M8540 hydraulic reverser quit

[enfield]

While mowing pasture with a Woods BW3180, my M8540 failed to reverse. What's more, it also failed to restart after I had dismounted to investigate.

Is this function controlled by a cable actuating a valve on top of the transmission?

Is it also possible that some sort of interlocking switch has failed or become electrically disconnected?

Where can I peek behind the fuel tank to investigate?

Search of this forum revealed one related thread:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/223138-m5040-no-start-pull-fuel.html

Cable failure would not surprise, as I have recently replaced the hand throttle cable at ~400 hours.

All educated theories welcomed; tia,

enfield

M8540DT w/1353FEL

 

[slowzuki]

Likely still in forward drive and the neutral safety switch isn't letting you start. I'm more familiar with the older M's but its either and cable or mechanical link to the shuttle valve on the transmission. Anything along the way may be lose.

Does the reverser lever action feel normal?

 

[enfield]

This has been a season of frequent showers; only had a few minutes to test before the next shower, and tried to feel the housing a foot or so below shuttle lever to see if the cable inside was moving as I cycled the lever. No conclusive determination there.

Do you know whether the valve and/or switches can be reached without dropping fuel tank? Fortunately it has only a few gallons inside.

If shuttle cable needs replacing, I can still get a whole lot done by moving forward only - many acres of mowing. So how do I test to see if cable is disabled or disconnected? And is there a way to bypass neutral safety switch?

tia,

enfield

 

[enfield]

The folks at Barlow's were very helpful over the phone and helped get me going again - at least in the forward direction which is OK for mowing and getting back to the barn.

A lot of disassembly needed to replace the broken cable: remove dash; loosen fuel tank bolts and slide out far enough to reach in behind. Hmm, may call the $65/hr mobile specialist on this one.

enfield