Kubota B2230 Hydro-static grinding noises from drive train

[finnercy]

Just bought a used Kubota B2230, now I get it home and start going over it I am getting worried.

Firstly it wont shift range (lever low,med neutral and high) when the engine is running. Grinding noise if you try too. I seems related to the hydrostatic controls because if press the hyro pedal and make sure it is centred in its neutral position it will shift. Both brake and hydro pedal needed freeing off when I first got it. Is this likely just to be the hyro pedal is sticking off centre (it does creep with no pressure on pedal).

2nd if all, if I forget to release the handbrake (floor mounted level) and try and move forward there is a grinding noise (sounds like gears grinding on a car if you try to shift without clutch) - that worries me as an concerned there may be a stripped drive gear somewhere which when put under load is slipping.

Im new to tractors so really appreciate advise on this

Cheers
Rob

 

[wagne223]

Just bought a used Kubota B2230, now I get it home and start going over it I am getting worried.

Firstly it wont shift range (lever low,med neutral and high) when the engine is running. Grinding noise if you try too. I seems related to the hydrostatic controls because if press the hyro pedal and make sure it is centred in its neutral position it will shift. Both brake and hydro pedal needed freeing off when I first got it. Is this likely just to be the hyro pedal is sticking off centre (it does creep with no pressure on pedal).

2nd if all, if I forget to release the handbrake (floor mounted level) and try and move forward there is a grinding noise (sounds like gears grinding on a car if you try to shift without clutch) - that worries me as an concerned there may be a stripped drive gear somewhere which when put under load is slipping.

Im new to tractors so really appreciate advise on this

Cheers
Rob

I'm not familiar with the specifics on that model. Does it have a clutch pedal on the left?

Are you fully depressing the clutch when changing ranges?

I have heard of the non centering hydro pedal issue but I dont recall the fix.
However that wont affect the range shift IF you use the clutch.

On your second issue, load the driveline (with the park brake OFF) by dragging a full box blade, trying to dig with the loader, ect.
This will determine if the brake is the source or if you have a driveline failure.

 

[finnercy]

Hi - it doesnt have a clutch as its hydrastatic transmission. Basically you select a range and there is control pedal on the right that if you press on the front you go forward and on the back you go backward.
Good point on the brake though will need to try hooking it to something heavy and try pulling

 

[RjCorazza]

Not that it matters, but some Kubota HST machines have a manual clutch. My L3410 had one that was basically only necessary to engage and disengage the PTO. Newer models use an electric PTO switch that clutches for the operator.
With your machine creeping, that will definitely make range shifting difficult.

 

[wagne223]

Hi - it doesnt have a clutch as its hydrastatic transmission. Basically you select a range and there is control pedal on the right that if you press on the front you go forward and on the back you go backward.
Good point on the brake though will need to try hooking it to something heavy and try pulling

Okay, I was asking because I have a 1 year old L2501 that is HST (using the same rocker pedal) but it has a clutch pedal on the left.
The clutch is used to start the tractor, change ranges and to engage the PTO.
This setup is called "Live PTO"

As I understand it, a lot of older tractors were this way and a lot of newer tractors have an "Independent PTO" .
The independent PTO machines do not have a clutch.

So on your machine, if you dont have a clutch, that sticking rocker pedal will cause a grind when changing ranges.

Hopefully someone that knows your machine better will chime in with some better information.

Good luck.

 

[mjw357]

Hi - it doesnt have a clutch as its hydrastatic transmission.

So on the right you have the forward/reverse pedal, any other pedals? No pedal on the left? No PTO?

 

[wagne223]

So on the right you have the forward/reverse pedal, any other pedals? No pedal on the left? No PTO?

I just looked on Tractor data, and they say it is an independent PTO.
So no manual clutch.


TractorData.com Kubota B223 tractor information

 

[finnercy]

Yea no clutch, has a hand selection lever which engages PTO. Just hydrastaic control door pedal and the foot brakes on the right. My main concern is if that grinding which looks to have been a long standing issue due to lack of maintenance has resulted in gear damage. Checking the hydraulic fluid earlier and that is about an 2 inches above the max mark so will need to drain some off, not sure if it will cause an issue but best be safe rather than sorry.
Cheers for the advice so far

 

[DMW]

Keep greasing the hydro pedal until it operates freely. Ensure it is in "neutral" before shifting, while stopped. If it is not, then the grinding will occur. Sometimes stopping, then reversing slightly will allow a smoother change.

I believe the brakes are inside the transmission, so moving with the parking brake engaged will sound like gear noise. The brake is for parking on level ground to prevent accidental movement, not stopping. Use the hydro pedal to stop.

 

[finnercy]

Keep greasing the hydro pedal until it operates freely. Ensure it is in "neutral" before shifting, while stopped. If it is not, then the grinding will occur. Sometimes stopping, then reversing slightly will allow a smoother change.

I believe the brakes are inside the transmission, so moving with the parking brake engaged will sound like gear noise. The brake is for parking on level ground to prevent accidental movement, not stopping. Use the hydro pedal to stop.

Okay - I can confirm as suspected/suggested the sticking hydrostatic pedal seems to be what causing the grief. As suggested going to have give the linkage about of tough love I suspect it is full of dried out grease as the zerk wont take any, either that or the zerk is goosed. I think my concerns about transmission damage were unfounded (touch wood many times) I got a chain and hooked it on to something **** near immovable and was able to move it with no crunching or grinding.

The previous owner appears to have been a stranger to maintenance - it only has 800 hours on it but neglect is obvious. I cant for the life of me understand people who spend ｣｣｣｣｣ on equipment and treat it like a hammer.
Am going to do a full Oil/Hydraulic service , already I see the level on the hydraulic fluid is crazy high (no doubt wont help things) and dont have any confidence he wasnt using cooking oil in there

Cheers for the help anyways. On the look out for a box scraper now, trouble is in the UK they dont seem popular and the options are cheap junk or crazy expensive - enquired about a 5ft unit from BLEC and they wanted ｣3k for it! All the cheaper ones seem to have straight scraper blades which I have been told reduces the effectiveness.


Regards
Rob