L3000DT Kubota won't budge

quartersaw · Nov 27, 2013

My Kubota is stuck in neutral,and the hi-lo selector on the left of the transmission is flagging in the wind. I thought it would be a simple pin replacement, but the shaft going into the transmission turns with the shifting lever.
When this happened, I tried to shift the selector into low, but the lever broke free, and has no resistance. No X-pensive noises happened during this event, but the tractor is dead in the water stuck in neutral. I can still start it, and it shifts into gear OK without any noise, but I can't move it.(It rolls ok) I have a diagram of the (D21700) Range Gear Shift Fork, and it looks like this assembly would be accessible without breaking the case. I don't know anything about transmission work, so hopefully, someone here can advise me. Anyone have any ideas?
I really need to get this machine back into service. Any help would be much appreciated!!!
Thanks!!!!!

Kernopelli · Nov 28, 2013

Not familiar with your machine but I have had a very similar experience with my Mitsubishi. I was able to pull the top trans case ( section where the gear shift levers enter the case) off and then visually see what was going on in the range section of the trans. On mine, the end of the range shaft that enters the trans housing had snapped off and would no longer engage the range shift fork. I fished the end out of the trans case, took the range shaft out and welded the end back on, then reassembled everything. Took a little time but it was a relatively easy fix. It's been 3-4 yrs and worked fine since.

May not be your exact issue but pulling the top case off the trans is usually pretty simple and you should then be able to see enough of the internals to diagnose the issue.

quartersaw · Nov 28, 2013

Kernopelli said:
Not familiar with your machine but I have had a very similar experience with my Mitsubishi. I was able to pull the top trans case ( section where the gear shift levers enter the case) off and then visually see what was going on in the range section of the trans. On mine, the end of the range shaft that enters the trans housing had snapped off and would no longer engage the range shift fork. I fished the end out of the trans case, took the range shaft out and welded the end back on, then reassembled everything. Took a little time but it was a relatively easy fix. It's been 3-4 yrs and worked fine since.

May not be your exact issue but pulling the top case off the trans is usually pretty simple and you should then be able to see enough of the internals to diagnose the issue.

Sounds just like my situation! Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it!

Kernopelli · Nov 28, 2013

Don't know if you have a parts or service manual to reference but looking at it first to get an idea how everything goes together and parts involved will probably help. I often use online parts diagrams when I don't have a manual and dealing with repair issues. Kubota Tractor Corporation - Parts List has diagrams for your machine. I see there are two pins ( one on each end of the coupler that attached the shift lever to the engagement shaft) . Just thought I'd mention this since I cant really tell from the diagram if you are seeing the coupler rotate with the lever or it's the actual "engagement shaft" you can see turn with the lever.

quartersaw · Nov 30, 2013

I still have to open up the top of the tranny. I got the diagram of the assembly, but we'll see what is going on in there. I thought that this was a simple problem to begin with, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm going to wait until it warms up a little bit around here. (It was 6ºF. this morning)

quartersaw · Dec 7, 2013

Looks like a weld broke on a rod the actuates the shifting fork assembly. The piece fell in between two gears, so it's a good thing I wasn't able to get it running! Parts on order........! Thanks for the feedback!

GManBart · Dec 7, 2013

quartersaw said:
Looks like a weld broke on a rod the actuates the shifting fork assembly. The piece fell in between two gears, so it's a good thing I wasn't able to get it running! Parts on order........! Thanks for the feedback!

That could have gotten expensive....glad you found it first!