I Still Hate My Tractor

[Bluegill2]

I'm pulling for Fred also,

was just some strange stuff goin on here and some unanswered questions.

Be cool to see this thing popin wleelies and fartin fire!

 

[The Fred]

At a dealer this AM for paint (to cover up my bubble gum welds and hackleberries) and gaskets for the exhaust that I don't think I need as I machined all surfaces flat on the lathe/milling machine. I need a dump trailer so we talked about that. I mentioned how dissatisfied I am with the power and he immediately went to see the service man who is their Kubota specialist. Service manager and I didn't actually talk but salesman and I talked about the timing and all the baseline testing I did last Saturday. Service manager feels the lift pump is bad. I would disagree as the fueling seems way over the top after I turned it up a bit.

He offered to dyno it again but I feel this is wasted time because IF the power is off they still need to find out why. We already know the fuel timing is correct and leakdown is right, other than installed cam timing and the one cylinder that had .003" valve lash what else could the issue be? Also mentioned the shimmed pressure and he assured me they do that all of the time for customers and most likely is NOT the problem.

Going to get to the bottom of camshaft installed intake centerline tomorrow morning. Also said the regional rep would be the guy who is "in the know" for the timing specs as the manual does not supply these other than timing marks on the gears. Wanted to trade me out of this machine instantly for a 40hp 60 series that I have absolutely no interest in at this time because of the added emissions. Told him I am doing the turbo thing his eyes got wide and mentioned they shouldn't mention that to the rep. Most of my chats with salesman result in "anything goes" is just fine with adding power or shimming up the hydraulics because these guys want you happy. My instinct tells me that the "service" dept. would have a different story and would nullify any warranty issues starting with warnings and such.

One thing the sales guy DID say was that they have asked Kubota many times to deliver a cabbed machine with a true shuttle shift for those that don't like the HST. Also said he rarely if ever gets any power complaints about this model I bought; prompting me to bring it in for a dyno "whirl". Also tells me they dropped the 32 hp model due to power complaints.

I think once I have the turbo is complete I will have the machine checked and will be there so I can remove the turbo to put the machine back to bone stock (including fuel setting) . Turbo can be bypassed for power check in about 20 minutes, I have installed things very "removal friendly" if you will.

So far I have $600 for a new (not rebuilt or Ebay Chinese) turbo, $50 bux in exhaust pieces parts, $40 in oil line fittings and annealed hard line (like factory) for the oil supply. $60 bux in Kubota OE spray paint (6 cans I need 1 or 2). $60 bux in cigars (Padron series 1926 if the install is a success), Swisher sweets if it's a flop; I ALWAYS have beer on site wether success or flop!

Fred

 

[Chilly807]

I like the part about wide eyes and "not mentioning this to the rep".. :laughing: sounds like my kind of salesman, those guys are getting harder and harder to find these days.

Sean

 

[ovrszd]

So far I have $600 for a new (not rebuilt or Ebay Chinese) turbo, $50 bux in exhaust pieces parts, $40 in oil line fittings and annealed hard line (like factory) for the oil supply. $60 bux in Kubota OE spray paint (6 cans I need 1 or 2). $60 bux in cigars (Padron series 1926 if the install is a success), Swisher sweets if it's a flop; I ALWAYS have beer on site wether success or flop!

Fred

DANG IT!!!!! Waxman beat me out with that lowdown $1 over bid of his!!! Now all I get is the consolation prize.....

 

[The Fred]

Yeah a cheeseburger huh?

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah a cheeseburger huh?

With a Beer of course!!!

 

[JRL305]

mmmm... beer and a Padron sounds good to me. Meanwhile I'll have to settle for a R&J and a Pussers and coke. Great thread and this old gearhead is lovin it.

 

[The Fred]

Finding TDC

Finding installed camshaft intake centerline

Tiny turbo

Exhaust pedestal

From the top

Intake pipe tight fit

Intake pipe

Fred

 

[bandaidmd]

coming together nicely, didn't remember reading that you turned up the fuel.

 

[WaxMan]

That fits in there pretty nice, looks really good. Did you have to make that manifold hieght extension?

 

[TomSeller]

Looking good. Go Fred.

 

[V1Rotate]

Fred
I think you should re-title this thread.:laughing:
If you really hated your tractor, you wouldn't be putting all this time and effort into it. Judging by the quality of the work that is apparent in the photos, you are really giving it some TLC.

 

[Bluegill2]

Fred
I think you should re-title this thread.:laughing:
If you really hated your tractor, you wouldn't be putting all this time and effort into it. Judging by the quality of the work that is apparent in the photos, you are really giving it some TLC.

Right, he secretly loves his tractor, easy to see!

Lookin very good Fred!!!

 

[Baby Grand]

I've really enjoyed this thread so far and can't wait to see Fred's tractor putting out some boost. Anyway my question is, do all the grand L tractors have the same hydrostatic transmission? Can a 3240 be turned up to a 5740 and the transmission live or is each transmission sized for that tractor?

Hmmm ... put a blower on the 3240? .... hmmm.
Can't wait to see how this adventure of Fred's shakes out!

 

[wmonroe]

Looks good Fred. If you put it on the dyno do a video, it would be cool to hear how the turbo sounds on it. Are you putting a muffler on or is it going to be straight piped? I vote straight pipe!

 

[The Fred]

More pix

Fred

 

[wmonroe]

Coming along nicely.

 

[kuboman]

Say Fred what did the oil cooler cost you if you don't mind me asking?

 

[The Fred]

Oil cooler off a VW. Fits over 15 years of models, readily available and cheap about 50 bux. I didn't price the Kubo unit I am sure much more money. The cooler/filter adapter I made on the lathe, total pain. 18 x1.5 on one end and 3/4-16 on the other, compliments of Kubota. All of the pipe threads on this engine are metric.; go figure.
Fred

 

[kuboman]

Well you can times your figure by 10 and thats what the Kubota cooler cost.:shocked: