Kubota Chiropractic Device

[Anonymous Poster]

Do any of you with L series Kubotas have the 4WD lever near your left ankle? My L35 does and I'm hoping after some time it is actually useable. Otherwise I'll have to continue sticking pins in my Kubota Engineer's Doll in hopes of revenge. I find it difficult at times to use. I've tried all the 4WD tricks I know, engine on, engine off, in gear out of gear, shuttle in, shuttle out, "popping" clutch and then hitting it (works sometimes). I've had sticking 4WD levers before but usually they were long throw levers that were reachable and by altering pressure on gears you were successful. This only has a throw of a few inches, and I have to bend over, do my best to leave Kubota steering wheel impression on my chest and ppppuuuuuullll. It's a great spine altering device, I get to hear all kinds of noises I've don't hear often from my back. Pushing it the other way with my finger tips is a challenge as well. It's got a big threaded shaft with a knob I've already managed to pull off. And I DO try gently before changing into Mr. Bad Tempered Gorilla. Was thinking of making some sort of extension. What is anyone else doing? Sometimes it moves with just a touch but it isn't often. Thanks guys

 

[MChalkley]

Del - My L4610HST has the lever down by my left ankle, so I'm sure it's the same mechanism. It can be a pain sometimes, but it was a lot worse on my L3600GST. I think that was because it only takes movement of a fraction of an inch in the right direction to relieve the pressure sufficiently to allow it to disengage. Usually, when it sticks, I can apply light pressure to it and creep forward or backward almost imperceptibly and it will pop out. You might try slipping the clutch a little to duplicate this.

Of course, there's always raising the front tires off the ground with the bucket...

I don't suppose there's any chance you've changed wheels and tires to cause a major lead or lag situation, is there?

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Changing wheels and tires, you mean like using mismatched ones for the 4WD? No haven't done that. You can always tell theres a problem if you drive for a while, then lift the front wheels off the ground with the bucket and they spin a couple turns like when your telephone cord its twisted! Or when you contantly leave skid marks on the pavement, or everytime you change your trans oil you hear that wonderful click click clunk sound in the metal drain pan!

 

[MChalkley]

Yeah, that's always a tell-tale sign, but the first sign is that it's hard to disengage 4wd. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I didn't think that was it, because you'd have told us if you'd done something like that.

Mark

 

[PaulB]

Mark - In the post above you mention your L4610 HST. Thats "6" as in 6, the number after 5. Did you make a trade, or is that wishful thinking? I know I have been less active on the board lately than I would like, but I can't imagine I missed a change that big (entitled no doubt "L4610 enhancements")

 

[MChalkley]

Well, PaulB, nobody will ever be able to accuse you of not paying attention! Yes, it was a typo, what I think is referred to as a "Freudian slip"...

Mark

 

[_RaT_]

I can always manage to worm the 4WD lever out or in on either the Ford 2120 or Kubots L4850. The Fords are just as hard as the Kubots to shift from 2WD/4WD and back. I have noticed that the front tires wear much faster then the rears, which if your using the 4WD alot makes sense because they are smaller in circumference. Point is, how much does this change the lead/lag from new tires? My 2120 has 400 hours and the fronts are about 3/4's gone. Rat...

 

[Rowski]

It's pretty interesting about the 4wd lever. My brother in law's 1720 (50hrs)is a real pain to use. On the other hand my new 2120 I can slip it in and out with no trouble at all.

 

[W5FL]

Yeah, my M6800 goes in and out without any problems at all. Now it must be on relatively soft or gravely ground. If it is on really hard surface or concrete, use the loader to lift the front wheels and it comes right out. Anything that results in winding up the shaft to the front wheels is going to make it difficult to pull out. The manual says to move the steering wheel back and forth, but have not needed to do that yet. Sometimes I forget and drive it up on concrete in 4WD and that is really a no no.

 

[MChalkley]

Rat - It will change the ratio somewhat, of course, and in the lag direction. If you start with a lead of 3% or so, the recommended amount, you should never end up with a lag condition before the tires wear out. If, on the other hand, you started out with no lead, you would end up with a lag condition, which is very dangerous.

Mark