New to me 1981 Kubota m4500DT

zspence

New member

Equipment
m4500dt
Nov 16, 2024
4
11
3
Kentucky
Recently I have been building and working on the 44 acres I got a couple years ago and I needed something to be able to do some work with and I came across this old 4500DT that wasn't too bad on price, especially compared to newer tractors I had been looking at. She came with a bushhog and the FEL, I havent been around tractors since I was a kid and really didnt know anything going into this. The tractor was from the original owner and he was unable to operate or use the tractor anymore. I even got the owners manual and the original paperwork with the tractor from 1981. When I went to look at her nothing electronic wise worked, the hour meter and the tach was the only thing that showed any life. The tractor itself started right up and the bush hog worked great and the FEL worked as it should.

Since owning the tractor I have got all the electronics working, replaced the alternator, voltage regulator, ran some new wires, put in a new fuse panel, rebuilt a hydraulic cylinder, rebuilt the power steering booster, replaced the power steering lines, and replaced a couple hydraulic hoses, put in a new ignition switch, made and ran new battery cables, replaced all fluids, got everything wired up as it should (even the old school glow plug indicator, which I is awesome) and even added a digital voltmeter! I love this tractor and extremely happy with getting her!. I know somethings may be hard to locate with these older girls but they are so easy to work on and so much fun to operate!

I painted some panels on her already and the weather has turned too bad to finish, so when spring comes around I plan on taking her apart again and painting everything, including the FEL the new Kubota orange. I have already spent several hours cleaning the engine and body of the tractor to be able to spot leaks and problems easier. There was decades of gunk and grime built up all over! I also plan on adding some rear remotes, a third function and quick release for the FEL. I still have lots of research and messing around before knowing how to get all that going! I havent taken many pictures but ill post a couple I have. If anybody has any questions about the old 4500 ask away! I have learned alot over the past month about this old tractor and I got her running pretty good! I have used her about 10 hours now and she doesnt use any oil, has zero leaks, starts right up and doesnt smoke! I hope I can keep her going and get some good use out of her over the next years!
 

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Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,513
2,916
113
Michigan
Welcome sir!

Very cool tractor and nice find. (y)

Should look very nice when you get everything painted.

Try to take pics of your adventures, and post them.;)
 
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Oleracer

Well-known member

Equipment
B2150 Kubota LA 350 750 Woods S250 Bobcat 300x deere
Jul 18, 2024
222
258
63
CT
Recently I have been building and working on the 44 acres I got a couple years ago and I needed something to be able to do some work with and I came across this old 4500DT that wasn't too bad on price, especially compared to newer tractors I had been looking at. She came with a bushhog and the FEL, I havent been around tractors since I was a kid and really didnt know anything going into this. The tractor was from the original owner and he was unable to operate or use the tractor anymore. I even got the owners manual and the original paperwork with the tractor from 1981. When I went to look at her nothing electronic wise worked, the hour meter and the tach was the only thing that showed any life. The tractor itself started right up and the bush hog worked great and the FEL worked as it should.

Since owning the tractor I have got all the electronics working, replaced the alternator, voltage regulator, ran some new wires, put in a new fuse panel, rebuilt a hydraulic cylinder, rebuilt the power steering booster, replaced the power steering lines, and replaced a couple hydraulic hoses, put in a new ignition switch, made and ran new battery cables, replaced all fluids, got everything wired up as it should (even the old school glow plug indicator, which I is awesome) and even added a digital voltmeter! I love this tractor and extremely happy with getting her!. I know somethings may be hard to locate with these older girls but they are so easy to work on and so much fun to operate!

I painted some panels on her already and the weather has turned too bad to finish, so when spring comes around I plan on taking her apart again and painting everything, including the FEL the new Kubota orange. I have already spent several hours cleaning the engine and body of the tractor to be able to spot leaks and problems easier. There was decades of gunk and grime built up all over! I also plan on adding some rear remotes, a third function and quick release for the FEL. I still have lots of research and messing around before knowing how to get all that going! I havent taken many pictures but ill post a couple I have. If anybody has any questions about the old 4500 ask away! I have learned alot over the past month about this old tractor and I got her running pretty good! I have used her about 10 hours now and she doesnt use any oil, has zero leaks, starts right up and doesnt smoke! I hope I can keep her going and get some good use out of her over the next years!
Nice find. I personally would rather own the older Iron. Built a bit better with less crap on them.
Keep us updated on your progress!
👍👍👍
 
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Smokeydog

Well-known member

Equipment
M59, B26 grapples, backhoes, tillers, graders, diesel atv
Jun 2, 2020
681
638
93
knoxville, Tennessee
Great tractor. Had a M5030DT for over twenty years. Bought used but believe it was born about the same time. Solid, not a CUT back then. You have a real gem. Those rarely come available. Sold it for a couple thousand more than I paid for it. Really hold their value.

Recommend gear oil in the front axle and hubs.
 
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BAP

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
Dec 31, 2012
2,785
896
113
New Hampshire
Nice! Great job bringing it back to life.
 
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hedgerow

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2015
292
256
63
Malcolm NE
zspence welcome to the forum. Looking at the pictures looks like you found a nice old solid tractor. When the loader bucket and the hood looks like it does someone took care of that tractor and didn't abuse it. Enjoy the new toy.
 
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JohnDB

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4500DT
Jun 9, 2018
396
71
28
NZ
If anybody has any questions about the old 4500 ask away!
Nice job! Those extra hydraulic circuits will add so much usability. Definitely dedicate one to a hydraulic top link.
Are you using the original fuel level sender for the gauge?
 
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zspence

New member

Equipment
m4500dt
Nov 16, 2024
4
11
3
Kentucky
Nice job! Those extra hydraulic circuits will add so much usability. Definitely dedicate one to a hydraulic top link.
Are you using the original fuel level sender for the gauge?
Unfortunately, I did not pull the sending unit on it when I had the panels off! I wish I would have because the gauge reads a little bit over what is actually in there! I do plan on taking the sending unit out and checking it in the spring when I take it back apart for more cleaning and painting. I hope I can get it showing more accurately, if not I'm sure I can get an aftermarket kit to work! With almost a 15 gallon tank and how slow she drinks the fuel I'm ok with having it showing a little over right now!
 
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zspence

New member

Equipment
m4500dt
Nov 16, 2024
4
11
3
Kentucky
Thanks everyone for the nice comments and replies! I recently welded up a new piece on the exhaust! It was too close to the hood and would hit when trying to open up and get in there! Figured id post a couple pics to show you guys what that looks like now! Planning on putting some high heat black paint on the exhaust in the spring so that should clean it up some! I believe the piece that I replaced was homemade to be able to fit the FEL on there! I also got rid of the clamps that pieced it together with the muffler so now its a much cleaner look and im very happy with the outcome!
 

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JohnDB

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4500DT
Jun 9, 2018
396
71
28
NZ
... I do plan on taking the sending unit out and checking it in the spring when I take it back apart for more cleaning and painting...
The float on my sender unit was rubbing on the tank wall and wore some of it away, plus the sender had failed, looked like someone had attempted to repair the windings. I replaced it with a capacitive unit, matched the output with a couple of resistors so was able to keep the original gauge. Let us know if you want to go that way, if it helps I can supply supply more details if you decide to go down that route.
 
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zspence

New member

Equipment
m4500dt
Nov 16, 2024
4
11
3
Kentucky
Let us know if you want to go that way, if it helps I can supply supply more details if you decide to go down that route.
That definitely sounds like something I could be interested in knowing more about! I noticed you have a 4500dt also, Im trying to figure out my hydraulics and being new to tractors im kinda getting lost with it. Does your 4500 have a factory hydraulic control valve under the seat to the right? My tractor has one control valve, with 1 line coming out of the bottom and feeding the FEL control valve and then it has a single line coming out of the top of the factory control valve that just lays freely on the back of the tractor! Im very confused with this setup. I may make a post about it here soon. I need to take pictures.
 

JohnDB

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M4500DT
Jun 9, 2018
396
71
28
NZ
... Does your 4500 have a factory hydraulic control valve under the seat to the right? My tractor has one control valve, with 1 line coming out of the bottom and feeding the FEL control valve and then it has a single line coming out of the top of the factory control valve that just lays freely on the back of the tractor! Im very confused with this setup. I may make a post about it here soon. I need to take pictures.
Good pictures would definitely help because some details of what you describe are different to what I would have expected. if you don't already have the operators, engine, and workshop service manuals make sure to get them from Kubotabooks.com. The tractor WSM there is rather generic, I have a better higher quality version I can share. Those manuals help a lot with understanding, show the different control valves, and this forum's members are also a wonderful source of information.