Bought my M4700DT used from a guy in Buda, Tx. He was the second owner, the first owner bought it from the Baytown, Tx Kubota dealer when it was new in July 1996 (that info obtained from the selling dealer.)
While it is low-time (less than 500 hrs...hard to understand why a tractor that's 22 years old is so low time*) it's been stored with mice apparently. I've found mouse-damaged wiring behind the instrument panel and at the headlight wiring, which I've mostly repaired.
But the alternator also only put out 11 volts so I installed a new alternator which fixed that problem.
The manual states that the "Easy Checker" will indicate the Fuel Level and the Oil Pressure lamps will illuminate if there's an electrical problem ...or whenever the key is first turned on. I've not operated it sufficiently low on fuel to know if the low fuel level light will illuminate or not... so I don't know yet if the lamp even works.... as it certainly does not illuminate when the key is first turned on before starting.... or I'd have known during purchase there was an alternator/electrical problem before I paid the man for it. (The temp guage also didn't work but during the prepurchase inspection it was never operated long enough to warrant a temp increase that would have caused the gauge to be suspect. For obvious reasons the seller did not reveal those problems when I came to look at it and I was too excited to see a 22 yr old tractor that first appeared so clean and could be mine all mine. Please don't tell anyone I teach aircraft maintenance.)
Anyway... I blew it during pre-buy inspection on a few items...Heh?
* The low time is apparently correct by all indications. The tires are original per date and excellent tread, and the low-voltage alternator has full-length brushes by comparison to Kubota specifications. (The internal regulator was the problem...perhaps related to the same mice-damaged wiring. A replacement regulator was inexpensive ($18) and now I have a spare alternator.)
I'm awaiting a low fuel level to see if that portion of the Fuel Level in the Easy Checker works. Any commentary or advice is appreciated.
While it is low-time (less than 500 hrs...hard to understand why a tractor that's 22 years old is so low time*) it's been stored with mice apparently. I've found mouse-damaged wiring behind the instrument panel and at the headlight wiring, which I've mostly repaired.
But the alternator also only put out 11 volts so I installed a new alternator which fixed that problem.
The manual states that the "Easy Checker" will indicate the Fuel Level and the Oil Pressure lamps will illuminate if there's an electrical problem ...or whenever the key is first turned on. I've not operated it sufficiently low on fuel to know if the low fuel level light will illuminate or not... so I don't know yet if the lamp even works.... as it certainly does not illuminate when the key is first turned on before starting.... or I'd have known during purchase there was an alternator/electrical problem before I paid the man for it. (The temp guage also didn't work but during the prepurchase inspection it was never operated long enough to warrant a temp increase that would have caused the gauge to be suspect. For obvious reasons the seller did not reveal those problems when I came to look at it and I was too excited to see a 22 yr old tractor that first appeared so clean and could be mine all mine. Please don't tell anyone I teach aircraft maintenance.)
Anyway... I blew it during pre-buy inspection on a few items...Heh?
* The low time is apparently correct by all indications. The tires are original per date and excellent tread, and the low-voltage alternator has full-length brushes by comparison to Kubota specifications. (The internal regulator was the problem...perhaps related to the same mice-damaged wiring. A replacement regulator was inexpensive ($18) and now I have a spare alternator.)
I'm awaiting a low fuel level to see if that portion of the Fuel Level in the Easy Checker works. Any commentary or advice is appreciated.
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