New tractor mods

[paulwestski]

Thanks, guys.

Paul - I put in a diverter. I have read complaints here about the Kubota 3rd function that has had some problems with durability, so I stayed away from it. I put a diverter on my previous tractor, so I knew what needed to be done, just needed to get the right parts, at a better price than last time, which I did. I was quite satisfied with how the diverter worked last time around, so I just did it all again. It was a little harder on the L40 than the L30, but nothing too major.

Now just waiting for the Top and Tilt to come in...hopefully soon...

Can you please do me a favor and measure the length of the hoses from the diverter to the front of the loader boom?
And perhaps take a couple of photos of the diverter hose to the loader valve quick disconnects.

It looks like the only new hoses that you needed would be diverter to front of loader boom and diverter to loader valve quick disconnects.

Thanks
Paul

 

[dstig1]

They were about 6', but the exact measurement won't really help you. Every install like this is a bit unique. The way I did this was the only good way to ensure the correct length hoses, IMHO. I had them crimp the one end on (end by the operator station) and then give me the other end and leave the hose long. Then I put it in place and measure and mark. In this case I also needed to mark the orientation of the other fitting as they were 90deg on both ends, so you need to get the phase right to avoid twist. Then bring then back for final cut and crimp. A bit of a pain, but worth it in the long run.

The way I set it up, I re-routed the hoses that connected the QD to the hard lines, so the former hard line connector was in the diverter (used an adapter fitting). Then I made new hoses for Diverter to hard lines, and for Diverter to the 3rd function QDs. not perfect, but seemed the best way to work it without spending a fortune. The QDs are attached to NPT fittings, and those are not the easiest to incorporate into plumbed lines with fixed connection points. That was why I left it the way I did.

 

[paulwestski]

They were about 6', but the exact measurement won't really help you. Every install like this is a bit unique. The way I did this was the only good way to ensure the correct length hoses, IMHO. I had them crimp the one end on (end by the operator station) and then give me the other end and leave the hose long. Then I put it in place and measure and mark. In this case I also needed to mark the orientation of the other fitting as they were 90deg on both ends, so you need to get the phase right to avoid twist. Then bring then back for final cut and crimp. A bit of a pain, but worth it in the long run.

The way I set it up, I re-routed the hoses that connected the QD to the hard lines, so the former hard line connector was in the diverter (used an adapter fitting). Then I made new hoses for Diverter to hard lines, and for Diverter to the 3rd function QDs. not perfect, but seemed the best way to work it without spending a fortune. The QDs are attached to NPT fittings, and those are not the easiest to incorporate into plumbed lines with fixed connection points. That was why I left it the way I did.

Thanks Dave
Paul

 

[Zebrafive]

Very professional looking job. Especially the way you phased the hoses.
Next time you need just one large or hard to find drill size, you might have a machine shop do the work for minimum cost. Verses buying a drill bit you may never use again.

 

[dstig1]

Thanks. Yeah, I considered bringing it into work and asking the guys in the shop to do it, but once I realized I wanted to lower the handle a bit, making it out of 1/2" rod seemed like the perfect solution for both issues...and it worked out quite good.

 

[Birdhunter1]

This is an incredibly good addition and very under rated/ not understood how important this is. A coworker of mine was killed a few years ago while brush hogging. When he backed into a corner of the field, he mowed over a downed fence post and a fence staple became a fatal projectile.....such a simple thing left a wife and young daughters without a husband and beloved father.

Would this have been Tom Q? I knew him too, tragic event that day.

 

[dstig1]

I used the receiver for the first time the other day and found it is quite a bit higher than I would like. I was using my biggest drop drawbar, which is 4", and I could not get it under the trailer hitch without raising the trailer way up. Even then I had to kind of force it under there. I had seen so many people do these bucket receivers on TBN, I wasn't expecting this issue that much. Any good suggestions? All I can think of is finding a much larger drop drawbar. I see eTrailer has them down to 12" drop. I could even just make one as this isn't a real critical item - only for moving trailers around the yard.

 

[bandaidmd]

Bend a bracket for your ball up 90 degrees so the top of the ball is staring at you while seated, then its easy to tip your bucket/ball all the way to ground level and still keep it visible.