no downforce, a 3-pt will in fact have a float function when dropped all the way down. Whether or not the implement is always in contact with the ground is another thing, and depends on many other factors.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

Good luck with using the control lever to regulate height on the move.

Thanks Egon. Appreciate it.
Red Cox

 

[Wilburn Cox]

Thanks Slash Pine, I'm familiar with the drop rate valve and will give this a try.
Have a great year.
Red Cox