L2850 was hard to get in reverse and now the clutch is not engaging

[Bill Kalbo]

Last fall, my Kubota L2850 GST 4x4 with a loader was hard to get in reverse and now, after sitting all winter, the clutch will not engage. I can get it into forward, with difficulty, when I depress the clutch, it keeps going forward. I can't get it into reverse at all.

The loader works but seems very slow. The 3pt goes up and down normally.

I topped up the hydraulic fluid with no difference.

What could be the problem?

Bill

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You have a stuck Mechanical clutch disk for one, it got moisture in it and rusted.
you're supposed to block the clutch pedal if your going to leave them parked for awhile.
But you should be able to move the shuttle lever to disengage the GST hydraulic clutch to make it not move, regardless if the mechanical clutch is stuck or not, as they are 2 separate systems.

 

[Bill Kalbo]

You have a stuck Mechanical clutch disk for one, it got moisture in it and rusted.
you're supposed to block the clutch pedal if your going to leave them parked for awhile.
But you should be able to move the shuttle lever to disengage the GST hydraulic clutch to make it not move, regardless if the mechanical clutch is stuck or not, as they are 2 separate systems.

I can easily move the shuttle lever but the clutch remains engaged. I can move from a drive gear to neutral to stop the tractor but even with the clutch completely depressed, when in gear, the tractor moves. How can I disengage the clutch?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I can easily move the shuttle lever but the clutch remains engaged. I can move from a drive gear to neutral to stop the tractor but even with the clutch completely depressed, when in gear, the tractor moves. How can I disengage the clutch?

let me clarify something, if you move the shuttle to the center will the tractor stop?
If so can you move the shuttle to reverse?

 

[Bill Kalbo]

There is no reverse on the shuttle. The forward, neutral and reverse is a lever on the column.

The center location on the shuttle is is 4th or 5th gear and no, it does no stop. It moves.

As stated, I can't get it into reverse. This started as a difficulty, but still possible, last year and now I can't get it into reverse at all.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Sorry Bill, but you have your terms wrong!

The shuttle is the lever on the column not the shifter on the fender

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ok lets get onto your issue now that we know the shuttle is on the column.

Will the lever move through all three positions or not?
So Forward, Neutral and Reverse?

And in forward it drives forward?
And in neutral it doesn't move?
And in reverse it drives in reverse?

In forward what happens when you push the clutch pedal?

 

[Bill Kalbo]

" As stated, I can't get it into reverse. This started as a difficulty, but still possible, last year and now I can't get it into reverse at all."

Forward works but is difficult now and it easily goes back to neutral.

Depressing the clutch does not stop the tractor from moving when in forward.

Is there a way to un-stick the clutch?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have essentially the same tractor and linkage and I've worked on every square inch of mine multiple times.

Ok first let's see if we can get the shuttle working without getting into the inside of the transmission.
It could very possibly be a linkage issue.

You will need to pull some covers to see the linkage.
Then take some pictures of what you see, so i can point to what you need to look for.

 

[sitric]

I also have the same tractor, and no matter where the linkage is, when I engage the clutch, it stops the tractor as OP points out his doesn't. Linkage may well be off also, but it does appear, according to his explanation, clutch is not disengaging motor from drive line.

 

[Bill Kalbo]

I removed the covers as suggested and it now slides from forward to neutral and reverse with no issues. I even managed to back it up and move it from the field to the workshop. It seems there is a mechanical issue that was impeding the linkage. I can fix that.

After checking the actual tractor instead of trusting the WSM, the gears do include a neutral position.

The clutch still will not disengage.

I'm not sure if you are looking for anything under the covers in reference to the clutch so if these pictures are not what you need, tell me and I'll take more.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ok now we got it to move, lets address the stuck clutch.

So you have any ground engaging implements?
Rototiller, Post Hole digger?

If you do then get it on the tractor, and while working it, quickly engage the clutch with the tractor at high RPMS.

If not, does it have a loader?
If it does put the loader bucket up against something very solid and put the tractor in 4th and 4wd, and low RPM, you will hold the clutch pedal down while engaging the shuttle in and out of forward, that should break the clutch plate free.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The linkage for the shuttle is probably worn, or has come loose and gone out of adjustment.