What did you do to or on your Kubota today?

[Old_Paint]

I think you have the chicken math solution backward my friend.

Read the above and said that sounds familiar--started with 6, max 34, now 28. I thought chicken math is what we men do with a slide rule and a tractor to estimate how many chickens she will eventually get/want and try to stay ahead of that estimate with proper coop/fence/yard/storage size to outpace her chicken rusings in the future...

The FEL sure works better than a wheelbarrow for coop cleaning, carrying to burn pile or spreading out in the woods.

She: Money can't buy happiness, but money can buy chickens, and chickens make her happy.

Us: Money can't buy happiness, but money can buy a tractor and more tractor stuff, and using said tractor for her chicken stuff makes her happy, and THAT makes us happy.

PRECISELY!!!!

 

[Shawn T. W]

I turn mine off to fuel ... Old (probably current law, that is now overlooked!) law that said we had to shut off our diesel engines trucks to fuel ... Lots of drivers leave there trucks running, but not me ...

 

[Blue2Orange]

Found out the factory more than hand tightened the oil filter.

 

[Old_Paint]

Found out the factory more than hand tightened the oil filter.

Yeah, I pretty well destroyed the original on my LX when I changed oil the first time. But it probably doesn't help that they painted the engine (and filter) AFTER they put the filter on. Guess that saves having to mask the oil filter flange. Even painted, though, it probably shouldn't require crushing the filter with the filter wrench to loosen it. But the gaskets on the filter also swell after they're saturated with oil and heated up a few times. That too will tighten the heck out of them. I put mine on until hand tight, then give a quarter turn with the strap wrench to make sure I'm not going to leave a puddle on the floor, and nearly always wind up denting the filter when I take it back off. But I haven't had to clean up any oil on my shop floor either.

 

[Old_Paint]

What I did today, hmmmmm.

Wrote a check for the LAST payment for my LX, and wrote another check for the KTAC insurance for a year and will likely keep the insurance for the life of the machine or until I don't have it.

It's a good feeling to have that monthly payment gone. I could have paid it off early, but at 0% interest, why would I? I was holding Kubota's money instead of a bank holding mine. That and favorable laws in Alabama that Agriculture equipment has no sales tax made me pretty happy when I bought it too.

 

[WFM]

Congratulations
Nothing like owning outright.

 

[WFM]

Grounds hog day here again. There's always firewood to stack. This is three year old dryed going onto the porch. Winter coming, had 30* a few mornings here.

 

[Magicman]

We finished the Deer Plots this afternoon.

Son on the JD that now has brandy new front tires putting out the fertilizer & seed and

Me following with the disk turned straight covering. Anyway it's a done deal, just waiting for rain.

 

[MotoBBQ]

Just like Shrek, hanging out in the swamp! Phase 2 under way, using the dry season to clean the drainage to the pond. This project is turning out better then expected. The wildlife are certainly enjoying it.

Then I fired up the old Stihl and processed some fire wood for the upcoming maple syrup season.

 

[S-G-R]

What I did today, hmmmmm.

Wrote a check for the LAST payment for my LX, and wrote another check for the KTAC insurance for a year and will likely keep the insurance for the life of the machine or until I don't have it.

It's a good feeling to have that monthly payment gone. I could have paid it off early, but at 0% interest, why would I? I was holding Kubota's money instead of a bank holding mine. That and favorable laws in Alabama that Agriculture equipment has no sales tax made me pretty happy when I bought it too.

Congratulations!

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

I should have taken video...

A small tree was growing on the edge of my back deck so I chained it up to the FEL and pulled.... nothing. Gave her full fuel and still nothing. Hmmm...

Turned the BX around and wrapped the chain to the 3-pt, pulled 'er right out. Threw it in the bucket and drove off.

With the time saved versus digging it out I installed my new bucket forks, made in China with "high strength steel and other natural materials." Works great, 5-stars.

 

[Old_Paint]

I should have taken video...

A small tree was growing on the edge of my back deck so I chained it up to the FEL and pulled.... nothing. Gave her full fuel and still nothing. Hmmm...

Turned the BX around and wrapped the chain to the 3-pt, pulled 'er right out. Threw it in the bucket and drove off.

With the time saved versus digging it out I installed my new bucket forks, made in China with "high strength steel and other natural materials." Works great, 5-stars.

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Looks good from my house.

 

[Old_Paint]

I should have taken video...

A small tree was growing on the edge of my back deck so I chained it up to the FEL and pulled.... nothing. Gave her full fuel and still nothing. Hmmm...

Turned the BX around and wrapped the chain to the 3-pt, pulled 'er right out. Threw it in the bucket and drove off.

With the time saved versus digging it out I installed my new bucket forks, made in China with "high strength steel and other natural materials." Works great, 5-stars.

View attachment 163957
View attachment 163956

We have the same tooth bar. That thing makes a huge difference in the bucket. However, for some strange reason, mine came with the ‘ears’ and hooks that go over the original bucket edge, despite me stating the bucket was drilled and giving the manufacturer the bolt hole spacing along with the other measurements required. It had no holes in the bar except the two on the ears to bolt it to the sides of the bucket. The bloody thing vibrates and rattles on the bucket, and the ’ears’ completely defeat the purpose of the corner blades (obstruct them) which makes cleaning a vertical dig along the sides difficult. I’ve drilled the holes through the bar, but haven’t yet found a big enough countersink to install taper head bolts. I’m thinking seven (maybe nine?) 3/8 grade 8 bolts will hold everything the LX has enough power for and I can remove the ‘ears’ to make a cleaner corner, and stop the howling vibration when the bucket is empty. Not sure why the manufacturer didn’t make it to fit the holes in the bucket because the LX uses the same bucket as the B’s and smaller L’s. I don’t mind the hooks over the front edge because they might even protect the bolts a little bit and they’d make it easier to install the bar should I decide to ever use the OE bucket edge for handling loose soil. I doubt it, but sometimes the tooth bar can be a little aggressive when smoothing the bottom of a dig because it won’t let the bucket sit flat. I have really zero complaints about the bar except for the howling when the bucket is empty. There’s no way to tighten it with just two bolts on the sides of the bucket. The fit wasn’t quite as good as I hoped, but it was workable. Otherwise, I love the difference it made for digging.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

We have the same tooth bar. That thing makes a huge difference in the bucket. However, for some strange reason, mine came with the ‘ears’ and hooks that go over the original bucket edge, despite me stating the bucket was drilled and giving the manufacturer the bolt hole spacing along with the other measurements required. It had no holes in the bar except the two on the ears to bolt it to the sides of the bucket. The bloody thing vibrates and rattles on the bucket, and the ’ears’ completely defeat the purpose of the corner blades (obstruct them) which makes cleaning a vertical dig along the sides difficult. I’ve drilled the holes through the bar, but haven’t yet found a big enough countersink to install taper head bolts. I’m thinking seven (maybe nine?) 3/8 grade 8 bolts will hold everything the LX has enough power for and I can remove the ‘ears’ to make a cleaner corner, and stop the howling vibration when the bucket is empty. Not sure why the manufacturer didn’t make it to fit the holes in the bucket because the LX uses the same bucket as the B’s and smaller L’s. I don’t mind the hooks over the front edge because they might even protect the bolts a little bit and they’d make it easier to install the bar should I decide to ever use the OE bucket edge for handling loose soil. I doubt it, but sometimes the tooth bar can be a little aggressive when smoothing the bottom of a dig because it won’t let the bucket sit flat. I have really zero complaints about the bar except for the howling when the bucket is empty. There’s no way to tighten it with just two bolts on the sides of the bucket. The fit wasn’t quite as good as I hoped, but it was workable. Otherwise, I love the difference it made for digging.

Some day, when you have plenty of free time, you can ream those holes squarish with a grinder or file and use plow bolts so they'll sit flush.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Grade 8 bolts are over kill for these little tractors ... Grade 2 (no markings) are more than adequate ... 7 or 9 of even the little 1/4 bolts will hold that Piranha Tooth Bar on ...

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Grade 8 bolts are over kill for these little tractors ... Grade 2 (no markings) are more than adequate ... 7 or 9 of even the little 1/4 bolts will hold that Piranha Tooth Bar on ...

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I encountered something last night that I had not considered. I was unbolting the operator platform on the backhoe, 6 - 3/8"-24 x 1" cap screws into a closed bottom boss. There's no way to get penetrating oil in there and I had to work them out. I'm sure grade 2 would hold the platform just fine, but I think at least one would have twisted off if Kubota hadn't used grade 5.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Yes, they have there application ... And of course we also need to take into consideration the "safety" factor ... Such as holding a door on a car, or airplane ... And the liability that goes with it ... But holding on a bucket cutting edge isn't a top concern to me.

 

[Old_Paint]

Yes, they have there application ... And of course we also need to take into consideration the "safety" factor ... Such as holding a door on a car, or airplane ... And the liability that goes with it ... But holding on a bucket cutting edge isn't a top concern to me.

Yeah, probably not an emergency if one shears, but being able to get them off again without twisting them off would give me a warm fuzzy. Right now, only two bolts (through the sides of the bucket) hold it in place, however, the hooks that wrap around the original bucket edge aren't really going to ever let enough force be applied to a plastic bolt in those holes to shear it off. Took some considerable beating to get it on there because it was a little too tight. The person that welded the bucket would probably say that the person that welded the ears on the bar did it wrong, and vice versa. That, of course spread the 'ears' as it wedged onto the bucket, making the bolts that shipped with it too short. I had to go get some that were 1/4" longer.

Plow bolts (aka flat head carriage bolts) are actually a brilliant option, if only I had a way (other than a file small enough to fit in a 3/8" hole) to make them square. They're stoopid hard to keep them from wearing in the constant abrasion of dirt. I'd still need to countersink the holes so the heads wouldn't stick out, though. My objective is to keep the bottom of the bar smooth for back-dragging and skimming. I'll settle for some taper head hex socket screws with nylock nuts for just in case they work loose. I can get pretty angry with them using an impact and a torch and not break them. Worst case I burn/grind them off and start over.

I just need to find a nice big countersink bit that I can chuck into a 1/2" drill. The missus works at TSC, so I can get Hillman brand bolts pretty cheap with her discount. I could probably do the countersink boring on my larger drill press but was half-way hoping to install all the bolts and then just grind off the 'ears'. Probably smarter and safer to just use the drill press anyway. Kinda hate I drilled the holes in the side of the bucket now, but it is what it is.

I'll do some photos when I start the job. Just finished off with a major deck rebuild so have a little more free time on my hands now.

 

[KubotaHawg]

Ahead of my fall to do list so took the canopy off and put the L2800 in the shop early for the winter. It's a second detached garage so won't fit in there with the ROPS up, so tractor stays outside in the summer. Early here in NWA, was 80 today, but I never got around to it last winter and froze a ballasted tire and busted the tube--it usually doesn't get that cold here but we had several days in single digits last winter and that did it to only water ballasted tire. So tractor is in the shop with top off, clean oil and all new filters. Still have one mowing to do at the cabin but not too hot to do without the canopy.

 

[Gaspasser]

Changed out the factory step for a two step from Specialtyrepairscustommods.com I have used their products on three different tractors. Much easier on my hip and heel getting in and out of the tractor.

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Nice SGR. How far out laterally do do the steps extend? Beyond the tire/fender width? I have very tight storage space in shed. A few inches between equipment. Thanks.