The underside of my newer Kubota

[Dennis Mohn]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of some kind of skid pan for a L 3301. I just posted a post to a thread here talking about hauling tractors to the shop. I just went out to do some bush hogging and when I stepped up on the tractor, I noticed oil dripping under the tractor. After looking closer I see every line that goes to the Hst filter bracket along with the line that goes into the transmission is leaking. I'm thinking that while I was bush hogging last time something must have gotten up there and pushed on those lines. None of the lines look bent up or shows any signs of damage but they are all leaking.
I have always been careful when working with the tractor because all those filter brackets and other parts are right out there wide open just asking to get broken off. I love my tractor don't get me wrong I'm just wondering why they would mount something so fragile right out there in the open like that. Looking at it there are a lot of other stuff under there that is vulnerable to the elements also. If nothing is available, I guess I could fab up some brackets to cover the worst places.

After you get the leaks addressed , I'd go to my local metal shop and have them fab a skid plate for me.

 

[Sid Post]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of some kind of skid pan for a L 3301. I just posted a post to a thread here talking about hauling tractors to the shop. I just went out to do some bush hogging and when I stepped up on the tractor, I noticed oil dripping under the tractor. After looking closer I see every line that goes to the Hst filter bracket along with the line that goes into the transmission is leaking. I'm thinking that while I was bush hogging last time something must have gotten up there and pushed on those lines. None of the lines look bent up or shows any signs of damage but they are all leaking.
I have always been careful when working with the tractor because all those filter brackets and other parts are right out there wide open just asking to get broken off. I love my tractor don't get me wrong I'm just wondering why they would mount something so fragile right out there in the open like that. Looking at it there are a lot of other stuff under there that is vulnerable to the elements also. If nothing is available, I guess I could fab up some brackets to cover the worst places.

Depending on how rough the mowing is, a local welding shop can build some guards to protect vulnerable parts.

 

[mx842]

After you get the leaks addressed , I'd go to my local metal shop and have them fab a skid plate for me.

I have pretty much anything I need to fab something up. I don't have a brake that can bend 1/4" medal but I can weld. It will just take a little thought.
Tacticalturnip posted a link on the first page of a place that sells guards for these lines and the ones on the other side as well. I think the one for the HST filter bracket was $140. The one for the other side is considerably more around $400+. It's hard to see from their pics just what is involved.

 

[mx842]

mx842, if you do end up wanting to make a skid plate, I may be able to help with that. I am in Powhatan, near the L&C dealer. Just let me know.

Chris

Thanks Chris, I can probably handle it but other ideas are always helpful.

 

[mx842]

Well, I have an update. Justin my Kubota guy came by yesterday and tried to get it back together but had no luck. I think when I tried the other day, I did more harm than good. when I first looked at it all the little flanges that hold the lines in place were sitting flat. But I got a little rough trying to work around all the other stuff that is in the way, and I must have put it out of whack more. He took it off and tried to straighten it out twice but never could get it to stop leaking.
I have Kubota's insurance, and we are going to let them take care of it. He's going the replace both lines and the filter bracket plus probably a couple other things and it should be as good as new.
That $2700.00 I spent on that insurance plan was the best investment I ever made. I would highly recommend anyone getting that plan if buying a new tractor. They did one $7000 claim, and this could probably end up being $2000+ before it's over. Plus, it's going to save me a couple hundred more because I'm getting him to do my 400 hr service while he's here. They will have to pick up most of the fluid and filter charges plus they are paying the road trip charge. The trip charge alone will cover my $250.00 deductible I have to pay the insurance co.

 

[mx842]

Depending on how rough the mowing is, a local welding shop can build some guards to protect vulnerable parts.

I was in some pretty rough stuff. Not all that bad but it was so thick it is hard to see what is going on everywhere. I had already figured out that when backing up is the most possibility of screwing stuff up. When pushing through taller stuff there were a few gum trees about 1 to 1 1/2" thick and the front bucket would sometimes cut them off rather than push them over. They would pop up before the bush hog could chop them up and it is possible for one to get tangled up in anything that happens to be in the way. I thought I was seeing pretty much everything that was going on but that's what I get for thinking, and of course my seeing isn't as good as it once was. Then, add to that it was so dusty in there that at times I had to stop and let the dust settle before proceeding. I would have to go back to the clubhouse to where there is a water hose to clean out the radiator grill several times because I noticed the temp gage rising some. I'm probably lucky I didn't mess something else up.

 

[wooftank]

Looks like you will have to fab your own

 

[Onecountry]

Good luck on fabing your own. Had a similar problem on my IH while brush hogging. Metal fuel line goes from one tank on fender to tank on other fender across the back, above the pto. Something evidently came out the front and cracked/split the line. Replaced with rubber fuel line.

 

[deezler]

That $2700.00 I spent on that insurance plan was the best investment I ever made. I would highly recommend anyone getting that plan if buying a new tractor. They did one $7000 claim, and this could probably end up being $2000+ before it's over. Plus, it's going to save me a couple hundred more because I'm getting him to do my 400 hr service while he's here. They will have to pick up most of the fluid and filter charges plus they are paying the road trip charge. The trip charge alone will cover my $250.00 deductible I have to pay the insurance co.

Dang. Glad you are getting things covered and this is working out for you, but it's simultaneously a pretty terrible piece of feedback on Kubota durability/reliability.

Does kind of confirm my thoughts that the Kubota L series is really meant to be a homeowner or hobby farmer machine, not for construction of land-clearing.
Or the BX stuff with the plastic fans exposed underneath, yikes.

 

[CapTru]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of some kind of skid pan for a L 3301. I just posted a post to a thread here talking about hauling tractors to the shop. I just went out to do some bush hogging and when I stepped up on the tractor, I noticed oil dripping under the tractor. After looking closer I see every line that goes to the Hst filter bracket along with the line that goes into the transmission is leaking. I'm thinking that while I was bush hogging last time something must have gotten up there and pushed on those lines. None of the lines look bent up or shows any signs of damage but they are all leaking.
I have always been careful when working with the tractor because all those filter brackets and other parts are right out there wide open just asking to get broken off. I love my tractor don't get me wrong I'm just wondering why they would mount something so fragile right out there in the open like that. Looking at it there are a lot of other stuff under there that is vulnerable to the elements also. If nothing is available, I guess I could fab up some brackets to cover the worst places.

I had a leak experience with a stainless-steel line on my FEL. Whoever worked on the line previously did not have it properly aligned and is scored the surface of the end flare. I replaced with a new line. I believe great care must be taken in re-connecting and torquing this type of connection by lubing the ends before connecting and wiggling the line for good seating and alignment once contact is made with the surfaces of the flared end onto the male end. Don't let the ends become cocked at an angle inside the nut. When taking up slack, wiggle the connection after ever quarter turn, so the flare settles onto the full surface of the male end of the assembly. As someone else mentioned, don't try connecting the line if it fights being properly aligned without resistance.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I just did quite a bit of damage to my TYM T474 hitting a old style t-post that was rusty in 6' brown canada thistle down slope. ONLY pokey weeds, got stuck as I tried to get tractor out of there. Kinked some oil hardlines and wiring, plus pedestal HST pedals mounted to.

 

[Michiganguy]

Dang. Glad you are getting things covered and this is working out for you, but it's simultaneously a pretty terrible piece of feedback on Kubota durability/reliability.

Does kind of confirm my thoughts that the Kubota L series is really meant to be a homeowner or hobby farmer machine, not for construction of land-clearing.
Or the BX stuff with the plastic fans exposed underneath, yikes.

I think a lot of folks use their tractors for things they are not really designed for, myself included.
Tractors as a whole are generally not designed for land clearing. I would think a better choice would be a skid steer.
The sad part is a lot of the manufacturers sell attachments like grapples and heavy duty brush cutters for these tractors but don’t equip the tractors for the conditions the tractor may be running in using such attachments.
It would be nice if the manufacturers would at least offer skid plates as an add on option although I can imagine they would be pricey. However I’m sure they would be able to sell quite a few with the way folks use their tractors nowadays.

 

[Notforhire]

I think a lot of folks use their tractors for things they are not really designed for, myself included.
Tractors as a whole are generally not designed for land clearing. I would think a better choice would be a skid steer.
The sad part is a lot of the manufacturers sell attachments like grapples and heavy duty brush cutters for these tractors but don’t equip the tractors for the conditions the tractor may be running in using such attachments.
It would be nice if the manufacturers would at least offer skid plates as an add on option although I can imagine they would be pricey. However I’m sure they would be able to sell quite a few with the way folks use their tractors nowadays.

You make a good point, but....
While driving my L47 across my son's lawn, I ran over a stick that was 1/2 - 3/4 in. dia. and about five feet long. A front wheel must have flipped it up and it became tangled in some exposed wiring along the frame. Fortunately I stopped before any damage was done.

I suspect that Kubota designed this backhoe to be used only on stick free pavement in good weather.

I definitely need a skid plate and I do think Kubota should have provided something to protect the wiring.

 

[mx842]

I think a lot of folks use their tractors for things they are not really designed for, myself included.
Tractors as a whole are generally not designed for land clearing. I would think a better choice would be a skid steer.
The sad part is a lot of the manufacturers sell attachments like grapples and heavy duty brush cutters for these tractors but don’t equip the tractors for the conditions the tractor may be running in using such attachments.
It would be nice if the manufacturers would at least offer skid plates as an add on option although I can imagine they would be pricey. However I’m sure they would be able to sell quite a few with the way folks use their tractors nowadays.

HeHeHe......probably so but I bought this tractor to use for what needs to be done not for it to just sit in the shed with me washing and waxing it each day. I've been running heavy equipment long enough to realize the weak points of the machine I'm running, but as you said there are limits. At what these things cost now days you would think you could use them. I bought a Case 1150 B track loader back in the 70's brand new. This tractor cost me more than I paid for that loader but even that tractor had limits. It was bad ass though.

 

[hayden]

It's definitely frustrating how unprotected tractor underbellies are. I have had an electrical connector ripped off, and a branch poked a hole in the hydraulic suction line for my hydraulic pump. That one was a doozy because it didn't leak at all, but when running it would suck in air. My steering started getting wonky, but it still took a while before I figured out what was going on.

Construction equipment, on the other hand, is all armor plated. You have to drop plates to work on some stuff, but it's all very well protected.

 

[Sportsman762]

The older tractors had a lot less to damage with internal hydraulic filters and minimal exposed lines. New tractors are so soft underneath with dangling wires, lightly protected fuel lines, and all the filters hanging out. It is surprising how the OEM's don't event try to guard stuff.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

After pulling countless sticks wedged in various places underneath tractor from brush hogging, I will try to only mow down saplings in reverse. I've had to use a saw to get some out.

 

[Spanner]

The older tractors had a lot less to damage with internal hydraulic filters and minimal exposed lines. New tractors are so soft underneath with dangling wires, lightly protected fuel lines, and all the filters hanging out. It is surprising how the OEM's don't event try to guard stuff.

I concur.

 

[Notforhire]

Construction equipment, on the other hand, is all armor plated. You have to drop plates to work on some stuff, but it's all very well protected.

I guess we'll have to say, most construction equipment.
Kubota considers the L47-TLB to be construction equipment. It is no better protected than a 4701 and has about 3 in. less ground clearance.