My first tractor - L1801DT

[AUS_L1801DT]

Hey guys, I've just bought and hopefully picking up today, my first ever tractor, a refurbished L1801DT.
From the info I've got from this site it should service my 7.5ac property well.
- <300hrs on the clock
- S/N 50604 (Any idea of year?)
- Z851 Engine? (I think...)
- Temp gauge added.
- ROPS
- 4 Speed w/Hi-Lo (8F & 2R)
- 2WD or 4WD
- 4 Speed PTO w/Hi-Lo-N
- FEL w/4 in 1
- Spike attachment to the bucket for lifting logs/pallets.
- 4ft Slasher
At some stage I'll need to pick up a post hole digger and I should be set.

I've been told the front axle housings have been replaced with an engineered set as the original ones were not up to the job with the FEL installed?
(They are not painted like the rest of the components.)
-Also there are a couple of cracks at the very front were the FEL attaches to the chassis I'll need to get welded up. (Is that common?)

I should only need to use the PTO in 1st to get the 540rpm I need to run the slasher but could someone please explain the Hi-Lo-N lever to me?

Any oil recommendations for the engine/transmission/diffs?
(Temp here is between -5degC and 40degC)

Also if someone could send me any service/parts manuals(pdf) it would be very appreciated.

Once I get the baby home I'll be able to take some photos and post them here.

Thanks guys

 

[wapiti39]

Congrats!

 

[AUS_L1801DT]

Thanks wapiti39, only a couple of hours before I head out and pick it up

 

[meanjean]

Slick ride.
I've own an L1801 but you've got 2 things I would like:
-ROPS
-DT

I've got an operators manual I can provide. Send me an email to jay@energy106.ca and I will send the manual upon my return to the office.

You can dig up a parts manual at mytractorforum.com
I printed the manual for the L185

As for engine oil I use full synthetic 10W40.
The transmission and hydraulic system shares the same fluid, use UDT.

Don't take this as gospel but I believe we each have 12 forwards gears and3 reverse gears. There's a hi/low under the seat on the left side. With that in low as well as the 2nd shifter in low (found between your boots when seated) you will be in a "bull low". It is SLOW!
An inch an hour, two feet a day. (bonus points for whoever spots that quote)
That's the additional lever you were wondering about.

Send me the pics of the cracks. I also had that problem but was able to repair. Provided it's a similar crack I can send pics on how I addressed.

Mean Jean

 

[AUS_L1801DT]

Hey meanjean,

First up: The Tragically Hip - An Inch An Hour

Second:
I'm about to email you so thank you for any manuals you can provide.

I've attached some photos so I hope they are clear...

The lever below the PTO gear shift I thought was for the PTO not the drive train but the guy I bought it from did show me a super slow speed so that makes sense now.

I've attached the picture of the worst crack but they are on both sides. I've got a friend who can grind back the weld and re-stitch it. Also thought about welding an extra bit to the outside but I'll wait to hear from you first.

The steering hub seems a bit strange to me, looks like it is floating in the tube but there doesn't seem to be any issue with the operation.

With all this talk of oil pressure issues at the moment I may add a gauge so I'm not reliant on just a light!

Cheers.

 

[AUS_L1801DT]

Thanks for the info Mean Jean.

I've added your photos and explanation here for others to see and benefit from:

1) Start by welding the cracks where you see them.
Then add a piece of flat bar as shown in the pic where I've pointed. Make sure to leave roughly 3 inches overlap on each side. This will make sense in the next pics I send.
Remove the battery tray and you can run a weld across the top of the flat stock and to the tractor frame.

2) Weld another piece of flat stock from the end of the overlap and to the tractor as shown where I've pointed to. This is added strength for the loader.

3) Here's what it looks like from above.
Again, that extra weld across the top plus those 2 pieces on an angle will keep the loader from breaking again.

4) Make sure to cut a groove in the flat bar so you can get access to the king pin.

Seems like the previous owner has swapped batteries on me Having hard to start issues and I'm sure the battery I saw when I was looking before buying had the terminals in a different position...

 

[AUS_L1801DT]

From the manuals I've been given and found it looks like I am missing a couple of bits from the top of my steering column.

Parts I think I need are:

Ref: 26 P/N: 37300-16390 Des: SEAL,OIL
Ref: 31 P/N: 34150-16520 Des: Bush (S/N <=53221)
(or Ref: 31 P/N: 32200-16490 Des: Bush (Is this one universal?))

I'll have to check to see if the steering shaft is bent but I haven't felt any stiffness in the steering so I hope the box is OK.
Should I pour some sort of oil down the top steering column or is there an inspection point?

Thanks for any help that can be provided!

 

[Russell King]

There are a couple of articles on the ARTICLE PAGE on steering box repair. I assume they would help you out since your picture looks similar to the steering boxes in the article.

See this web site or go to the top of the page and select the "article" tab and find the articles on steering column repair.

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2010/01/how-to-repair-a-steering-box-part-1/

At the top of yours it looks like you are missing a heavy rubber plug that drives dowin into the outer tube and supports the inner shaft. I think it is called a bushing on the parts lists. There is also another seal that goes over that to help keep out water (at least on my L185F).

 

[AUS_L1801DT]

Hey Russell King,

Thanks for the heads up! Just looked over the 'How to rebuild' section and it looks like I now have two jobs to complete. I'm happy to get things right before breaking something!

Cheers.