An old friend comes to live with me

Iceman

New member

Equipment
L185DT
Mar 5, 2012
8
0
0
Atlanta, GA USA
Hello all,

A few weeks ago my Uncle sent me an e-mail asking me if I wanted my Granddaddy's old tractor, a Kubota L185DT with an FEL and Woods finishing deck.

In my youth, I spent many hours mowin' the grass, haulin' wood, or workin' on this tractor with my Grandaddy. So of course I said I wanted it, and I went and picked her up last week.

It looks rough, and needs some work, but it runs good. Every time I sit in the seat to start her up, I can hear my Grandaddy asking me if I checked the oil, reminding me to make sure the transmission and PTO are in neutral, and telling me to push the clutch in. And when it comes time to shut her down, put it neutral, lock the brakes, turn the key off, lift and hold the fuel cut off until the engine stops. It's like I'm 8 years old again.

Without a doubt fond memories.

This week I've pressure washed it, changed the engine oil, coolant, filters and changed the fuel (the fuel that was in it was black).

She had a hydraulic leak on the loader so I took the hydraulic lines off and turns out the under side of the tubing was rusted out. The cost of replacing the tubing is cost prohibitive, so yesterday I took the tubing to a hydraulic shop and had hoses made up to replace the tubing.

Today I'll install the hoses, replace the 80W-90 hydraulic / transmission oil with an equivalent to Kubota UDT, and lubricate her.

I've learned a lot from this forum. For example, where to get shop manuals, what to look for as I'm servicing her, and what year model she is (1978). But there are a few of things I would still like to know.

1) Can I use Kubota UDT or an equivalent in the front axle?

2) How many lubrication points (Zerk fittings) are on this tractor?

3) How can I determine witch FEL is on this tractor? I'm pretty sure it's an L1200 or L1700.

Thank you for a great forum (my Grandaddy would have loved this forum), and thank you in advance for answering my questions.

Iceman

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skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,568
3,329
113
SW Pa
That is way cool, with out a doubt the answers are here, I wish you and that bad girl many years and hope you can pass it along to your grand son
 

Kytim

New member

Equipment
B6000DT, B7100DT,Snowplow, RM360, Scoop, Cultivator, Carryall,Disk, plow
Aug 14, 2009
848
12
0
Western Ky
Way to go Brother! and welcome to our little orange slice!
 

E/S

Member

Equipment
2009 M8540HDC 4x4 w/ Cab
Jan 6, 2010
251
1
16
Reno, NV
I can help with # 1 - yes you can run utf in the front axel.


E/S
 

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
2,923
1,385
113
Kansas City, KS
1) Can I use Kubota UDT or an equivalent in the front axle? You can but you would be wayyyyyy better off using 80/90.

2) How many lubrication points (Zerk fittings) are on this tractor? Never counted them, you will have to look in your operators manuel.

3) How can I determine witch FEL is on this tractor? I'm pretty sure it's an L1200 or L1700
No idea.
 

Iceman

New member

Equipment
L185DT
Mar 5, 2012
8
0
0
Atlanta, GA USA
Thanks for all the positive responses and the answers.

The new hydraulic hoses worked great....to great. With a good flow of hydraulic oil going to the curl cylinders, I learned the cylinders need some work. I took them off yesterday and will be dropping them off at the hydraulic shop today. They don't look abused, so I hope all they need are a new set of seals.

I should have the cylinders back early next week. When it's all back together I'll share some pictures of the new hoses.

The 80w90 tranny / hydraulic oil I took out yesterday looked good, but she sure does like the fresh thinner UDT equivalent oil. And a clean hydraulic screen helps a lot to.

My grandson, who makes a big deal out of driving the lawn mower when he's visiting, doesn't know I have this tractor yet. I can't wait to teach him some of the things I was taught.

Iceman
 
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DickSnyder

Member

Equipment
L185DT, L1200 FEL, Rear blade
Jul 29, 2011
77
0
6
76
Mt. Hood Parkdale, Oregon
#2: front= 1 each side for steering knuckle, tie rod,1 for drag link
Center pin on front of tractor=1
Drag link end near clutch pedal=1
Brake pedal and pedal shaft support=2, clutch pedal=1
Clutch release hub in front of brake pedal, behind cover
Think that's all.

While not sure, your FEL looks exactly like my L1200, but not for sure.

Hope this helps.

Dick
 

Iceman

New member

Equipment
L185DT
Mar 5, 2012
8
0
0
Atlanta, GA USA
#2: front= 1 each side for steering knuckle, tie rod,1 for drag link
Center pin on front of tractor=1
Drag link end near clutch pedal=1
Brake pedal and pedal shaft support=2, clutch pedal=1
Clutch release hub in front of brake pedal, behind cover
Think that's all.

While not sure, your FEL looks exactly like my L1200, but not for sure.

Hope this helps.

Dick
Thank you Dick.

It sounds like I found all of the lubrication points, but I'll take another look to be sure.

Surprisingly, I only found four lubrication points on the FEL. When time permits, I'm going to add at least eight more Zerk fittings to the FEL.

When I get the curl cylinders back next week, I'll take some better pictures of the FEL and post them for comparison.

Thanks again for the help.

Iceman
 

Bluegill

New member

Equipment
L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
4
0
Success Missouri
Cool story and a Nice old tractor!

I'd run UDT in the trans, but stay with 80/90 in the front end.

Make sure the front-end pivot point gets grease.

And paint the FEL. :D
 

Iceman

New member

Equipment
L185DT
Mar 5, 2012
8
0
0
Atlanta, GA USA
Cool story and a Nice old tractor!

I'd run UDT in the trans, but stay with 80/90 in the front end.

Make sure the front-end pivot point gets grease.

And paint the FEL. :D
Yes, the FEL does need some paint. Perhaps I can get it and the tins sand blasted and painted next fall / winter.

It came as a surprise that my Uncle offered this tractor to me. So service and repairs weren't exactly in the budget. And with what I've already spent, She Who Must Be Obeyed is looking at me sidways with "that look" on her face. I'm thinking I better spread the expenses out a little more.

Thanks for the advise on the front axle oil.

Iceman
 

Kubota_Man

Member

Equipment
BX24, Rear blade, Front blade, Snowblower, 54" MMM, Box scraper, Landscape rake
Dec 25, 2010
953
2
16
Kellogg, Idaho
She Who Must Be Obeyed is looking at me sidways with "that look" on her face. I'm thinking I better spread the expenses out a little more.

Don't say things like this....I almost broke my neck looking over my shoulder :eek:

By the way. Awesome story and nice tractor ;)
 

DickSnyder

Member

Equipment
L185DT, L1200 FEL, Rear blade
Jul 29, 2011
77
0
6
76
Mt. Hood Parkdale, Oregon
Sooooo, it's not just me, huh, whew, :p glad I'm not alone. With me, it's more the banker, not the one who must be obeyed. Good thing, really, as I always find a need for something I don't have but think I might use. If it wasn't for my own personal banker, I'd probably be up that creek without sufficient means of motivation. :rolleyes:

Dick
 
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Iceman

New member

Equipment
L185DT
Mar 5, 2012
8
0
0
Atlanta, GA USA
I got the curl cylinders back yesterday. The shop that rebuilt them said the seals were extremely dry rotted, but everything else looked good. I got them reinstalled today and I changed the front axle oil. Other then needing a new tachometer cable, she ready for some work.

I haven't touched this tractor in 25+ years. But as I was changing all the fluids, it was amazing how much I remembered about this ole girl....and of course, every now and then, I could hear my Grandaddy giving me guidance.

Thanks for the advise, ya'll gave me. And as promised, here are some pictures of the hoses I had made to replace the hydraulic tubing.
 

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