Refurbishing an L45

[PsRumors]

Picked up an L45 a couple weeks ago, two days before our 20th anniversary cruise, just now getting to servicing it and correcting a few issues. The tractor has 850 hours and runs and operates as it should except for the Auto Throttle Advance. There are no leaks but the fenders, hood and grill have seen better days. I got a great deal on the tractor so I don't mind dealing with correcting cosmetic issues.

Serviced the tractor; Kubota Filters (oil, hydrostatic, hydraulic, air inner & outer), Rotella T6 oil, and SUDT

Now working on the Auto Throttle Advance. The tractor is a 1 owner tractor and the owner stated the linked throttle has never worked. He returned it to the dealer on a couple of occasions but he stated they could never get it working correctly. Pulled the controller out from under the floor board and found the cable that runs to the injector pump disconnected and the arm in the mechanism would not disengage. The accelerator lever would not slide on the pin so disassembled. You can see there is some gouges on the pin and the ear on the arm holder is bent. Looks like the ear has been hit with a punch at some point in time.

Got everything straightened out and now the linked throttle works

 

[Peter 315]

Nice tractor, you should get some good use out of it...:thumbsup:

 

[fried1765]

Picked up an L45 a couple weeks ago, two days before our 20th anniversary cruise, just now getting to servicing it and correcting a few issues. The tractor has 850 hours and runs and operates as it should except for the Auto Throttle Advance. There are no leaks but the fenders, hood and grill have seen better days. I got a great deal on the tractor so I don't mind dealing with correcting cosmetic issues.

Serviced the tractor; Kubota Filters (oil, hydrostatic, hydraulic, air inner & outer), Rotella T6 oil, and SUDT

Now working on the Auto Throttle Advance. The tractor is a 1 owner tractor and the owner stated the linked throttle has never worked. He returned it to the dealer on a couple of occasions but he stated they could never get it working correctly. Pulled the controller out from under the floor board and found the cable that runs to the injector pump disconnected and the arm in the mechanism would not disengage. The accelerator lever would not slide on the pin so disassembled. You can see there is some gouges on the pin and the ear on the arm holder is bent. Looks like the ear has been hit with a punch at some point in time.

Got everything straightened out and now the linked throttle works

Congratulations on your find!

Nice that it has a factory hydraulic thumb.
Any chance it has a 3rd function also?

I think those fenders are about $800 each, so if you can strip, pound out, fill, sand, and paint them it will be worth your time.
Could do the same for the hood too.

You will love the machine!
I have the slightly bigger, but slightly older brother, L48.
My L48 has only 250 hours, and needs some paint work also, to get rid of the faded Kubota Mary Kay pink.
I don't consider that mine was a great deal, but it was a very good deal, and included some nice additional tractor gadgetry.

 

[5030]

Mary Kay pink adds character to any Kubota. I have 2 and both are slightly pink....

 

[PsRumors]

Congratulations on your find!

Nice that it has a factory hydraulic thumb.
Any chance it has a 3rd function also?

I think those fenders are about $800 each, so if you can strip, pound out, fill, sand, and paint them it will be worth your time.
Could do the same for the hood too..

I am so looking forward to using the thumb, I've had 2 TLBs (JD) so far and none with the thumb. I wish it had the 3rd function, I'll be adding it for sure, i'd like to run a grapple but also thinking a hydraulic driven auger vs using a PHD.

Yeah, the fenders are high, one might be able to be fixed, the other is to far gone. The owner's truck ('17 Ford F250 Platinum) looked worse than the tractor, I guess he just can't drive.

 

[5030]

But unlike the Kubby, the sheet metal parts are way cheaper and easier to find.

We had this conversation on another forum where you posted the same questions and received the same answers but I guess when a person goes fishing they might as well put on lots of bait.......

Nothing changes, parts will be high, especially sheet metal parts.

 

[PsRumors]

Got forks for the tractor today, ended up having to pull the SSQA carrier as it was tweaked and wouldnt attach, had a hard time even disconnecting the bucket.

I didnt get any pics but the face of the left plate was 1 1/4" behind the right plate, the timing rod was twisted.

 

[Smokeydog]

Curl all the way back to align the plates to either engage or disengage the locking pins for slight misalignment. Going all the forward and back helps time the connect rod. A tree helps too.

 

[PsRumors]

It was much more involved, I had to disassemble the left side, straighten a couple of the plates that go between pins and reweld the timing rod. The previous owner got it good

 

[woody]

It was much more involved, I had to disassemble the left side, straighten a couple of the plates that go between pins and reweld the timing rod. The previous owner got it good

keep the info coming I have an L45 and I wish I had the Thumb on it, I have one on my B26 and like it. if you have pictures of what you did to correct the timing please post

 

[Smokeydog]

Congrats on your tractor. Glad you were able to repair the ssqa. Hope it brings you many hours of use and enjoyment.

Bought a well abused M59 a few years ago to replace several aging agricultural tractors and backhoe. Been well pleased with the Kubota’s tlb series of tractors for our current work. Tough, versatile machines. Extremely easy to use as my chassis has a lot of hours on it too. If I had such a piece of equipment 50 years ago!?!*

Haven’t tried a ssqa auger yet. The 3rd function was one of first things I added. Grapples are used much more than bucket. Visibility, control (HST) and power are nearly perfect. Grabbing a crosstie and placing it in a freshly dug hole without getting off the tractor the first time was pure bliss.

 

[PsRumors]

Congrats on your tractor. Glad you were able to repair the ssqa. Hope it brings you many hours of use and enjoyment.

Bought a well abused M59 a few years ago to replace several aging agricultural tractors and backhoe. Been well pleased with the Kubota’s tlb series of tractors for our current work. Tough, versatile machines. Extremely easy to use as my chassis has a lot of hours on it too. If I had such a piece of equipment 50 years ago!?!*

Haven’t tried a ssqa auger yet. The 3rd function was one of first things I added. Grapples are used much more than bucket. Visibility, control (HST) and power are nearly perfect. Grabbing a crosstie and placing it in a freshly dug hole without getting off the tractor the first time was pure bliss.

I am wanting to add the 3rd function, quoted $900 by the local dealer. It would be used for an auger and grapple, in that order.

I'd love to trade up to a 59 but the 45 barely fits in my shop, have to go in with the BH angled back

 

[PsRumors]

When my drain tub wont hold 12 gallons I use the Mityvac fluid evacuator. Helps keep things from getting messy

 

[Smokeydog]

I have to lower the M59 backhoe to go thru the rolling doors and raise and lock inside for clearance. Tight fit. Have to remember to unlock and lower to back out. So far been lucky.
Our B26, my wife thinks its hers, is frequently most used. All the finish mowing, most landscaping, driveway ditch clearing, grapple it’s a great size. Would have been happy adding a L45 too. Bigger tractor for tree handling, bush hogging and driveway maintenance.

 

[mike69440]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...aulic-clyinders-loaders.html?highlight=TL1000

With wheel weights, this works out just right for an L39/45/47

 

[PsRumors]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...aulic-clyinders-loaders.html?highlight=TL1000

With wheel weights, this works out just right for an L39/45/47

I'm not there yet. I'm still sorting out a few things on my L45, not to mention this tractor is an upgrade from the 1025R I've used for the last 6 years, so capacity has greatly increased from what I've had.

 

[PsRumors]

Bought a new grill as the old one has seen better days. This led to another issue, see the melted spot in the 2nd pic? That was due to the 90 being blown out and all the exhaust looking for somewhere to go. Quick solution was to cut off the pipe a little shorter and point it towards the ground. Long term solution will be vertical exhaust if I can do it like I am envisioning


I'm aware of the issues with pointing the exhaust towards the ground, this is a stop gap measure

 

[PsRumors]

Well, I've had a small intermittent hydraulic leak I could not find. I had a sneaking suspicion it was the steering controller and today was able to confirm. The seal on the input shaft is leaking. Hopefully it can be resealed without issue as the controller is $1000.....Kubota is like Harley, everything is either $100 or $1000

 

[fried1765]

Well, I've had a small intermittent hydraulic leak I could not find. I had a sneaking suspicion it was the steering controller and today was able to confirm. The seal on the input shaft is leaking. Hopefully it can be resealed without issue as the controller is $1000.....Kubota is like Harley, everything is either $100 or $1000

Can you find a used one?
That unit is likely used on many other tractors.

 

[PsRumors]

Can you find a used one?
That unit is likely used on many other tractors.

I believe this is only used on the L45.