Great video. I bought a Kubota BX2200 in 2001 and just sold it today for $6,000 and bought a New BX2380 w/loader and 60" mower deck. I live on 8 acres and cleared about half. I serviced the tractor twice a year regardless of hours used. Only Kubota fluids just as Papa said. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
I have watched many videos of people talking about their tractors and you rarely see one with a 1000 hr. tractor review. You did a great job and one of the best videos I have seen on any tractor that actually gave some meaningful long term information.
I have the little 1870 and I bought it the year it was released 2013 I think. a couple years ago I bought a new piece of property with 40 acres to maintain. I bought a used Ford 3000 for the harder stuff. I love my BX and people ask me all the time why I love it so much. I call it the little tractor that can. If it blew up tomorrow I would go directly to my Kubota dealer and get the same series just the larger HP version. I will always own a BX. It is an invaluable little tractor. It is a little pricey yes, but like you, Mine has been long paid for. It has served me well and I hope it will continue to .
get a cold coffee filter for your fuel cap, there is a link for amazon of a Messicks video, that will keep the crap out of your tank I had the same problem and great video thanks
I bought a Kubota BX2680 in July of 2021. Best investment I've made....even though I've only put 110 hours on it so far, its saved me so many hours of manual labor type work, its been well worth the purchase. I have the loader, pallet forks, 60" mid mount mower, reverse rotation roto-tiller, box blade, and grading blade. Its a workhorse, and it does everything I need it to do on my 1 acre property. I do an occasional side job with it once in a while as well. I bought it because of its size, its small enough that I can use it in my barn/shop to move stuff around if needed and since I only have an acre, I don't need anything larger. I wanted the loader, that was the major thing I really wanted something bigger than a regular old lawn tractor for was for the loader option. I find that I use the pallet forks a lot on it for moving stuff around including my wood working tools....since I'm by myself I don't have anybody to help me lift and move stuff, so the tractor is my go-to for those heavy lifting and moving chores. I've replaced the fuel filters a couple times, I probably need to replace them again here soon. I haven't had any issues so far, but at 110 hours its still very new. I don't use it every day, but its nice that I have it and can use it whenever I want, rather than relying on someone else, or having to spend a ton of money to rent one.
One of the best, and honest, reviews I have seen for Kubota sub compact tractors. Excellent job. This will definitely help my upcoming decision to purchase one.
I have a BX2370 purchased new in February 2016 and have just turned 1130hrs on it. I have the loader, 54 mower and landscape rake attachments and your pros and cons mirror my experience with the machine as well. I do my own regular servicing and a believer of frequent greasing, the mower wheels remain snug after 7 years of maintaining 2.5 acres of lawn. A common issue with the BX are tie rod boots splitting, I replaced mine with higher quality boots at the 300 hr mark and have not had any issues since. It is a reliable trouble free machine that has done everything I needed.
Before you mentioned using the different fluid I was thinking I'd be really mad about the 5 grand repair bill with only a thousand hours. I currently have three Kubota tractors and have owned 3 others that I've traded in and never had a repair bill other than a 1000 dollar repair on one with 3600 hours. I don't like paying big bucks for Kubota fluids but I do so and after hearing your story I'm glad I do. Thanks for posting it.
That was a wonderfully honest review. I subbed because of that. I'm looking at used BX's now for spring and there was a ton of useful information in here. Keep up the great work.
Nice video! I bought a 1025r about 2.5 years ago and have been running a small tractor work side business with it since. I've got about 620 hours on it so far. Glad I stumbled on your channel. Good lessons on fluid choice and I know I need to try to engage the PTO at lower RPMs. I lived on the panhandle of FL for a few years when I was in the AF. Never thought about tilling the sand before. Makes a lot of sense. I get a fair amount of food plot tilling jobs and smoothing out newly cleared areas here in the SC upstate. I'll be checking out more, good job!
Great video, the hydraulic oil issue is what made me go to UDT2. The savings of $30-40 didn’t seem like a good investment to me. The Kubota parts guy said good choice when I bought all Kubota oils and filters. I have an old B1750 that drives and mows smooth before and after changing all the fluids I know the piece of mind will make it last for years to come.
Thanks, I just hit 156 hrs on a BX 2380. Zero problems. Hey check out, fitting a stainless steel coffee filter as a fuel inlet filter. I can't recall who recomended one, or which one. (less than $20.00 on Amazon). May be Biff in Pa? He is worth checking out. Also Be care full of that diff lock. It is not robust. The manual says to go straight. That does not work. I find getting it in before it's needed, or things are binding is key. What I do is make mild turns from side to side. Make sure, once it's in to keep your foot all the way down. Half in and it will blow up. May be even take out the case. You can have Florida, too many snakes, and too many New Yorkers!
@@KUWP Just looked through my Amazon history, guess it is too far back. I actually like snakes, my self. As it happens I live in upstate NY. The NYers are 150 miles South!
John with a Ritter Bit Will Do had a video about that coffee filter idea, I got one and put on my BX2680...it really doesn't do much other than keeping larger particles from entering the fuel tank. What Kubota needs to do is get rid of those stupid plastic inline filters that are a PITA and just put a regular serviceable spin on fuel filter on these machines.
Ran across your channel while viewing youtube tractor videos this morning. I retired 4+ years ago and we relocated, two time zones east. We have a B2301, though our J/D E180 (54-inch deck) does the majority of the chores. The Kubota does the heavy lifting. I agree with your point from an earlier episode; How did we ever have time for a full-time job?
Thank you for your opinion. We been looking into a tractor trying to do the research which once the better one. I am disabled So I need some don't need that much work. To get where those filters are would be too hard for me Unless they have made it better So we'll have to look in that one Thank you for the review
Good Eye! Yes, I knew that. I ordered replacement tires that were already on rims. And, well, it is what it is. Too much trouble to remove and spin around!
These tractor have so much torque I engage mine at idle with a 60 inch mower deck. I have the 2350 with that stupid plastic fender they made for just 1 year. Also I need to fix the plastic hood as it cracks right down the middle of the hood. My BX 23 TLB hood is all steel. My tie rod the boot fell off have a new one still have not replace that either as it is not causing any problem. Two year later they put a plastic hood on them and with all the vibration and age the plastic cracks. I just have it tape with duck tape right now on both sides. Bought the electric staple fix it tool just have not fixed it cause the duck tape is still holding. You can also buy plastic stuff and fix it after you hot staple and paint it. I would just hot staple it and retape it. The number one problem is the dust boots rot of the engine to drive shaft and at a idle I had a vibration at idle. Sure enough one boot was just hanging on making the drive shaft making the tractor shake. Grab it and it just fall off. It would only shake at idle. Give it gas and went away. Most rot off and people don't even know there is suppose to be one on each end of the driveshaft. Then engine side was rotted to so i just pulled it off. Now to replace a 5 dollar boot on each end you have to take the whole tractor apart. Also easy to brake off the trans plastic cooling fines you if a stick fly up there or mowing things to high and it hits the fan. I talked to the tech about it and he said run it till it causes a problem as it is so expensive to fix it. He said it may never go bad. So far its been 8 years and still no problems. I just jack up each end a lube it once a year with 90 weight oil. I told him they should make a boot that just snaps around the shaft easy fix. All it is is just a dust boot. But so far they have not. I bet most people don't no there even there when there as they rot off. I have a BX23 TLB and the diesel filter is just under the fender along with the hose. On my BX 2350 it is in a really bad spot. Have not had to replace it yet as a strain my diesel before I put it in. If when I have to I well move it someone were else. They have a sucking pump before it anyway so I will just move it so it goes down towards the pump. I bet the dealer moves that filter also. No reason to put it on top of the tranny covered by the whole front and back fender. Stupid idea compared were they put it on my BX23 TLB were it takes 5 minutes to change it. Really you want it to last a long time by a clutch and standard trans. Easy to repair a clutch rather then take one of those hydro trannies apart. I bet my bx 2350 is close to 18 years old. My BX23 TLB is 20 years old. They have all gone up 5,000 dollar since I bought mine or more. Industrial tires are the way to go. They don't leave any marks in the grass and they clean themselves out much easyer.
Thanks for the feedback. You hit on some items I overlooked. Drive shaft boot definitely no longer where it should be. Fan is still fine. If you do crack it, there are a few great tutorials on how to do it yourself in a couple of hours. I like the idea of relocating the fuel filter under the body. Would be pretty easy.
Kubota makes a fine tractor big or small . I have an 18 yr. old M5700 with zero issues . Not many hrs. at 850 but still a fine tractor. To bad the new ones are so over priced .
i have a BX2350 and i find it's more economical in the long run to buy the 5 gallon pale of super UDT. it is slightly more expensive then the cost of enough fluid for 1 fluid change but i have almost enough to change it all over again. i think the interval required for transmission. if you buy it by the individual gallon, it's far more expensive per gallon. i bought my tractor used 5 years ago for $8k. came with the 54" deck, and rear snowblower. only had 295 hours, currently it sits at 640 hours. i just did engine oil/filter, air cleaner and fuel filters...... and i got a new seat. it's not the newest model, the newer units have better fit and finish, better loader mount dismount.... but it is the same engine as a BX2380 and same as your BX2370. the engines havent changed since the BX2350 came out (23 hp). i hate the plastic panels but otherwise it seems to be fairly well put together. it's fairly trouble free and the capabilities are nearly identical to a new machine. the inflation is not being kind to our household, so i will probably end up keeping as long as i can. it's paid for. i added the loader separately (bought that brand new), have the BX grass catcher (we have dogs and kids, it keeps the mess out of the house), i added a tractor supply "countryline" rotto tiller (tarter)
Same thought on inflation. As much as I'd like a new one (considering a B2601 for bigger tires, less getting stuck in beach sand and muck when tilling), dang that is a lot of money I'd rather not spend. Oddly enough, the bigger bucket that comes with it would be a detriment to me in some cases. The bucket I have now fits perfectly in some tight spaces.
@@KUWP id like to buy a vintage tractor and keep my current kubota. i would love a farmall 140, i think they are awesome tractors..... best tractors ever made in my opinion were made by international harvester. before i had my kubota i had a 1948 farmall cub with a 60" belly mower and a blade for snow removal. it worked very well, but it needed an overhaul (clutch replacement and had 2 cylinders low on compression). it was useless from the standpoint of ever possibly running a loader. i miss my cub, it was an old row crop tractor and had that feeling of an old tractor. it had a distinctive sound. it was running when i sold it. the modern tractors can do things the old tractors have difficulty with, but the modern tractors lack soul and character. it actually did a great job mowing lawn, you never would have known the tractor i used was almost 70 years old. they did sell loaders for the cub, but they are rare, dont have power steering, and do not have the capability anywhere near a modern sub compact. they are also very difficult to mount and dismount. the loaders are almost useless except for historical context
When you showed those pto clutch friction disc, they looked like single faced dics, normal. That being said did you compare old disc to new replacement. What was the cause of very low fluid pressure? Sounded like a stuck or weak regulator valve. Don't think worn plates would've caused a low oil pressure reading. Glad you got it fixed, what was the brand of fluid that was suspect?
Great questions, and I don't know all the answers. I'm not completely sure just exactly how that clutch operates, except it is hydraulic versus electric, and that when you engage the PTO by pushing down the lever that controls the PTO clutch valve, it pressurizes that chamber where the clutch is and forces the plates together. The impression I have is that if the plates are worn, fluid slips by and pressure cannot build. Maybe someone else can explain. I got the exact same diagnosis from both dealers, and the guy that rebuilt it was adamant that they were overheated and worn way down. Plus, replacing them fixed it! Not sure about a regulator valve, but I suspect that would be the PTO clutch valve mentioned above. When you engage the PTO it moves to open position and exposes a very tiny hole to pressurized hydraulic fluid elsewhere in the transmission. I replaced it as a SWAG and it really didn't help. That most definitely has been a problem for others. That hole gets clogged with trash sometimes. Looking at the parts list, besides bearings, gaskets, seals, etc., the two major expenses were the clutch HST pump shaft which was shown in one of my photos, and the PTO clutch assembly. Tractor oil was from Carquest. Total bill was $ 4559.99, and I spent another $ 400 at the first dealer. Labor was $ 2640 of the $ 4559 so parts added up to $ 1919. The difference between the two quotes was labor rate. First dealer is more corporate oriented and charges I think $ 150/hour. I didn't ask the second one their rate, but is somewhere closer to $ 100 per hour. Much more reasonable. Hope that helps.
I expect you are curious and not interested in hiring me. So here is my logic. I limit myself to small jobs, typically something I can do in 4 hours or less. Tractor is a long-time paid for, so I really only need to worry about maintenance and fuel (until last week). I do local work only, typically for people who cannot afford to hire one of the big tractor guys that do this for a living. I don't compete with the big boys, kind of a niche market. I set aside about 25% of each paycheck for expenses. The rest I keep for what Jed Clampett used to call "walkin' around money." All that said, $ 50 per hour, one hour minimum for tilling which never takes more than an hour, two hour minimum for bucket work. Plus extra for travel if I have to go 20 miles or so. Pretty cheap, I know. No one every balks at the price. I could probably justify $ 80/hour plus and a much higher minimum. But I'm retired and no longer need to put a price on my time. And this helps people out. And I enjoy it. I am connected with a local land-clearing guy who calls me in once or twice a month to move dirt in areas where he cannot get his big tractor, or he is worried about the yard. Cheaper to call me than to buy a second, smaller tractor. Hope that helps.
Thanks! After you mentioned the hat, I realized I had two different ones on. One is a Shelta (white), the other a Tilley (green). Both are super comfortable.
This popped up in my suggested videos this morning. This is a great longer term review for sure. New subscriber to your channel. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, @maintenancewithmike.
😂 You just saved me over $4k thanks for the honest Review.
Great video. I bought a Kubota BX2200 in 2001 and just sold it today for $6,000 and bought a New BX2380 w/loader and 60" mower deck. I live on 8 acres and cleared about half. I serviced the tractor twice a year regardless of hours used. Only Kubota fluids just as Papa said. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
Thank you for the oil brand heads up. VERY IMPORTANT and glad you warned me
I have watched many videos of people talking about their tractors and you rarely see one with a 1000 hr. tractor review. You did a great job and one of the best videos I have seen on any tractor that actually gave some meaningful long term information.
Thanks! Very much appreciate your appraisal.
I have the little 1870 and I bought it the year it was released 2013 I think. a couple years ago I bought a new piece of property with 40 acres to maintain. I bought a used Ford 3000 for the harder stuff. I love my BX and people ask me all the time why I love it so much. I call it the little tractor that can. If it blew up tomorrow I would go directly to my Kubota dealer and get the same series just the larger HP version. I will always own a BX. It is an invaluable little tractor. It is a little pricey yes, but like you, Mine has been long paid for. It has served me well and I hope it will continue to .
get a cold coffee filter for your fuel cap, there is a link for amazon of a Messicks video, that will keep the crap out of your tank I had the same problem and great video thanks
I bought a Kubota BX2680 in July of 2021. Best investment I've made....even though I've only put 110 hours on it so far, its saved me so many hours of manual labor type work, its been well worth the purchase. I have the loader, pallet forks, 60" mid mount mower, reverse rotation roto-tiller, box blade, and grading blade. Its a workhorse, and it does everything I need it to do on my 1 acre property. I do an occasional side job with it once in a while as well. I bought it because of its size, its small enough that I can use it in my barn/shop to move stuff around if needed and since I only have an acre, I don't need anything larger. I wanted the loader, that was the major thing I really wanted something bigger than a regular old lawn tractor for was for the loader option. I find that I use the pallet forks a lot on it for moving stuff around including my wood working tools....since I'm by myself I don't have anybody to help me lift and move stuff, so the tractor is my go-to for those heavy lifting and moving chores.
I've replaced the fuel filters a couple times, I probably need to replace them again here soon. I haven't had any issues so far, but at 110 hours its still very new. I don't use it every day, but its nice that I have it and can use it whenever I want, rather than relying on someone else, or having to spend a ton of money to rent one.
One of the best, and honest, reviews I have seen for Kubota sub compact tractors. Excellent job. This will definitely help my upcoming decision to purchase one.
Good luck with your decision making!
I have a BX2370 purchased new in February 2016 and have just turned 1130hrs on it. I have the loader, 54 mower and landscape rake attachments and your pros and cons mirror my experience with the machine as well. I do my own regular servicing and a believer of frequent greasing, the mower wheels remain snug after 7 years of maintaining 2.5 acres of lawn. A common issue with the BX are tie rod boots splitting, I replaced mine with higher quality boots at the 300 hr mark and have not had any issues since. It is a reliable trouble free machine that has done everything I needed.
Nice to hear others are enjoying theirs as much as I do mine! Bet your PTO is still good!
Before you mentioned using the different fluid I was thinking I'd be really mad about the 5 grand repair bill with only a thousand hours. I currently have three Kubota tractors and have owned 3 others that I've traded in and never had a repair bill other than a 1000 dollar repair on one with 3600 hours. I don't like paying big bucks for Kubota fluids but I do so and after hearing your story I'm glad I do. Thanks for posting it.
I thought I said in the previous comment that I'm glad I've always used the Kubota fluids especially after hearing your story. Thanks for posting it.
Glad others can learn from my mistakes! Something good came from it.
That was a wonderfully honest review. I subbed because of that. I'm looking at used BX's now for spring and there was a ton of useful information in here. Keep up the great work.
Glad you found it useful!
Great video. Thanks for sharing and the honesty. Best part is I learned from your experiences. Thanks for taking the time.
Thanks
Nice video! I bought a 1025r about 2.5 years ago and have been running a small tractor work side business with it since. I've got about 620 hours on it so far. Glad I stumbled on your channel. Good lessons on fluid choice and I know I need to try to engage the PTO at lower RPMs. I lived on the panhandle of FL for a few years when I was in the AF. Never thought about tilling the sand before. Makes a lot of sense. I get a fair amount of food plot tilling jobs and smoothing out newly cleared areas here in the SC upstate. I'll be checking out more, good job!
Thanks for the feedback. Glad others can learn from my mistakes!
Great video, the hydraulic oil issue is what made me go to UDT2. The savings of $30-40 didn’t seem like a good investment to me. The Kubota parts guy said good choice when I bought all Kubota oils and filters. I have an old B1750 that drives and mows smooth before and after changing all the fluids I know the piece of mind will make it last for years to come.
Thank you! 👍
Thanks, I just hit 156 hrs on a BX 2380.
Zero problems.
Hey check out, fitting a stainless steel coffee filter as a fuel inlet filter.
I can't recall who recomended one, or which one. (less than $20.00 on Amazon). May be Biff in Pa? He is worth checking out.
Also Be care full of that diff lock. It is not robust.
The manual says to go straight. That does not work. I find getting it in before it's needed, or things are binding is key.
What I do is make mild turns from side to side.
Make sure, once it's in to keep your foot all the way down. Half in and it will blow up. May be even take out the case.
You can have Florida, too many snakes, and too many New Yorkers!
LOL. I like snakes! Interesting tips. I'll check out the coffee filter idea.
@@KUWP Just looked through my Amazon history, guess it is too far back.
I actually like snakes, my self.
As it happens I live in upstate NY.
The NYers are 150 miles South!
Hey TH-camr Ritter Bit Will do has a link, to the filter. I assume the same size
John with a Ritter Bit Will Do had a video about that coffee filter idea, I got one and put on my BX2680...it really doesn't do much other than keeping larger particles from entering the fuel tank. What Kubota needs to do is get rid of those stupid plastic inline filters that are a PITA and just put a regular serviceable spin on fuel filter on these machines.
That first stage of filtering is important.
Tractors often live in nasty conditions.
Definitely like the hood on the 80 series better.
Ran across your channel while viewing youtube tractor videos this morning. I retired 4+ years ago and we relocated, two time zones east. We have a B2301, though our J/D E180 (54-inch deck) does the majority of the chores. The Kubota does the heavy lifting. I agree with your point from an earlier episode; How did we ever have time for a full-time job?
Glad you liked the vid. Hope we never catch up on projects. If that ever happens we will likely be very, very bored!
Thank you for your opinion. We been looking into a tractor trying to do the research which once the better one. I am disabled So I need some don't need that much work. To get where those filters are would be too hard for me Unless they have made it better So we'll have to look in that one Thank you for the review
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video, just wondering about the tread direction on you front tires, I'm guessing one is backwards .
Good Eye! Yes, I knew that. I ordered replacement tires that were already on rims. And, well, it is what it is. Too much trouble to remove and spin around!
I had my front tires foam filled after knocking them off the bead several times, no looking back best improvement, it should come like that.
Foam filled. That's new to me. Great tip, I'm going to look into it. Right now!
These tractor have so much torque I engage mine at idle with a 60 inch mower deck. I have the 2350 with that stupid plastic fender they made for just 1 year. Also I need to fix the plastic hood as it cracks right down the middle of the hood. My BX 23 TLB hood is all steel. My tie rod the boot fell off have a new one still have not replace that either as it is not causing any problem. Two year later they put a plastic hood on them and with all the vibration and age the plastic cracks. I just have it tape with duck tape right now on both sides. Bought the electric staple fix it tool just have not fixed it cause the duck tape is still holding. You can also buy plastic stuff and fix it after you hot staple and paint it. I would just hot staple it and retape it. The number one problem is the dust boots rot of the engine to drive shaft and at a idle I had a vibration at idle. Sure enough one boot was just hanging on making the drive shaft making the tractor shake. Grab it and it just fall off. It would only shake at idle. Give it gas and went away. Most rot off and people don't even know there is suppose to be one on each end of the driveshaft. Then engine side was rotted to so i just pulled it off. Now to replace a 5 dollar boot on each end you have to take the whole tractor apart. Also easy to brake off the trans plastic cooling fines you if a stick fly up there or mowing things to high and it hits the fan. I talked to the tech about it and he said run it till it causes a problem as it is so expensive to fix it. He said it may never go bad. So far its been 8 years and still no problems. I just jack up each end a lube it once a year with 90 weight oil. I told him they should make a boot that just snaps around the shaft easy fix. All it is is just a dust boot. But so far they have not. I bet most people don't no there even there when there as they rot off. I have a BX23 TLB and the diesel filter is just under the fender along with the hose. On my BX 2350 it is in a really bad spot. Have not had to replace it yet as a strain my diesel before I put it in. If when I have to I well move it someone were else. They have a sucking pump before it anyway so I will just move it so it goes down towards the pump. I bet the dealer moves that filter also. No reason to put it on top of the tranny covered by the whole front and back fender. Stupid idea compared were they put it on my BX23 TLB were it takes 5 minutes to change it. Really you want it to last a long time by a clutch and standard trans. Easy to repair a clutch rather then take one of those hydro trannies apart. I bet my bx 2350 is close to 18 years old. My BX23 TLB is 20 years old. They have all gone up 5,000 dollar since I bought mine or more. Industrial tires are the way to go. They don't leave any marks in the grass and they clean themselves out much easyer.
Thanks for the feedback. You hit on some items I overlooked. Drive shaft boot definitely no longer where it should be. Fan is still fine. If you do crack it, there are a few great tutorials on how to do it yourself in a couple of hours. I like the idea of relocating the fuel filter under the body. Would be pretty easy.
Great review loved your presentation
Thanks!
Excellent review!!
Thanks!
Kubota makes a fine tractor big or small . I have an 18 yr. old M5700 with zero issues . Not many hrs. at 850 but still a fine tractor. To bad the new ones are so over priced .
i have a BX2350 and i find it's more economical in the long run to buy the 5 gallon pale of super UDT. it is slightly more expensive then the cost of enough fluid for 1 fluid change but i have almost enough to change it all over again. i think the interval required for transmission. if you buy it by the individual gallon, it's far more expensive per gallon. i bought my tractor used 5 years ago for $8k. came with the 54" deck, and rear snowblower. only had 295 hours, currently it sits at 640 hours. i just did engine oil/filter, air cleaner and fuel filters...... and i got a new seat. it's not the newest model, the newer units have better fit and finish, better loader mount dismount.... but it is the same engine as a BX2380 and same as your BX2370. the engines havent changed since the BX2350 came out (23 hp). i hate the plastic panels but otherwise it seems to be fairly well put together. it's fairly trouble free and the capabilities are nearly identical to a new machine. the inflation is not being kind to our household, so i will probably end up keeping as long as i can. it's paid for.
i added the loader separately (bought that brand new), have the BX grass catcher (we have dogs and kids, it keeps the mess out of the house), i added a tractor supply "countryline" rotto tiller (tarter)
Same thought on inflation. As much as I'd like a new one (considering a B2601 for bigger tires, less getting stuck in beach sand and muck when tilling), dang that is a lot of money I'd rather not spend. Oddly enough, the bigger bucket that comes with it would be a detriment to me in some cases. The bucket I have now fits perfectly in some tight spaces.
@@KUWP id like to buy a vintage tractor and keep my current kubota. i would love a farmall 140, i think they are awesome tractors..... best tractors ever made in my opinion were made by international harvester. before i had my kubota i had a 1948 farmall cub with a 60" belly mower and a blade for snow removal. it worked very well, but it needed an overhaul (clutch replacement and had 2 cylinders low on compression). it was useless from the standpoint of ever possibly running a loader. i miss my cub, it was an old row crop tractor and had that feeling of an old tractor. it had a distinctive sound. it was running when i sold it.
the modern tractors can do things the old tractors have difficulty with, but the modern tractors lack soul and character. it actually did a great job mowing lawn, you never would have known the tractor i used was almost 70 years old. they did sell loaders for the cub, but they are rare, dont have power steering, and do not have the capability anywhere near a modern sub compact. they are also very difficult to mount and dismount. the loaders are almost useless except for historical context
When you showed those pto clutch friction disc, they looked like single faced dics, normal. That being said did you compare old disc to new replacement. What was the cause of very low fluid pressure? Sounded like a stuck or weak regulator valve. Don't think worn plates would've caused a low oil pressure reading. Glad you got it fixed, what was the brand of fluid that was suspect?
Great questions, and I don't know all the answers. I'm not completely sure just exactly how that clutch operates, except it is hydraulic versus electric, and that when you engage the PTO by pushing down the lever that controls the PTO clutch valve, it pressurizes that chamber where the clutch is and forces the plates together. The impression I have is that if the plates are worn, fluid slips by and pressure cannot build. Maybe someone else can explain. I got the exact same diagnosis from both dealers, and the guy that rebuilt it was adamant that they were overheated and worn way down.
Plus, replacing them fixed it!
Not sure about a regulator valve, but I suspect that would be the PTO clutch valve mentioned above. When you engage the PTO it moves to open position and exposes a very tiny hole to pressurized hydraulic fluid elsewhere in the transmission. I replaced it as a SWAG and it really didn't help. That most definitely has been a problem for others. That hole gets clogged with trash sometimes.
Looking at the parts list, besides bearings, gaskets, seals, etc., the two major expenses were the clutch HST pump shaft which was shown in one of my photos, and the PTO clutch assembly.
Tractor oil was from Carquest.
Total bill was $ 4559.99, and I spent another $ 400 at the first dealer. Labor was $ 2640 of the $ 4559 so parts added up to $ 1919. The difference between the two quotes was labor rate. First dealer is more corporate oriented and charges I think $ 150/hour. I didn't ask the second one their rate, but is somewhere closer to $ 100 per hour. Much more reasonable.
Hope that helps.
The air filter box it need out side prefilter
Interesting idea. I've never seen one.
How much per hour do you charge please
I expect you are curious and not interested in hiring me. So here is my logic. I limit myself to small jobs, typically something I can do in 4 hours or less. Tractor is a long-time paid for, so I really only need to worry about maintenance and fuel (until last week). I do local work only, typically for people who cannot afford to hire one of the big tractor guys that do this for a living. I don't compete with the big boys, kind of a niche market.
I set aside about 25% of each paycheck for expenses. The rest I keep for what Jed Clampett used to call "walkin' around money."
All that said, $ 50 per hour, one hour minimum for tilling which never takes more than an hour, two hour minimum for bucket work. Plus extra for travel if I have to go 20 miles or so. Pretty cheap, I know. No one every balks at the price. I could probably justify $ 80/hour plus and a much higher minimum. But I'm retired and no longer need to put a price on my time. And this helps people out. And I enjoy it.
I am connected with a local land-clearing guy who calls me in once or twice a month to move dirt in areas where he cannot get his big tractor, or he is worried about the yard. Cheaper to call me than to buy a second, smaller tractor.
Hope that helps.
Nice vid. Sweet Hat. Don't make em like that anymore....
Thanks! After you mentioned the hat, I realized I had two different ones on. One is a Shelta (white), the other a Tilley (green). Both are super comfortable.
Thanks so much sharing your experience with your Kubota. I just bought a used B7500 and looking forward to it's delivery!
Excellent video also!!
Glad you found it useful!
This popped up in my suggested videos this morning. This is a great longer term review for sure. New subscriber to your channel. Thanks for sharing! Cheers,
@maintenancewithmike.
Hope you don’t mind I shared this video on the community tab of my TH-cam channel. @maintenancewithmike.
Share away!