*UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6' RFM

[toddis]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

I've got about 25 hours on my L2800 w/hydro and its just an absolute creampuff... of course, I'm just using a 5' bushhog, but I got it set about a 2" cut.

High speed - forget it
Medium speed - depends on terrain, I think I need my fillings replaced.
Low speed - just right, even with the pedal to the medal.

On hilly terrain, I've done things with that hydro I can't even think of doing with a gear drive...and amazingly I've existed for the last 8 years with an old fashioned gear drive BJ Weld kept together hunk of junk until the tranny gave out.
Almost got a NH tc30, except the dealer just didn't seem very interested in my business.

I'm very interested in a finish mower as well and I suspect I will go with a 5 footer since it does so well with the other 5' implements I have now.

BTW, I'm sorta lazy n' usually let the unimproved pasture go for a month at a time before I mow...stuff was well over the hood of the tractor and it still cuts like a champ. Glad I chose the Kubota afterall!

 

[bota3400]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

First off Jerry & Bob,
I appreciate your help and honesty thinking it is operator error. BUT, this is not the case because the dealer himself and the head mechanic ended up at the house this evening with the 6' RFM with them and they both tried out the tractor with the 5' & 6' RFM's and it is just a problem with my unit. We are fortuante that the Kubota plant is only 1 hr from us in N Ga. so the Kubota rep is going to have the tractor put on the dynometer to really see what kind of hp is being put out to the PTO. Anyway, my dealer being great as they are and wanting to give 100% satisfaction, agreed to that the larger tractor-L3400 is deffinitely going to be the replacement.
I realize that I am new to HST but not to tractors. The 2000 year model L3000F gear drive with 27.5 PTO HP pulled the 6'RFM in anything that I threw at it and NEVER even considered to bog down. Keep in mind that this was in 3rd gear HIGH almost 90% of it's use! This gear is very close to top speed in Medium with the HST. I hope folks here realize that there are lemons in tractors just like vehicles have. They are problems that modern assembly in a fast paced environment can cause. My thing is this, I can't see paying 13K and can't do what ever I want to with it. My old L3000F was only 10k and never gave me any reason to dislike it. I only wanted to upgrade to the 4wd and the HST with the option of an FEL.
As for using the HST pedal and putting it to the floor, I had bogging problems at 1/2 pedal and less in low grass. It would die all out if I even tried "Pedal to the Metal" and kill the engine. I know that you let off when it starts to bog but, the point is again, I never had to before with the old tractor and am not going to with a new one. I love KUBOTA tractors obviously since this is my 3rd one and am not letting this keep me from getting another one. I just ended up with a problem unit of some sort and am gun shy with this unit. Best thing is just go with another one and turn the page and close this chapter. I am ready to get some grass cut! I really appreciate everyones advice. Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JerryG]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

I don't mean to sound mean or anything like that, but a hydro is a different beast all together. I hope that they find that there is something wrong with your tractor and you let us know what it was and that they can get it back to you fixed, but I am afraid that you might as well go ahead and get a gear model.

 

[bota3400]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

Jerry, no sweat man. I didn't want to have folks thinking that I am total newbie to the tractor world. I understand what you are saying about it being 2 totally different beasts. My thing is this though, Since the HST tractors are made out to be so wonderful, then they need to do the work better than their lower cost gear drive brothers. It is a flat shame to expect someone to pay an extra 1,500.00 to get less capabilities while touting the fact that the HST is so great to use.
I thouroughly understand from the start that you sacrifice some HP from the HST system itself just like an automatic vehicle does but, if the L2800 can't do the work this easy, then the L3400 should be the first model available in this size/series with HST. They should have offered the L2800 with gear drive only and then the HST from the L3400 up. Now this would not even be considered with the B models due to their smaller overall size/weight. I have a friend with a B7800 HST that pulls a 5' RFM like nothings behind it. Keep in mind that his tractor is almost half the size of mine with close to the same HP.
So I guess it's like trucks, you can get a V6 in a fullsize truck but, it really makes it useless in comparrison to a the big v8 or diesel engines when heavy work comes to hand. That's why they tell you up front in the brochures that the larger 3/4 & 1 ton trucks are the real workhorses. I know this is like comparing apples to oranges but, it is on the same principals. Whereas you can test drive vehicles, you can't hardly take a brand new tractor and bush hog, use the FEL and other tasks before you buy them because they would get hours on them and get scratched etc. All
you have to go on is what you read and others tell you as far as capabilities.
I could go on and on but, again I really appreciate everyone's advice. I will post pics of my new L3400 next weekend when she arrives. Thanks again everyone,AL /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rbargeron]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

Hi Al - I posted on your other thread - I think you are doing the right thing to get more power to drive the 72" rfm.

Regarding lower-than-expected power from your L2800, my Kubota L345DT didn't make any black smoke under full load - until I discovered that the full-fuel stop screw on the end of the pump was not set to allow full fuel. The seal cap was still undisturbed so it had been that way since new. After some adjustment the engine made more power - and would make a small amount of visible black smoke as it got up to full load at mid-to-high rpm. There was maybe a 10% increase in power - not a lot but it definitely made the difference in some situations.
You may be spot on in thinking your particular L2800 is not performing up to its full design potential. Of course all of this will be moot once you have the L3400 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[schole]

Re: *UPDATE* L2800 HST 4wd problem pulling 6\' RFM

I went with the L3400DT for many of the issues discussed in this thread. I needed absolutely every possible hp for the money and the gear model was definitely the only way to go. Even if the HST only uses 3hp, that's a nearly 10% hp drop in an already fairly small machine (don't push my math beyond this /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

There are often comments on TBN comparing HST to the 'older' gear models. Not a fair comparison I think.

I hope you find tractor bliss very soon.

Shawn