Kubota L35 with Clanking Sound, Help!

[Andf]

Hi, I'm looking at a Kubota L35. Owner sent a video of it running and identified that he thinks the sound is coming from the transmission. Here's the video on youtube. https://youtu.be/W5ZE6KQqcAk Any ideas what this might be? Fixable? Cost of fix? I know it's not much to go on but just posting in case someone knows. Asking price is low, so I suspect the seller knows the specific issue and the price to fix it, hence the low asking price.

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[L35]

Yea that’s not normal and the fact it went away it with the clutch depressed tells us it’s transmission/clutch related.
the tractor will need to be split to access the transmission/clutch. Did he mention if if forward/reverses in all gears? Does it go away while operating?
if you do it yourself it may be reasonable, if not a lot of labor is involved I’d expect a several thousand dollar bill.

 

[Andf]

Thanks for the quick reply. There's a video of the tractor moving too. I don't hear the sound as much: https://youtube.com/shorts/5HXYgvegwSA?feature=share

 

[L35]

It still seems like it’s there. What’s the price and how many hours, etc?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

kinda 'neat', almost a clock it's so slow. Sadly ,L35 isn't in Canada Kubota's Parts finder, so I couldn't 'see' what's inside. Since it still drives,not a total failure, BUT agree, it's have to be split to SEE what's causing the noise. maybe someone an post 'what's inside' drawings or has seen, er, heard this before ?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That's one odd clank.
Possibly bad pressure plate?
But I'm leaning more to a bad gear?

 

[Andf]

It's got almost 4000 hours and he's asking 8k for it. Fixing a transmision is not in my skillset. So several thousand dollars to a dealer to fix and we're at 15k, which is about what one in good shape is worth...

Thanks for the quick replies, much appreciated!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

aw, I was hoping you buy it, tear it apart and TELL us what makes the 'clunk'.....

 

[Wayne gv]

aw, I was hoping you buy it, tear it apart and TELL us what makes the 'clunk'.....

Check the wheel lug nut if they are loose or ever were they may oblong causing a thumping sound as you move.

 

[Wayne gv]

That's one odd clank.
Possibly bad pressure plate?
But I'm leaning more to a bad gear?

Just watched the video and listened to the noise. Wish you were still there to see if the pto shaft was turning.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Check the wheel lug nut if they are loose or ever were they may oblong causing a thumping sound as you move.

Just watched the video and listened to the noise. Wish you were still there to see if the pto shaft was turning.

@Wayne gv, you need to reply to the OP not to other members.

OP was not in direct contact with the tractor, video was sent from the seller to the OP.

The clucking was there when it wasn't moving so it's not lug nuts.

The PTO operations, would be a good thing to know, but unlikely to show much, considering the tractor moved so the transmission has input power.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

it does seem to be a slow ,perfectly timed ,clunk NOT at engine speed, so maybe PTO related
sure be nice to be there to 'move levers' and listen...
Maybe PTO shaft hitting the PTO shield ? Lotta snow on the machine,can't see PTO at all.

 

[L35]

I’d offer 6.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

That's one odd clank.
Possibly bad pressure plate?
But I'm leaning more to a bad gear?

If the PTO and main gear are in neutral, there aren't many gears turning. Actually, those may be constant mesh, so more gears may be in motion. I think, regardless, fixing it involves a split and probably more.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

@Andf, considerably more $, but here's an L45 for sale.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If the PTO and main gear are in neutral, there aren't many gears turning. Actually, those may be constant mesh, so more gears may be in motion. I think, regardless, fixing it involves a split and probably more.
View attachment 145904

The one thing I did think about was the one way clutches can make that sound.
I think for $8K I would buy it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Big problem is 'cost for dealer to fix' vs 'similar but working tractor' cost'.

I can see it could cost a LOT for a dealer to tear it down and praying he FINDS the 'clunk creator'. If he doesn't, or doesn't have the part(s), it'd be a waste of coins. Around here shop time is $1K per day ( +13%). so 5 days = $5K + say $1K in parts... $6K to fix in 40 hrs ?? Maybe $7K ?
I wonder if you could hire a Kubota mechanic who KNOWS that machine to diagnose it,on site ?
I listened again and the clunk seems slower than engine RPM, so wondering does that orange circled one way clutch spin at engine RPM or slower ? 'clunk' sounds like something hitting another 'something' once per rev, then nothing....maybe a spring loaded cam,no longer spring loaded ?centrifugal force makes it 'clunk' but without spring, it 'folds' away, doesn't break...over and over and over....
Another factor.....How's getting internal parts for this tractor ? It'd be lousy to find out ,hay I need a 'zxcvbn' BUT they're NLA, No Longer Available !
hmm, wonder if listening with stethoscope could narrow down what the 'clunk' is ?

I'd just hate to see ' bought it, can't be fixed and then a page of 4 letter words'.....

 

[PoTreeBoy]

The one thing I did think about was the one way clutches can make that sound.
I think for $8K I would buy it.


View attachment 145906

If the noise goes away with PTO in neutral, it would be a non-issue as long as OP doesn't need the PTO.

Paying dealer rate to repair, unless you knew the shop, I don't know . . .

 

[Dave_eng]

it does seem to be a slow ,perfectly timed ,clunk NOT at engine speed, so maybe PTO related
sure be nice to be there to 'move levers' and listen...
Maybe PTO shaft hitting the PTO shield ? Lotta snow on the machine,can't see PTO at all.

I downloaded an Ap from Google Play Store. It is to measure audio frequency
The clunk is occurring around 1300 to 1400 time per minute
Knowing if this is the engine speed when the first youtube was provided would narrow the source of the sound.
If the pto shaft runs at 540 rpm max then the sound cannot originate there.
Dave

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I downloaded an Ap from Google Play Store. It is to measure audio frequency
The clunk is occurring around 1300 to 1400 time per minute
Knowing if this is the engine speed when the first youtube was provided would narrow the source of the sound.
If the pto shaft runs at 540 rpm max then the sound cannot originate there.
Dave

The PTO shaft runs at a higher speed before the final output, so the noise cold come from the PTO drive.

All of this is a Moot Point as it sounds like the OP is not buying the tractor.
So we will never know the final outcome.