Annoying Newbie Questions Ahead: Please be Patient

JD Jake

New member

Equipment
BX2370, LA243A FEL
Mar 22, 2022
2
1
3
Louisa, Virginia
Good morning OTT. I am the new owner of a BX2370/LA243 rig purchased at auction 3/17/22 with 126 hours on the clock. It looks brand new, with limited to no wear on any parts including the bucket. I am a first time K-owner and really ignorant about some things I really should know, especially after poring over the owner's manual for the past week. Maybe one of you will take pity before I have to embarrass myself by asking my father-in-law.

Things I did right: I did not run the machine longer than it took to load and unload it to and from the trailer before carefully checking all the fluids. The oil was full and clean, but the transmission/hydraulic fluid reservoir was pretty low. I added about a quart of UDT-2 until it hit the dipstick between the marks. A careful search of the hydraulic lines identified a leak near the quick-disconnect on one of the FEL lines. I have them all off and am going to the dealer for replacements on the theory that whatever failed the one line also happened to the other three. The FEL functioned as designed before I found the leak.

That beings me to two problems that have me stumped. My tractor does not have a 3-point hitch on the back but does have the two pivoting "arms" to which the lifting arms attach to lift whatever is on the 3-point. When I activate the "raise" lever on the right, the arms snug up even tighter against the back of the tractor and the pitch of the engine changes slightly, but when I select "lower" on the lever nothing happens. Yes, I know that there is the adjustment between your feet for the speed of the drop, but I have turned it fully in each direction and everywhere in between. What am I missing?

Similarly, I have not been able to get the aft PTO to turn. Engine on, pedals neutral, brake set, "PTO Rear" selected, butt in the seat, clutch engaged. . . nothing. Dumb question, perhaps, but is there some interlock that keeps the PTO splines from turning if there is no pto equipment attached?

Thanks for any help.

 

Dieseldonato

Well-known member

Equipment
B7510 hydro, yanmar ym146, cub cadet 1450, 582,782
Mar 15, 2022
728
439
63
Pa
The 3 point is gravity down, so it needs a bit of weight to get them to move down. Your missing the lower arms, loft links and the center link. All available from a dealer or aftermarket on the web. The pto I am unsure of. I think it's electric but am unsure.
 
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mcfarmall

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota M5660SUHD, Farmall C
Sep 11, 2013
1,411
1,691
113
Kalamazoo, MI
The arms on top of the transmission are called rockshaft arms. They are hooked to a single acting hydraulic cylinder housed in the rear end. They need the weight of the draft arms and connecting hardware in order to drop on their own. An implement (when attached) will also help them move quicker. When you apply the added weight of an implement is when the knob comes into play. The knob is called a flow control.
 
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GeoHorn

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4700DT, LA1002FEL, Ferguson5-8B Compactor-Roller, 10KDumpTrailer, RTV-X900
May 18, 2018
6,040
3,316
113
Texas
There may be a ”safety” switch on the PTO which is disconnected or failed. When you select PTO…is there a warning light which illuminates on the instrument panel?
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,746
2,551
113
Bedford - VA
Jake,

Your questions are perfectly fine - ask as many as you wish. Welcome to a place that has a huge wealth of information that can help you.

"Similarly, I have not been able to get the aft PTO to turn. Engine on, pedals neutral, brake set, "PTO Rear" selected, butt in the seat, clutch engaged. . . nothing. Dumb question, perhaps, but is there some interlock that keeps the PTO splines from turning if there is no pto equipment attached?"

First - IF you are in the seat - there is no need to be in neutral..... when you say clutch is engaged ..... you mean the lever has been pushed forward and locked in the slot? Red arrow - see below

1647953819535.png


IF you are NOT seeing the rear PTO turning ........... pull the lever back ,and have someone peer up under and you select the MMM pto ..... re engage the lever and see IF THAT spins.....

I would think if neither work - there is an electrical or mechanical issue that may be easily fixed - at least I hope so!!!!
 

hagrid

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
K1600GTL, ZX-14R
Jun 11, 2018
932
1,203
93
Pittsburgh
Did the OP pull the cap off of the rear PTO?
 
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lynnmor

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601-1
May 3, 2021
1,444
1,159
113
Red Lion
You have three quick disconnects that don't leak, leave them alone and repair the one that leaks.
 
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johndeerebones

Member

Equipment
B7200 HST-D RC-60-72, L4200 GST MFWD with FEL
Aug 17, 2020
106
14
18
USA
Good morning OTT. I am the new owner of a BX2370/LA243 rig purchased at auction 3/17/22 with 126 hours on the clock. It looks brand new, with limited to no wear on any parts including the bucket. I am a first time K-owner and really ignorant about some things I really should know, especially after poring over the owner's manual for the past week. Maybe one of you will take pity before I have to embarrass myself by asking my father-in-law.

Things I did right: I did not run the machine longer than it took to load and unload it to and from the trailer before carefully checking all the fluids. The oil was full and clean, but the transmission/hydraulic fluid reservoir was pretty low. I added about a quart of UDT-2 until it hit the dipstick between the marks. A careful search of the hydraulic lines identified a leak near the quick-disconnect on one of the FEL lines. I have them all off and am going to the dealer for replacements on the theory that whatever failed the one line also happened to the other three. The FEL functioned as designed before I found the leak.

That beings me to two problems that have me stumped. My tractor does not have a 3-point hitch on the back but does have the two pivoting "arms" to which the lifting arms attach to lift whatever is on the 3-point. When I activate the "raise" lever on the right, the arms snug up even tighter against the back of the tractor and the pitch of the engine changes slightly, but when I select "lower" on the lever nothing happens. Yes, I know that there is the adjustment between your feet for the speed of the drop, but I have turned it fully in each direction and everywhere in between. What am I missing?

Similarly, I have not been able to get the aft PTO to turn. Engine on, pedals neutral, brake set, "PTO Rear" selected, butt in the seat, clutch engaged. . . nothing. Dumb question, perhaps, but is there some interlock that keeps the PTO splines from turning if there is no pto equipment attached?

Thanks for any help.

I don't know about the PTO of that machine... The mid PTO and Rear PTO it sounds has a mechanical lever and on-off is on the switch. As for the lift if the engine is consistently changing note with the 3pt up it is running over relief. Small Kubotas have open center hydraulic systems, ie hydraulic pressure must flow through the inside of valves etc when no work is being done. If it's going over relief it heats the oil as the pressure is constantly high. Open the rate of drop under your seat and push the arms down a bit manually. As for the loader disconnects. Remove the suspect leaker and look into the female coupler, probably has a cut oring. An oring is much cheaper than a whole new coupler! Welcome! The only dumb question is one not asked! We were all "noobs" at some point.
 

tinkerwitheverything

Active member

Equipment
bx2370-1
Jun 3, 2015
319
72
28
Manitoba
There is no electric engagement of the PTO on the BX tractors. A few things to look for make sure that the levers that your moving are actually moving the shafts that go into the side of the trans. One other thing is with the tractor turned off [make sure it's not running] Move the PTO select to the mid PTO position and see if you can turn the mid pto shaft by hand. [It should not turn] Next put the select lever into the rear pto position and try turning the shaft by hand [ it should not turn] sometimes the gears don't line up when you shift with the lever. so try this first and see if it actually engages the gears.
 

JD Jake

New member

Equipment
BX2370, LA243A FEL
Mar 22, 2022
2
1
3
Louisa, Virginia
Jake,

Your questions are perfectly fine - ask as many as you wish. Welcome to a place that has a huge wealth of information that can help you.

"Similarly, I have not been able to get the aft PTO to turn. Engine on, pedals neutral, brake set, "PTO Rear" selected, butt in the seat, clutch engaged. . . nothing. Dumb question, perhaps, but is there some interlock that keeps the PTO splines from turning if there is no pto equipment attached?"

First - IF you are in the seat - there is no need to be in neutral..... when you say clutch is engaged ..... you mean the lever has been pushed forward and locked in the slot? Red arrow - see below

View attachment 76910

IF you are NOT seeing the rear PTO turning ........... pull the lever back ,and have someone peer up under and you select the MMM pto ..... re engage the lever and see IF THAT spins.....

I would think if neither work - there is an electrical or mechanical issue that may be easily fixed - at least I hope so!!!!
Jake,

Your questions are perfectly fine - ask as many as you wish. Welcome to a place that has a huge wealth of information that can help you.

"Similarly, I have not been able to get the aft PTO to turn. Engine on, pedals neutral, brake set, "PTO Rear" selected, butt in the seat, clutch engaged. . . nothing. Dumb question, perhaps, but is there some interlock that keeps the PTO splines from turning if there is no pto equipment attached?"

First - IF you are in the seat - there is no need to be in neutral..... when you say clutch is engaged ..... you mean the lever has been pushed forward and locked in the slot? Red arrow - see below

View attachment 76910

IF you are NOT seeing the rear PTO turning ........... pull the lever back ,and have someone peer up under and you select the MMM pto ..... re engage the lever and see IF THAT spins.....

I would think if neither work - there is an electrical or mechanical issue that may be easily fixed - at least I hope so!!!!
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who posted advice and suggestions. I am happy to report that (knock wood) everything seems to be working as designed now. My local dealer fabricated four hydraulic lines for the FEL to fix that leak and avoid other leaks, and I installed those, topped up the hydraulic fluid, let it idle for a while, and followed the suggestions from OTT members. Y'all saved me a ton of money, likely, and a trip to the shop of undetermined duration. I'm thinking that air might have made it into the system when the fluid was low and going lower, but that bled off and now everything is getting the pressure and lubrication it needs.

Jake
 
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Mark_BX25D

Well-known member

Equipment
Bx25D
Jul 19, 2020
1,754
1,277
113
Virginia
You have three quick disconnects that don't leak, leave them alone and repair the one that leaks.
Agreed! If it were an old tractor with weathered and aged lines, it might make sense to replace them all, but this is a pretty new tractor. Likely the one leak is just a defect or the result of some damage at that point.

Hydraulic lines are expensive. Save that money for your 3 point parts.

Welcome aboard, and remember, there are no stupid questions!