Kubota L185DT advice/reviews

[hayseed]

I have an opportunity to acquire a kubota l185dt at no cost.
It has front attached plow blade.
It ran at one time, when it was looked at by a kubota mechanic he said that it has low compression.
Now it does not run. I am assuming that it needs a rebuild.
Every thing else functions. It has sat for 5yrs, and it 100% complete.
Tell me, will this be worth my efforts to bring this to running condition? I will have a use for it.
I am also needing to know what type of attachments can be used on this tractor. I can do all of the mechanical work other than the obvious machine shop duties.
I have restored ford 8n and dexta diesel tractor.
Thank you for your help.

 

[007kubotaguy]

The L185DT is a great machine. These are simple tractors. Easy to work on. It is the little brother in to the L245DT. Same basic tractor one has a 2 cylinder engine and the L245DT has a 3 cylinder. Engine parts should be easy to find. In most cases you can bore the cylinders to except a oversized piston. Well worth fixing.

 

[mikester]

The price is right if you have the time and money

 

[RCW]

As the old saying goes, sometimes you can't afford free.

This one sounds like it might be a good candidate for restoration as at least some of the parts are readily available.

@007kubotaguy has helped a lot of folks on OTT with older L-series, and I think there’s several L185 owners.

 

[hayseed]

I know nothing about kubota, but I am a new member here considering the acquisition of this l185dt. I have restored 2 old tractors from the engine to the paint, you never get your investment back, I am retired I have time.
I will be having some inquiries here as the process goes on.
What attachments can be used on this little tractor?

 

[PoTreeBoy]

What attachments can be used on this little tractor?

It has a standard class 1 3 point hitch and will lift 2200#. And a 3 speed PTO, low speed is standard 540 rpm.

You're just a little short on horsepower, 17 engine, 15 at PTO. Probably low hydraulic capacity. You can use blade, mower, tiller, etc, you may just have to go slower.

What do you need to do?

 

[hayseed]

The L185DT is a great machine. These are simple tractors. Easy to work on. It is the little brother in to the L245DT. Same basic tractor one has a 2 cylinder engine and the L245DT has a 3 cylinder. Engine parts should be easy to find. In most cases you can bore the cylinders to except a oversized piston. Well worth fixing.

Do these little engines use a cylinder sleeve?

It has a standard class 1 3 point hitch and will lift 2200#. And a 3 speed PTO, low speed is standard 540 rpm.

You're just a little short on horsepower, 17 engine, 15 at PTO. Probably low hydraulic capacity. You can use blade, mower, tiller, etc, you may just have to go slower.

What do you need to do?

I would like to mow grass with it, snow removal sounds interesting. The plow blade I am not sure, it goes up and down and angles right to left.

 

[hayseed]

Do these little engines use a cylinder sleeve?

I would like to mow grass with it, snow removal sounds interesting. The plow blade I am not sure, it goes up and down and angles right to left.

Most other chores I do with the 8N Ford or the Dexta diesel

 

[007kubotaguy]

Do these little engines use a cylinder sleeve?

I would like to mow grass with it, snow removal sounds interesting. The plow blade I am not sure, it goes up and down and angles right to left.

These are sleeved engines

 

[Russell King]

I have a L185F (2WD) and it is a great tractor. Before you get started with it you need to have the head checked for cracks. They are prone to overheating and cracking heads. The heads are not available from Kubota and are aftermarket only now.

As far as implements you can use small tillers, small 4 ft shredders, small finish mowers, small box blades etc. It is a category 1 three point but has only 15 or 16 HP at the PTO.

Traction will fail before you can stall the engine. What type of tires does it have?

You will need front weights to help steering with rear mount implements.

 

[hayseed]

The t

I have a L185F (2WD) and it is a great tractor. Before you get started with it you need to have the head checked for cracks. They are prone to overheating and cracking heads. The heads are not available from Kubota and are aftermarket only now.

As far as implements you can use small tillers, small 4 ft shredders, small finish mowers, small box blades etc. It is a category 1 three point but has only 15 or 16 HP at the PTO.

Traction will fail before you can stall the engine. What type of tires does it have?

You will need front weights to help steering with rear mount implements.

The tires are an aggressive chevron lug, both front and rear. I suppose I can have them filled with liquid for extra stability. I have done that with my other 2 tractors. Beet juice is what is used up in this country.

 

[hayseed]

The t

The tires are an aggressive chevron lug, both front and rear. I suppose I can have them filled with liquid for extra stability. I have done that with my other 2 tractors. Beet juice is what is used up in this country.

I will also have the cylinder head and block checked for cracks. There is a very good diesel shop I have used for pump and injector testing.

 

[Russell King]

One other thing to worry about is the fuel tank and rusting. The tank is steel and sitting idle lets moisture accumulate and then sink to the bottom of the tank and rust will form. Mine was so bad it clogged up the fuel lines and put pin holes in the bottom of the tank.

I used an epoxy paint liner that lasted several years and it failed eventually so I bought a used tank from @007kubotaguy a few months ago. I think he is in Northern California so not too far from where you are. He probably has some parts for your tractor model!

Good luck with the project and I would try to get it running again before you rebuild it and see if you can get the rings to loosen up and increase the compression. It may be the glow plugs just quit working. Mine won’t start without them even in warm weather.