Pulling the Kubota apart

[LMichaels]

Well, got back from a machine pickup in Delavan WI this PM, had a bite of lunch and got to work on the Kubota. I want to get the whole rear sheet metal assembly off. Oh boy this is a project. My goal is to straight it out a little, (PO backed into something and bent it), thorough cleaning, sand, repaint, get the main driveshaft out and replace the hydro cooling fan (blade broken off), thinking I might want to replace all the rubber fuel lines (will inspect and decide), repair/replace the linkage to the hydro so that I can get reverse working better. I think the PO messed around with the linkage because it goes WAY faster in forward than I think it should. I'd estimate close to 20mph and can barely get out of it's own way in reverse. Plus the linkage is all sloppy. Anyway I will update as I go along in case there is any interest. I know it's not a grill but still my pet project

 

[Rich G]

Whoops, Freudian slip......I read Kurobuta, and was expecting a lovely pulled pork cook!

Looks like a "fun" project? I know nothing about tractors, so.....

R

 

[C Lewis]

Looks like a fun job Larry.

I Just spring prepped my Husqvarna ZT yesterday. Changed out the Gator blades and sharpened, changed the oil and filter, cleaned the air filter, top off the tires, cleaned the underside of the deck, and changed the transaxle filters and fluid. Only hitch was that the genius that designed this one put the right side vent plug behind the frame mount, no way of getting it off without disassembling the frame and motor. I slow poured and let it sit overnight, took what it was supposed to, looks like all of the air is out, and the capacity looks full. Took it for a spin earlier and it did very well.

I drove a Kubota front cut years ago when I part time landscaped on the weekends. Loved that mower, would turn on a dime and you could put that front deck up under anything. Lasted forever too.

 

[Bruno]

Whoops, Freudian slip......I read Kurobuta, and was expecting a lovely pulled pork cook!

Looks like a "fun" project? I know nothing about tractors, so.....

R

Swear to god I thought it was gonna be fancy pulled pork.

 

[Scott Smith]

I have a Husqvarna 48" riding mower that I bought from my church last year for $200 after they fired me and hired a lawn/plowing contractor (I am a part-time employee who helps out when they need help with stuff like that). They have something like 10 acres to mow and they chose poorly buying a residential lawn tractor.

I haven't taking it out of the shed yet. All I think it needs is a spindle, a blade sharpening, tire pressure, blade levelling, a battery, and an oil/filter change.

I am interested in your Kubota's progress, even if it isn't a grill.

 

[LMichaels]

Well some more pics. Boy my old body is hurting. Dragging that mower deck out is a royal PIA. Weighs like 480lbs on it's own. Now it's doing lots of cleaning, gotta figure out why the go pedal linkage is so sloppy. (though I think I may have hit on it). But, if it is what I think it may be I'm in for a bit of "work". I bought a motorcycle jack last year and it really makes things so much easier BTW. It's the perfect width to fit the frame rails and lift it perfectly even Impossible to do with a normal trolley jack.
So, linkage work, mower maintenance and adjustment, (set/calibrate cut height, change bevel gear box lube, lube drive shaft to mower and sharpen blades), straighten out rear fender pan, paint it, reinstall, remove upper hood, sand down and repaint, add wiring for pull behind sprayer, along with switching, add in extra lighting (looking at LED light bar for front) and add rear LED marker lights. (sometimes in and spring I am out along side the street doing some later mowing and like to see and be seen).
Oh, and re-shim front axle to tighten up steering. May also put some new front tires on as well and front wheel bearing cap. Phew

 

[Scott Smith]

Doesn't look to be in horrible shape - that first picture you posted with all the crap in there had me a little scared. You don't see Kubota mowers by me, but you do see the compact tractors. How old is yours?

 

[C Lewis]

Well some more pics. Boy my old body is hurting. Dragging that mower deck out is a royal PIA. Weighs like 480lbs on it's own. Now it's doing lots of cleaning, gotta figure out why the go pedal linkage is so sloppy. (though I think I may have hit on it). But, if it is what I think it may be I'm in for a bit of "work". I bought a motorcycle jack last year and it really makes things so much easier BTW. It's the perfect width to fit the frame rails and lift it perfectly even Impossible to do with a normal trolley jack.
So, linkage work, mower maintenance and adjustment, (set/calibrate cut height, change bevel gear box lube, lube drive shaft to mower and sharpen blades), straighten out rear fender pan, paint it, reinstall, remove upper hood, sand down and repaint, add wiring for pull behind sprayer, along with switching, add in extra lighting (looking at LED light bar for front) and add rear LED marker lights. (sometimes in and spring I am out along side the street doing some later mowing and like to see and be seen).
Oh, and re-shim front axle to tighten up steering. May also put some new front tires on as well and front wheel bearing cap. Phew
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The deck looks like it's in pretty nice shape.

Did something similar with my zero turn, added a two way rocker switch for my spreader (modded that with an actuator to open and close the chute), added another switch and a harness to plug in the sprayer, and put LED lights on the front and rear. The rear light makes it easier to back it into the garage if just getting the lawn done a dark, and the front light is super bright when out by the road, even in daylight. The real truth though, is that there was a spot on the switch for lights and it just bugged me that there were no lights for it to turn on, so my OCD insisted that I put lights on it.

 

[LMichaels]

"How old is yours?"
Oddly there is no date code in the VIN but since the engines are all shipped from Japan they are date coded and IIRC mine date coded to 2005. It's in decent shape mechanically. There is just a lot of little TLC stuff to be done (I am a little anal about my toy) as some are about their grills I am about my little coal roller
The PO was good about the engine oil, having always used Amsoil Diesel engine oil. Oddly he never did the hydro fluid. So I did that last year when I got it with about 840 hrs it now has just over 900 hrs. So he was a little indifferent to some things. But it now has the Kubota UDT2 synthetic hydro fluid, new filter and so on. So it won't be due for that for another 160 hrs or so.
So given all that it will likely outlive me

(modded that with an actuator to open and close the chute)

I would LOVE to see what you did there. I have a really nice John Deere pull behind spreader. But, it's a back breaker to try turning around to reach the stupid lever to open the chute. Would love to know how you did it and what you used, where acquired, and all that good stuff. Between the sprayer and if I could electrically activate that chute on the spreader it would be ideal. I also have a commercial walk behind spreader. IIRC it holds about 100lbs of material. But, the damn thing is a pistol to push. So, I never fill it up. I have a large culvert in front and around the side and it makes for some really hard work.

 

[C Lewis]

I would LOVE to see what you did there. I have a really nice John Deere pull behind spreader. But, it's a back breaker to try turning around to reach the stupid lever to open the chute. Would love to know how you did it and what you used, where acquired, and all that good stuff. Between the sprayer and if I could electrically activate that chute on the spreader it would be ideal. I also have a commercial walk behind spreader. IIRC it holds about 100lbs of material. But, the damn thing is a pistol to push. So, I never fill it up. I have a large culvert in front and around the side and it makes for some really hard work.

Larry,

Give me this weekend to wrap up a few things and I'll get some pics and do a write up for you. Same deal here, major pain to reach the lever, even worse on a zero turn. Works very well, though I still have a few minor tweaks that I'd like to do.

Charlie

 

[LMichaels]

Yeah I would think on a 0 turn if you let loose to pull the lever you go in circles? I am going to be off the Kubota for a few days. Finishing up a customer's mixer (very old K5A not solid state control) unpolarized, ungrounded plug. They want to upgrade to polarized and grounded, plus other repairs. Those old machines are a royal PIA to rewire. Everything is done with wire nuts. No connectors. Wires have to snake around a lot. Just a few photos showing what it's like in there. Since it's made to run on any voltage (AC or DC anywhere from 80V to 140V). Once I modify it, it will only work on a true 120Vac grounded outlet. (Much safer). My mom's old machine I gave to my daughter was the same. Went to use once at my dad's house and discovered that over the 50+ years a wire had worn through it's insulation and was now in contact with a stud holding in the field coil. I found that out the hard way when I was whipping up some potatoes and happened to touch the bowl and the stove at the same time. Yeeehaw what a feeling Anyway this customer's old hand me down from her mom will function well and be safe. The giant circular item is a very large wire wound resistor with a center tap. They sometimes short out internally and oh boy do they smell wonderful LOL. Anyway we're in for another bout of cold weather, rain and snow next 2 or 3 days (just in time for Cubs home opening series). So this baby will be on my project list

 

[C Lewis]

I've got a way of controlling both levers with one hand, so no circles, but with all of the safety switches, coming off of the seat to reach the lever would shut the engine off if I didn't get my butt back down quick enough. Also, too much of a delay in getting moving again, so I would get a large pile of seed or fertilizer at every spot where I open and closed the chute. This also allows me to easily shut off and turn it back on when going over areas like crossing my driveway.

 

[LMichaels]

Yeah the going in circles thing was a bit of a tongue in cheek in remark. As for seat switches mine are long gone LOL. Beside you can't shut a diesel down that quick (no ignition) and my electronic fuel shutoff solenoid quit working and rather than spend $50 on a new one I simply went old school and made an engine stop pull knob on the dash. So, stopping requires turning off electrical system then pulling back on the dash knob to kill the engine. It's old school and it works.

 

[C Lewis]

Oh, the circles have happened in the past, no doubt. When I first got it and was figuring it out you could almost hear the Benny Hill music playing in the background.

 

[Brad Olson]

Larry, when you start putting it back together just remember that the best lubricants and fluids are made right here in WI at the Kikkoman plant.

 

[JKalchik]

Oh, the circles have happened in the past, no doubt. When I first got it and was figuring it out you could almost hear the Benny Hill music playing in the background.

Some of us learned that when we were 12, on a field tractor with turning brakes, able to spin it on one wheel.

 

[LMichaels]

To date I have painted the floor pan/rear fender assembly. Then yesterday did prep work on it to make ready for coating with Herculiner. Looks pretty decent. Ordered new Kubota 3D decals for upper hood and some nice smaller 3D emblems to use on the lower hood
Got the material painted on. Hoping it works well. Sadly the instructions on the can were totally misleading and I don't know if I applied it well or not. We shall see. Hoping to get lower hood painted today or tomorrow (moved large air compressor to basement so need to run line up to garage)
Pic so far of the rear assembly

 

[LMichaels]

Well if all goes well, lower hood should get painted today and I may wet sand the upper and respray it as it "orange peeled" on me a little. Otherwise if all goes well today refinishing work should be done. Leaving some wiring, retrofitting LED floods into the original headlamp housings and reassembly. Phew this is a long project

 

[LMichaels]

Lower hood panel painted. Found a better way to set up the HVLP gun. Learning a lot. Pretty soon I'll be my own MAACO or Earl Scheib. "I'll paint any tractor any color for just $19.95..........................RIGHT"
I am sure some of you are not old enough to remember this line LOL

 

[Rich Dahl]

I had an old 65 impala redone at Earl's before they went to the mops with the finer fibers. That paint job made a brush paint job look show car ready.