So about a month ago I bought my first property with 2.5 mostly clear acres.
Since then I've been kinda tossing around the idea of picking up a compact tractor to play around with. My grandad had a pair of B-series Kubotas that were rather tough little things, so I was leaning in that direction.
Found an L185 on craigslist and went to pick it up yesterday.
Ended up being ~ a 10 hour round trip, but I kinda liked this one.
~750 hours, supposedly one owner (bought it from a rural (non-Kubota) dealer), and overall fairly clean. Likely overpaid a bit, $3200, but /shrug.
Will be used mostly for mowing, though I'm hoping it'll handle an auger.
Paint appears original, has most if not all of it's stickers (pic)... which is helpful, as apparently you're not supposed to kill the engine with the black knob on the dash (decompression?) (pic) as the guy I picked it up from indicated, but to use the lever on the right below the throttle stick (pic).
Ah well.
I've played with small Briggs and Kohler powered garden tractors for a while, but this'll be my first diesel.
Actually a little surprised Kubota doesn't have owners guides on their website, what's the best place to find one?
Will need to find a finish mower to use with it, was originally leaning towards finding a belly mower but the three-point likely makes more sense.
What's the max width finish mower it'll handle, 5' ish?
The only three minor issues I've noticed are
- Front tires are shot. Best source?
- The outer brake pedal return isn't all that great. I unlocked the pedals to play with the independent rear wheel brakes and the outer one stuck down after being pressed. Re-locked the two together and 's fine, brakes are strong.
- The key switch is super stiff. If I grab it with a pair of vice grips (I know, generally not the best idea) it actually turns fine. But just turning it with your fingers its really stiff. Have tried penetrating oil, didn't make much of a diff...
I am, btw, assuming that the tractor is not supposed to turn off when you turn the key off. If it is that's another somewhat minor thing to fix.
Would appreciate any additional input, esp what I need to do to keep the engine healthy.
's running good at the moment, starts right up.
Since then I've been kinda tossing around the idea of picking up a compact tractor to play around with. My grandad had a pair of B-series Kubotas that were rather tough little things, so I was leaning in that direction.
Found an L185 on craigslist and went to pick it up yesterday.
Ended up being ~ a 10 hour round trip, but I kinda liked this one.
~750 hours, supposedly one owner (bought it from a rural (non-Kubota) dealer), and overall fairly clean. Likely overpaid a bit, $3200, but /shrug.
Will be used mostly for mowing, though I'm hoping it'll handle an auger.
Paint appears original, has most if not all of it's stickers (pic)... which is helpful, as apparently you're not supposed to kill the engine with the black knob on the dash (decompression?) (pic) as the guy I picked it up from indicated, but to use the lever on the right below the throttle stick (pic).
Ah well.
I've played with small Briggs and Kohler powered garden tractors for a while, but this'll be my first diesel.
Actually a little surprised Kubota doesn't have owners guides on their website, what's the best place to find one?
Will need to find a finish mower to use with it, was originally leaning towards finding a belly mower but the three-point likely makes more sense.
What's the max width finish mower it'll handle, 5' ish?
The only three minor issues I've noticed are
- Front tires are shot. Best source?
- The outer brake pedal return isn't all that great. I unlocked the pedals to play with the independent rear wheel brakes and the outer one stuck down after being pressed. Re-locked the two together and 's fine, brakes are strong.
- The key switch is super stiff. If I grab it with a pair of vice grips (I know, generally not the best idea) it actually turns fine. But just turning it with your fingers its really stiff. Have tried penetrating oil, didn't make much of a diff...
I am, btw, assuming that the tractor is not supposed to turn off when you turn the key off. If it is that's another somewhat minor thing to fix.
Would appreciate any additional input, esp what I need to do to keep the engine healthy.
's running good at the moment, starts right up.
sweet looking tractor. I have the grey version. It's a surprisingly strong rugged little tractor. With weight on the front you can handle a 60" finish mower with ease. Or a 4 foot rotary cutter. It will handle a five foot back blade or box blade also. 
