Recently Purchased a New to me L5450

[GMC65]

Just purchased a L5450 with a FEL, after a long search for what i hope will be the Perfect tractor, came with pallet forks a dozer blade and a rear mower. From the little i have read on here the tractor should suit my needs,

Wondering what i should be looking for or careful of for the long term care of this tractor. I have read that i should disengage the PTO lever after i start it. Any other tips or suggestions would be great

I am finding that the FWA is hard to disengage. Does one need to be moving in order is engage/disengage the FWA

Hopefully i made the right choice by joining the Kubota club

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations on your purchase. If you don't have a Operator Manual, get one for the tractor and FEL. I'm not familiar with that model, but owned an L5030 and now L5740. To disengage front wheel assist, try turning your tires side to side, depress the clutch, raise the front wheels with the FEL or blip the HST pedal.

When engaging/disengaging PTO, many recommend reducing engine to idle, I reduce, but not to an idle. In the L Series, it is not generally recommended to engage/disengage MFWD unless stopped.

Keep your tractor serviced and it will last you a very long time.

 

[rbargeron]

Just purchased a L5450 with a FEL, after a long search for what i hope will be the Perfect tractor, came with pallet forks a dozer blade and a rear mower. From the little i have read on here the tractor should suit my needs,

Wondering what i should be looking for or careful of for the long term care of this tractor. I have read that i should disengage the PTO lever after i start it. Any other tips or suggestions would be great

I am finding that the FWA is hard to disengage. Does one need to be moving in order is engage/disengage the FWA

Hopefully i made the right choice by joining the Kubota club

I've had two L5450's - an open-station and now one with a Laurin cab. There are a lot of posts on TBN where I'm blathering about what a great machine the L5450 is. I'll spare everyone that speech here, and offer a couple points: Disengaging 4wd on pavement is made easier by just turning the steering wheel half a turn one way or the other while rolling along and pulling on the lever. Another way is changing direction - as the tractor starts moving the lever will pull easy. There is a slight gear ratio difference front-to-back that puts traction force into the gearbox, making it hard to shift. Something that changes the amount or direction of the difference (like turning or switching direction) frees up momentarily.

About the pto lever, the recommendation is to engage the pto, even when no attachment is mounted. More precisely they are saying that even though the lever needs to be up to start the tractor, don't run with the lever up all the time. The reason is that, when disengaged, the pto clutch spring force is being resisted by the thrust bearings on the crank. On smaller engines, this constant rubbing eventually wears the flange on the bearing, leading to end float and possibly an engine rebuild. The F2803 has very large bearings and high internal oil flow - so I think the actual risk is quite small.

 

[GMC65]

I've had two L5450's - an open-station and now one with a Laurin cab. There are a lot of posts on TBN where I'm blathering about what a great machine the L5450 is. I'll spare everyone that speech here, and offer a couple points: Disengaging 4wd on pavement is made easier by just turning the steering wheel half a turn one way or the other while rolling along and pulling on the lever. Another way is changing direction - as the tractor starts moving the lever will pull easy. There is a slight gear ratio difference front-to-back that puts traction force into the gearbox, making it hard to shift. Something that changes the amount or direction of the difference (like turning or switching direction) frees up momentarily.

About the pto lever, the recommendation is to engage the pto, even when no attachment is mounted. More precisely they are saying that even though the lever needs to be up to start the tractor, don't run with the lever up all the time. The reason is that, when disengaged, the pto clutch spring force is being resisted by the thrust bearings on the crank. On smaller engines, this constant rubbing eventually wears the flange on the bearing, leading to end float and possibly an engine rebuild. The F2803 has very large bearings and high internal oil flow - so I think the actual risk is quite small.

That does explain why you would want to disengage the PTO lever under normal running conditions, just a matter of getting in the habit of engaging the tractor to start and lowering the lever when running around. I have read most of the post regarding the L5450 and its seems most will agree that its a well built unit. Its replacing a JD 4020, which was too large for what i was really needing. Im sure once i find i need to use it, more questions will arise.

 

[rbargeron]

That does explain why you would want to disengage the PTO lever under normal running conditions, just a matter of getting in the habit of engaging the tractor to start and lowering the lever when running around........

just the opposite - disengaged for starting (lever up), and engaged for running (lever down). Pulling the lever up is the same as stepping on a clutch pedal.

Hey I just noticed your home town - Moose Jaw, SK Back a few years (maybe 15) I worked on some equipment for a fancy water purification plant there - Buffalo Pound. How's it holding up?

My all-time favorite "snapshot" was taken during a visit there - we stopped the truck and took it from the running board....

 

[GMC65]

just the opposite - disengaged for starting (lever up), and engaged for running (lever down). Pulling the lever up is the same as stepping on a clutch pedal.

Hey I just noticed your home town - Moose Jaw, SK Back a few years (maybe 15) I worked on some equipment for a fancy water purification plant there - Buffalo Pound. How's it holding up?

My all-time favorite "snapshot" was taken during a visit there - we stopped the truck and took it from the running board....

This truly does go to show how small of a world it really is... I work at that fancy water treatment plant. What part of our fancy water plant did you work on. I will be spending most of my time working at the Carbon Regeneration Plant. Been here for 8 years now... 15 years ago that would put it in the mid 90's will be doing some snooping around for your handy work... lol

 

[rbargeron]

I worked for a company that made the new water control gates when that part of the plant was built (may have been more like 20 years ago or more?) At the time they said the new plant was the biggest advanced indoor treatment plant of its type in North America? There was a big room that looked like a huge auditorium - but with no seats. the concrete steps were for water falling (being aerated).

We had flown in to Regina and were picked up by the construction contractor, so after we were done at Moose Jaw, my wife and I took Via-Rail out through Medicine Hat to Calgary - we went into the dining room of our hotel at 10:00 pm and the sun was shining in the windows !! True it was in June but the days were a lot longer than in New England! We went on to the Banf Springs Resort (huge stone Hotel), toured the Columbia Ice Fields and generally had a nice few days.

The picture was taken on the pickup truck step on one of our trips back to town from the plant. I remember being impressed that the one-lane unpaved road was smooth and straight enough to go 75 mph - very cool. We could see the Missouri Coteau off to the south. Just beautiful country.

Small world indeed. Take care, Dick B

 

[GMC65]

Ok so you were here when they redid the Front end of the plant, Hmmm most advanced plant in North America. I guess we do have some pretty cool things but after you have worked there for a few years it sorta gets lost on you. I walk past those gates every day and those giant steps are for exactly what you describe to remove excess O2 from the water. We just got back from a trip simular to yourself just a month a go, went to banff and the icefields, it was my daughters first big trip. Lots of great views for sure.

I guess its true what they say, Great minds think alike...

 

[southernsurplusinc]

Congrats on your new acquisition. I have a LA1150A that will bolt right up to it in very good condition. Asking $2400. Its in the Orlando, FL area. Let me know if you're interested. Good Luck!

 

[newbury]

Congrats on your new acquisition. I have a LA1150A that will bolt right up to it in very good condition. Asking $2400. Its in the Orlando, FL area. Let me know if you're interested. Good Luck!

Why don't you hawk your wares in the classified?
The OP has a FEL.