Well I would tend to agree with both of you that the mower is the problem after checking everything on the tractor and finding no issues, but I cant figure out what is going on there as everything seems normal also. I do not think I am overloading it, and if I am I would be surprised because I am not working it any harder than my lawn mower. I am running in 4th gear, which if I had to go any slower, I might as well get the riding mower back out. I dont know if all finish mowers are created equal on how they are built, but mine has about a 1 to 6 ratio, pto to blade speed, turning about 3200-3300 rpm. So assuming that I am not overworking it, that only leaves that the mower is taking more torque than necessary to turn it and since I have replaced all the bearings, nothing is left but the gearbox, but how likely is that? I would say pretty unlikely but I will check it out closer.
l185 losing power when warmed up.
- Thread starter sbarkley1960
- Start date
I'd confirm the valve lash is correct. Have the radiator boiled/rodded out. If it still does it, run in 3rd gear.
gpreuss
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Equipment
L3200DT w/FEL, K650 Backhoe, 5' Rotary, 40" Howard Rotavator, 6' Rhino blade
Tractordata.com says the 185 has 18.5hp, 15 at the pto. That is a 3-1/2hp loss through the gears. The Kubota cut sheet from when it was new said it has 17 gross hp. Slice off the same 3-1/2 for gears, and you have 13-1/2hp at the pto.
The tractor weighs 1800 lbs, 2500+ with a loader. Add on ballast, weights, etc. Just moving it takes a handful of horses. When mine was new, it wouldn't go up much of an incline - my driveway, or the road up to my neighbor's - in 8th gear.
A garden tractor/riding mower just has a belt drive off the motor shaft, and weighs about 600lbs. The gas engines run about 4000 rpm max.
My lawn is about like a hilly city lot. It is too small to use the Kubota, but too big to walk behind it with a mower. I've turned three garden tractors into junk on it in in 30 years. They all said they had more hp than the kubota.
The 185 is still going strong, working its heart out.
The tractor weighs 1800 lbs, 2500+ with a loader. Add on ballast, weights, etc. Just moving it takes a handful of horses. When mine was new, it wouldn't go up much of an incline - my driveway, or the road up to my neighbor's - in 8th gear.
A garden tractor/riding mower just has a belt drive off the motor shaft, and weighs about 600lbs. The gas engines run about 4000 rpm max.
My lawn is about like a hilly city lot. It is too small to use the Kubota, but too big to walk behind it with a mower. I've turned three garden tractors into junk on it in in 30 years. They all said they had more hp than the kubota.
The 185 is still going strong, working its heart out.