L3650GST Clutch Out??

[bluewing]

I have an L3650GST with a LA650 Loader and 4300hrs showing on the meter. It seems the clutch has given out of it, as there was some loud clatter in the case, then it quit driving. Can barely get it to crawl on level ground in low transfer, 1st gear. Any throttle to it and engine just revs.

Got a price from a local Kubota dealer for repair. Est. $2k-$3k.

Tractor is old and very rough condition. My concern is sinking this much money into, only to have something else go.

Would I be better off trading it in? Selling it for parts? Selling as is and put down on new one? Just fix it and go on?

Whatrya opinions?

 

[KennyV]

That’s not extreme hours… I am planning to get more hours than that on mine before I’m done. It may take me 30 years to do it. Come to think of it I won’t last that much longer.

I think the important questions are: /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif How many of those hours do you know about? How many different operators did it have? What kind of use/abuse did it get? Was it well maintained?
A good machine is always worth maintaining, and repairs are normal… things do wear out.
Is it the main clutch or the hydro wet pack clutches? It isn’t unreasonable to figure the pressure plate & disk need some attention. Clutch work isn’t so specialized that an owner with a basic shop, or a general repair shop could not tackle it.

If it has been beat hard for 4k+ hours. It may not be worth much to anyone. If it’s had reasonable care it should be worth repairing. KennyV.

 

[bluewing]

Thanks for your input.

Unfortunately, I do not know the history of the tractor, except that it was owned by a company called "Trail Mow and Saw", out of Orlando, FL. They do have rental equipment, so this could have been rented out.

Other things currently in need of attention are:
Brakes out on right side. Left side barely works.
Fan has broken blade.
Most electrical gadgets do not work. Do have RPM, but even at full throttle it will not get up to PTO shaft line.
Smokes a little under load or when started up.
No headlights.
All grills, side panels, top panels, etc. are beat up and rusted.
Rear Turf tires are at 25%. Front turfs at 50%.
Needs a new 3-pt hitch.

It was shifting okay, although as long as I've owned it, I could never shift w/out clutching.
Shuttle shift works.
Power steering works.
Starts very easily.
Loader works well, but bucket is very rough with a few welded plates in it.

I considered doing a complete restoration on it. However, finding good condition used parts for this one has been almost impossible. The costs of new parts are a bit extreme.

Considering this isn't a tractor that I bought new, nor have I had it for very long (1yr), I'm leaning towards selling or trading it as is and investing in a new one.

 

[KennyV]

Hope you don’t have too much invested in it at this time…
You would have to be unusually fond of that model to want to restore it at this point.
I don’t know where you are as you did not fill out your info…. But if you are wanting to find parts for older import tractors you might try “wkytp.com”…. Good Luck and post back with what you ultimately do…. KennyV.