Kubota B2150 - Problems!

[JoeDaly]

Hi everyone,

I'm a warden on a Scout campsite, and about 3 years ago we bought a Kubota B2150, which I think is an absolutely fantastic machine. Unfortunately we've had a few problems and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice...

When we agreed to buy the tractor, it had a 5ft John Deere flail mower on the back. A few days before delivery, the dealer rang to say that the deck was "broken and unrepairable", but as a goodwill gesture he offered to fit a new flail mower.

The tractor arrived... with a 4ft Hymari flail mower on the back. We had problems with it from the first day we used it. I've never been able to go out and cut the entire campsite without having to come back to the workshop to fix it.

Anyway.... the Hymari flail mower has finally shaken itself to pieces and we've given up on it. We've bought a Kubota RC-21BK (?) mid-mounted deck to replace it.

We mounted it last night and I went out and cut two fields with it... when it stopped cutting. I turned the engine off and could hear a dripping sound... I looked underneath to find the mid-PTO housing had broken clean in half, and there was 15 litres of hydraulic oil in the middle of the field. Any ideas on why this may have happened?

I've been to my dealer and ordered (a very expensive) replacement part which should be with me tomorrow.

Anyway... I would be interested if any Kubota owners could tell me how they engage the PTO on their tractors? When it was delivered (with flail mower attatched), the dealer sat on the machine and showed me a lever to the bottom left of the seat. If you lift it up, the PTO spins at 540rpm and if you push it down it spins at 700ish(?) rpm.

However, it will not go into 540rpm - you have to put it into 700rpm first and then lift it up into 540rpm. It does this with an almighty crunch. I'm sure that this isn't correct, and I think it could be a contributing factor to the damage. Does anyone know if this is the right way to engage the PTO?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Joe.

 

[dodge man]

I can't answer the question for your tractor, but you do want to throttle down some when you start the PTO, maybe have it a little above idle. This takes some of the shock off the sytstem when starting the PTO.

 

[TripleR]

I can't answer the question for your tractor, but you do want to throttle down some when you start the PTO, maybe have it a little above idle. This takes some of the shock off the sytstem when starting the PTO.

My manuals indicate to engage at "half throttle", but like Dodge Man, I prefer to go lower and then throttle up.

As to the hard engagement, check your linkage, but some older Kubotas I have run were a little hard to engage no matter what.

 

[8x56mn]

I owned a B2150 for 10 years, they are a great and rugged machine. Regarding the PTO speeds, you actualy have four speed options. There is a bracket adjacent to your lever that allows you to remove a bolt and turn the bracket over to allow the lever to go into a different position giving you a higher output. I always use the max. speed which alows me to run at a lower engine rpm to get the 540 pto speed at the rear pto. Hope thats clear.
It sounds like you were engaging at a too high of engine rpm. Did you have the clutch depressed when you tried to engage? I would engage at idle speed and then crank it up to where everything sounds right at the mower.
If your mowing heavy grass or hay with your MMM your really working it hard. I sold my MMM and used a 4ft Squeller

 

[JoeDaly]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I have been engaging the PTO with the revs at around 1000rpm, so just over idling speed.

I'm only using it to mow fields with fairly thin and short grass.

8x56mn, you mention depressing the clutch when trying to engage. Is there a seperate clutch for the PTO or are you referring to the main clutch?

I might have a look for a diagram regarding the removable bracket to change the PTO speeds.

Thanks,
Joe.

 

[RobertN]

My old B8200 was a the forerunner to the B2150; both excellent tractors.

1st, engage the PTO at low engine RPM, then run the RPM up. I only used my tractor with a rotary mower, but still, engaged at a little above idel, and then revved up. Otherwise, you are just asking for trouble.

2nd, as 8x56mn says, there is a little plate that you either remove or flip over, which allows the pto lever to go to the higher RPM. Usually, they are set so you only have neutral and 540rpm, since that is what 99% of implements use. You may need to flip that plate over if the Mid mount mower requires the higher rpm. Just be aware, if you switch the plate over, that you do not want to use a 540rpm rated implement at the higher rpm

3rd, you are using the clutch? I never engaged the PTO on my B8200 without using the clutch... The other thing is, on occasion mine did not go right in to gear, I would double clutch it.

What Scout camp are you at? My son(and Troop) is leaving this coming Saturday for Camp Fiesta Island in San Diego; primarily water front based camp. Our Troop just got back from Camp Lassen near Lassen Park in N. Calif.

I'm sitting out camp this year, to do work on my house...

RobertN
ASM T117 Shingle Springs
"I used to be a Buffalo, a good old Buffalo too,,,"

 

[JoeDaly]

RobertN, thanks for your reply.

I do engage the PTO at low RPM then bring it up. From what you've said here, I think my plate is in the position where I can get it into both speeds. My flail mower worked on 540rpm only, but my new mid-mounted says to "use the 2nd speed" in the instruction manual, and the diagram indicates to push the lever down into the higher speed.

You mention the clutch.... Which clutch are you talking about? I've got a horrible feeling that there's a clutch for the PTO but my dealer never showed it to me?!

I'm at a Scout camp just outside Manchester, England. We've got 35 acres of woodland with grass camping areas, and a large boating lake. It's a lovely place

 

[RobertN]

Idle that tractor... I can see why it might be crunchy/grind at higher rpm

Your's is like my old tractor; one clutch. Make sure to use the clutch; if not you'll really be grinding the gears.

Do you have a manual? They are still available. My B8200 was the model before the B2150. It was only about $16US. And, it gives maintenance schedule, where to grease, ect.

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I have been engaging the PTO with the revs at around 1000rpm, so just over idling speed.

I'm only using it to mow fields with fairly thin and short grass.

8x56mn, you mention depressing the clutch when trying to engage. Is there a seperate clutch for the PTO or are you referring to the main clutch?

I might have a look for a diagram regarding the removable bracket to change the PTO speeds.

Thanks,
Joe.

 

[JoeDaly]

So push down the clutch and engage the PTO at low revs?

Thanks for your help everyone

 

[KubieTwo]

This is a slight deviation from the original question but may be worth noting. Some are using the PTO higher speed selection with full knowledge they can do this and run the engine at lower speed only when the attachment does not require much horsepower or the engine is of sufficient size to generate the required power at lower rpms. Others may try this with less than expected results and not know why they weren't successful.

If the tractor in question has to run at 2500 rpm to turn the attachment at 540rpm, they quickly conclude they need to run the engine at only 1250 if they have a 1000 rpm PTO speed. In reality, a typical compact or subcompact diesel engine that will make 22hp at 2600 rpm will only make about 10-11 hp at 1250 rpm. If the attachment needs 18-20 hp to handle the load, it will not be available at 1250 rpm on a 20-25 hp tractor. It can't do the work required. If you have a 50hp tractor, you may be ok with the same implement doing the same task, so it depends on your tractor and load. I have seen people try to power generators at 1000 PTO rpm then complain about the generator when it would not handle rated power load. It probably would have at 540 PTO speed and higher engine rpm, or handled the load well with twice the tractor. Running lower engine rpm doesn't necessarily burn less fuel either, because it requires consumption of a given amount of fuel to create a certain amount of horsepower, and an engine may not be nearly as efficient at 1250 as it is at 2500 if it was designed to run in the higher speed range.