Another L245 saved

[shootem604]

So I now have 2 L245s. It followed me home yesterday, highway speeds and all. My 4 year old daughter says that's because it was on the trailer, but hey...

Anyways, it's the ugliest old L245 ever. Pics to follow. The hood is beat up bad and doesn't even attach. It's a 2wd with turf tires. Has sat for 4 years after "running out of diesel". 3299.5 hrs. Water pump was seized, fuel tank was full of crud, didn't have a battery, etc. Also may be leaking from axle seals.

Today I flushed the rad, etc, fixed the water pump, cleaned out the tank and replaced the fuel lines and filter, and did an oil change. Took a bit to bleed the lines but it runs wonderfully!

Now for the cosmetic stuff. Is also missing grill and headlights and is in dire need of paint. Stay tuned!

 

[mickeyd]

I am glad that you have the time and energy to save old iron.

Will be wait for the pics. Keep up the good fight.

 

[Redlands]

Neat to hear

 

[In Utopia]

Nice find for sure.
Around here they are selling for prices near what they sold for brand new.

 

[shootem604]

Cleaned the transmission filter and replaced the fluid. It was badly contaminated with water and foamed up after just 5 minutes of driving. Cleaned filter with xylene, air, and a little magnet to get 30 years of filings out. Ran my backhoe on it today and the engine, transmission, clutch, pto etc are all operating as best as I could ask for. I think I lucked out with this one. Now for bodywork, paint, and lights.

 

[mickeyd]

Do not forget about our pics, please.

Before and after pics are very much appreciated. No pics, it didn't happen.

 

[shootem604]

I can't reduce the pics enough using my phone so you will have to wait until I get on the computer at some point. Had to remove the transmission vent and clean it out - was full of crud that even a stiff wire couldn't get out. Soaked it in solvent and scraped it out with a nail 1/4" at a time. Someone drilled a 1/8" hole in the filler cap as an alternate vent...

I should mention, this tractor came with Kubota filters on it. I am worried they were original given the state of the old girl and the fluids.

Radiator has some seepage, minor leak. Rear tires are loaded with calcium. Seat is original - but only the rusted remnants of the pan remain. Adjustment valve for the hydraulics under the seat has the handle broken off...any ideas on fixing this? Also, the 3 point hitch handle is very loose as in there is no friction or resistance - so it goes up or down easily but won't stay in one spot unless you use the height adjustment locks. My other L245 has the same setup, but will stay put. Again, any thoughts?

 

[shootem604]

Should also mention, the tachometer and hour meter didn't budge during running yesterday so I will have to check the cable (usually it is one or the other if it is the unit). Anyways, as such the actual hours are unknown but it runs and drives nicely enough.

 

[D2Cat]

Shootem604, I know very little about phones, but I think you can adjust the size of the pictures you take right on your phone, so you don't have the loading problem.

 

[billrigsby]

Shootem604, I know very little about phones, but I think you can adjust the size of the pictures you take right on your phone, so you don't have the loading problem.

Download the app Fast Image Resizer from the app store FREE,
not sure about I-Phones

 

[shootem604]

Here's a selection of pics. First one was halfway into pulling the water pump when I realized I hadn't yet taken a pic of it, so you can see the rad is out, etc. Also pic of the dirty transmission filter, pic of it reassembled and running, and a test run with the backhoe on - you can see it definitely was running as the cat is taking advantage of the heat.

 

[shootem604]

Hope to weld up some new brackets for the hood mount, and than paint everything. I picked up a couple cans of 'old' orange and blue at my dealer yesterday, so almost ready for the facelift. Just need some expanded metal mesh and some headlights, as it is also missing the factory grill and lights.

 

[D2Cat]

You might check some of your metal sources. I checked with a small fab shop and while visiting and telling him what I was wanting to do, he showed me some "drops" he had setting around. What I got is called "hole punched metal". I made a grill guard that goes over the metal guard already on the tractor to protect it while using the grapple.

He had 15" x 48" that he sold for $15. It's a nice option for a grill.

 

[shootem604]

That would work as well! Thanks for the tip. I have a soil screen made from the expanded metal and had to resist the urge to just cut a piece out of it in order to carryon with the project..

 

[shootem604]

Here she is with some fresh paint. The hood is too bashed up for my limited bodywork skills, so there is some character left under the new makeup.