Is there a manual way to lift bucket on broken down Kubota?

[kdunham77]

Hi there,

My husband has been having trouble with his little Kubota tractor on and off a couple years. He thinks it is a connection between the battery and something. Used to wiggle some wires and it would start. We have had it serviced a couple times. Last year it stopped working in our neighbors driveway when we drove over to help them with something. It was running great, we turned it off, then it would not even turn over. A friend who is a mechanic came out and banged on the starter and got it going. Now it has stopped working again, battery is fully charged, lights will come on but it won't turn over / starter won't engage. The key assembly is good and tight.
My question is; We are going to haul it in to a mechanic on a flat bed. To do that we need to raise the bucket off the ground to push it on trailer. Is there a manual way to raise the bucket seeing how the tractor won't start?

 

[mcfarmall]

Yep. Use a jack.

 

[kdunham77]

Yep. Use a jack.

Ok, so there is not a manual crank anywhere on it? I was just thinking about my horse trailer that has an electric jack. There is a manual override if for some reason the electric doesn't work. Sorry if its a stupid question.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yes, jack works, then make a 'u' of 2by4 limber to go around exposed loader lifting rams, gently lower. This way if the loader controls are touched, the bucket will not drop to ground. On one tractor I kept it 2' off the ground, easy to get on/off trailer.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Sorry if its a stupid question.

Nope. Not stupid. Just not informed, which is why there are forums like this.

If your husband would like to post the symptoms here, we can probably talk him through fixing it himself. Electrical stuff can get expensive, and the truth is, not many mechanics are really up to snuff on electrical problems.

He could at least replace the main battery cables himself. Just measure them and order new ones. I can talk him through that. That might be all it needs, and it sure doesn't hurt on an older vehicle.

 

[DustyRusty]

Your friend who tapped on the starter with a hammer possibly destroyed the starter unknowing that rapping on modern-day starters can damage them internally. I would suggest that you put a test light on the starter positive terminal and have someone turn the key to start. If there is power to the starter, and it isn't turning over, then it is a bad starter. Also, if there is a solenoid, make sure that it is getting power when the key is turned to the start position, and power is lost when the key is let go in the run position. It is probably easier to replace the starter in the driveway than having to do all the work to get it to the mechanic. The cost of a new starter is about $500, so I would be looking for a used one or take it to a commercial starter rebuilder for repair. Repair part are available mailorder from www.Messicks.com You just need the information from the machine to get the correct parts, since your tractor has 2 different starters available. The number you will need is the tractor serial number when you go looking for parts at Messicks.
I have even seen them being sold on Facebook Marketplace and craigslist.

 

[rbargeron]

Please tell us the Brand (Kubota?) and model number on the hood - Usually a letter like B or L with a few numbers. To me if smacking it made it begin turning over, the starter contacts need attention.

You could likely do it yourself without trailering it anywhere. Take a look at this DIY video.
Taking off the starter is straight forward (2 bolts) and new contacts can be had at the car parts store for $10 or so. These little Denso starters are used on a ton of cars. Take care, Dick B.

 

[DustyRusty]

Please tell us the Brand (Kubota?) and model number on the hood - Usually a letter like B or L with a few numbers. To me if smacking it made it begin turning over, the starter contacts need attention.

You could likely do it yourself without trailering it anywhere. Take a look at this DIY video.
Taking off the starter is straight forward and new contacts can be had at the car parts store for $10 or so. Take care, Dick B.

It is a BX1870... Just look underneath the person's name to find their tractor model number.

 

[rbargeron]

To answer your original question, an LA203 loader isn't all that heavy so you could lift it up by hand - with help.
1. Get two helpers.
2. Put the loader control in "float" (way up)
3. Lift the bucket up by hand (should be around 250 lb)
4. Center the loader control lever to hold it in raised position.
It may leak down - but slowly. Can use a wood post to keep it up.
Lifting the loader out of the way will give more room for unbolting if you decide to take off the starter. Have fun - and be careful. Dick B.

 

[JeremyBX2200]

What happens if you jump the starter with a wire to bypass the starter relay.
My BX2200 had intermittent starting issues. Over time resistance built up in the starting circuit and there would be too much voltage drop to pull in the starter relay. A fairly common issue.

I added my own relay and have not had an issue since. They sell kits to do this.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I added my own relay and have not had an issue since. They sell kits to do this.

1. He's not mechanically inclined, so this is probably well beyond his capabilities.
2. Regardless of this particular person's capabilities, the first step in solving a problem is ALWAYS identifying the actual problem BEFORE any thought of modifying the design.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You really don't need to do anything a good tow truck driver will be able to handle lifting and loading it.
It's real simple, he runs the pull cable under the loader bucket and to the tractor, loader will rise as he pulls it on.

 

[JeremyBX2200]

1. He's not mechanically inclined, so this is probably well beyond his capabilities.
2. Regardless of this particular person's capabilities, the first step in solving a problem is ALWAYS identifying the actual problem BEFORE any thought of modifying the design.

Yep. That is whyI asked about jumping the starter. That would tell a lot about what might be the actual issue.

 

[Henro]

Can't add anything really, except that tapping on the starter and then the tractor returning to normal operation might give a hint. Could be coincidence though...who knows...try it again and see what happens.

 

[GeoHorn]

Early-version automotive starters had field-coils made of wound-copper wire or bars which were electrically activated to form electromagnets. Sometimes when they failed it was due to dirty carbon brushes or poor internal electrical connections that a “tap” with a hammer could upset/re-connect and return to service.
Modern “lightweight” starters are made with permanent magnets for their fields…and hitting them with a hammer can shatter the magnets and render them completely failed.

 

[B737]

Is there a manual way to raise the bucket seeing how the tractor won't start?

if I had to do this (alone), I would put the loader in float, attach a ratchet strap to the top of the ROPS, hook the other end to the top bucket lip and crank till you get it off the ground a few inches.

YMMV, never done it, safety police will be by shortly.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

what B737 say works, but I have to use one strap to hold lever in 'up' position (no 'float') and a comealong to lift the bucket/frame. Then secure it with a second strap, comealong, bolted chain.
ALWAYS think SAFETY !

 

[RalphVa]

I've had the neighbor give my tractor a tow when it broke down a couple of times. If you position a strap to run underneath the bucket to connect to the stuff holding the bucket, the strap will automatically bring the bucket up when towing it.

Imagine a naked guy on a disabled tractor and another naked guy in the tow tractor. Wife saw it. Didn't look any more. Tractor fun.

 

[GeoHorn]