Kubota B1700 Piston removal - Do I have to remove engine to do this?

[joestewart]

Hi, the local school has a donated Kubota B1700 and I've become the de facto mechanic in charge of fixing it. We suspect the rings are shattered because someone used ether to try and start it, and since that time, it has had no compression. I took the cylinder head off and the cylinder walls look pristine. I was all excited about tapping the pistons out the top of the motor, but was horrified when I looked under the tractor and discovered that the ?front driveshaft? prevents me from dropping the oil pan. Oh boy, this is getting complicated. That front driveshaft is encased within a tube that doubles as the hydraulic reservoir? Not sure and I don't want to start disassembling the shaft if I don't have to. Can't figure out the best way to access the crankshaft so I can loosen the connecting rod bearing caps and tap the pistons out the top. Front driveshaft is right in the way. Do I need to yank this motor off the tractor in order to remove the pistons? Allow me to beg for the relevant pages in the service manual, anyone? All advice appreciated. This is a Kubota B1700 four wheel drive with the three cylinder D905 diesel engine.

 

[whis]

drop drive shaft. I dont think it has oil in it

 

[joestewart]

Alright thanks. I looked at it a little further. The "tube" has no oil, but just keeps weeds / dirt out of the shaft. The oil pan is sandwiched between the two frame side rails, which are bolted directly to the engine block. The side rails have nuts which are welded onto the inner side, which prevent dropping the oil pan without splitting the tractor. Will perform a tractor split this weekend. Still begging for manuals though. Thanks for the reply!

 

[whis]

dont think you have to split it, maybe remove side rails. to much work to split it

 

[joestewart]

Thanks for that. Will proceed accordingly.

 

[joestewart]

Alright, thank you for all the replies. Got the pan off and tapped out the pistons. Two of the compression rings were stuck in their grooves, but other than that, there does not appear to be anything wrong with the lower end of this motor! We are starting to feel like the two stooges here. I will unstick those rings and reinstall the pistons this coming weekend. Any recommendations on where to buy the head gasket and valve cover gasket (beyond the "local Kubota dealer" - I'm trying to avoid that place)?

2nd question: Does anyone know if the head gasket comes with that little button which seals the oil passage? Or is that little button a separate part? The button seals the oil passage between the cylinder head and the block.

Got the B1700 service manual in pdf format!

 

[CalG]

Joe

My neighbor has a B1700 that needs a new throwout bearing. We are going to need to split the tractor.

Where did you come across that Manual? I could sure use a first look at the parts configuration before going in.

Glad your engine woes are small!

tia

Cal

 

[joestewart]

Joe

Where did you come across that Manual? I could sure use a first look

Cal

CalG, PM me. Include your email address and I'll send you a copy of the manual.

 

[whis]

If you have gone that far get NEW rings and do all pistons with new rod bearings, don't get cheap now it will bite you in the butt

 

[joestewart]

If you have gone that far get NEW rings and do all pistons with new rod bearings, don't get cheap now it will bite you in the butt

Again, thanks for that.