Only one rear wheel turns.

Knobby

New member

Equipment
Kubota L185
Aug 21, 2018
3
0
0
Goshen, KY
I have a 2 wheel drive Kubota l185. I got stuck on a slight incline in a muddy ditch. I use the differential lock pedal but was only able to get out of the ditch by being pulled out while backing up and again using the differential lock pedal. When I was free from the ditch and unhooked the tractor from the vehicle that pulled me out I moved the tractor from the ditch approximately 20 ft and stopped. When I went back to the Tractor to move it back to the barn only the left rear wheel would spin. The right rear appears locked up. Have I damaged the differential or transmission? What would be my first step in troubleshooting this problem? By the way my rear Hydraulics went out a couple weeks ago and when I check the fluid level it appeared full. Could this be related? Thanks for any and all help.
 

100 td

Active member

Equipment
B21TLB (B21, TL421 & BT751) Toyota SDK4 T116 Bobcat
Aug 29, 2015
1,776
9
38
ɹǝpunuʍop
When I went back to the Tractor to move it back to the barn only the left rear wheel would spin.
Are you saying you drove the tractor and the right wheel dragged/was locked solid? Are you on flat ground? Is the brake pedal stuck down? Have you tried engaging the diff lock again?
 

Knobby

New member

Equipment
Kubota L185
Aug 21, 2018
3
0
0
Goshen, KY
Are you saying you drove the tractor and the right wheel dragged/was locked solid? Are you on flat ground? Is the brake pedal stuck down? Have you tried engaging the diff lock again?
I drove the tractor approximately 20ft with both wheels turning after it was pulled out of the ditch. It was only when I went back to it 2 drive it to the barn that the right back wheel wouldn't move. It is on relatively flat ground with maybe just a minimal downhill lean to the right. I have tried multiple times 2 engage and disengage the differential lock as well as the brake with no success. The left wheel spins in place and the right wheel remains stationary.
 

100 td

Active member

Equipment
B21TLB (B21, TL421 & BT751) Toyota SDK4 T116 Bobcat
Aug 29, 2015
1,776
9
38
ɹǝpunuʍop
Unlock the brake pedals, ensure they both return and the park brake is released (it may engage on only one pedal), look at the position of the brake mechanism on each rear axle housing to ensure they are in the same place (meaning at the same angle), disengage difflock, physically pull it up, apply brake to spinning wheel.
 

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,487
1,491
113
Austin, Texas
On the L185 you can lock the left brake only. There is a ratchet device to use to lock the pedals both down IF you lock both pedals together first with a flat bar that rotates on a pin. It locks the left pedal so if the bar wasn’t in position then only the left brake would be locked

There is a round wire loop on the right side near the pedals on the clutch housing/transmission. Push the pedals down to release it.

I doubt that’s it but the brakes don’t work that well in reverse so maybe it would roll backwards but not forwards. I would think your tractor would make a very hard left in forward if this is the problem.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Knobby

New member

Equipment
Kubota L185
Aug 21, 2018
3
0
0
Goshen, KY
Re: Only one rear wheel turns update

Thanks for the input guys. I had tried everything you suggested prior to posting my question on the forum except one. I have failed to disengage the two brake pedals. When I did that and braked only the left wheel it worked like a charm! I've had this particular tractor for over 30 years and have never needed to disengage the two brake pedal so that never crossed my mind as a possible solution. 100 td I owe you a tall frosty cold one - a virtual toast to you !
 

Lil Foot

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
7,609
2,679
113
Peoria, AZ
Gotta love this forum! Well done 100 td!
 

100 td

Active member

Equipment
B21TLB (B21, TL421 & BT751) Toyota SDK4 T116 Bobcat
Aug 29, 2015
1,776
9
38
ɹǝpunuʍop
Just for future reference for others down the track, if one wheel is spinning(without crunching sounds) then you have differential action, meaning the diff and axles are OK. If the other axle was broken or stripped, the differential action would drive the non-loaded components, meaning spin the broken axle etc., and the other wheel would not spin. It doesn't take a lot to spin a wheel if there is soft or uneven ground, drive will always go to the least resistance, so it spins the wheel rather than pushing the tractor with the other wheel which is solidly engaged with the ground.

ATRAC and other electronic traction systems/aids in vehicles, brake the spinning wheel to force the other(s) wheels to drive. Same as you pushing down one brake pedal.