L185DT Internal Gear Ratio?

Lon · Jun 13, 2017

Hey All,

So my rear rims on the L185 are rotted out. I was able to find a decent pair, but the guy mistook 11 x 24's for 9.5 x 24's and shipped me a clean, though bit larger than requested pair. But this is a good thing. Cause as anyone with a 4wd DT knows, the available 6.00 x 14's for the front end are two inches too large today being 26" diameter when OEM back in the day were 24". Gear ratio now becomes a problem when looking to replace cause of the 4wd.

So I'm looking to upgrade to Carlisle 11.2 x 24 R1's. But first I need to know the internal gear ratio to the L185DT so as to do the math before laying out some $600 for new rear tires. It's either this, or giving up the 4wd option. Deestone makes a solid 6 ply 6.00 x 14 (at the larger diameter). What I'm looking to do is find a rear tire that jibes with the Deestone to maintain the proper rolling circumference balance and save my 4wd. But again, I need the gear ratio to do the math.

Anyone out there have any clue? Kubota's been of little help. My local dealer scratched his head for a while, then shrugged. And I've been unable to locate anything online.

Thanks in advance.

Lon · Jun 13, 2017

Hey All,

So I'm new around here and first posted this to the general forum page, but then noticed the page for tires related issues.

The rear rims on my L185DT are rotted out. I was able to find a decent pair, but the guy mistook 11 x 24's for 9.5 x 24's and shipped me a clean, though bit wider than requested. But this may a good thing. Cause as most with a 4wd DT knows, the available 6.00 x 14's for the front end are two inches too large today being 26" diameter when OEM back in the day were 24". Gear ratio now becomes a problem when looking to replace cause of the 4wd.

So I'm looking to upgrade to Carlisle 11.2 x 24 R1's. But first I need to know the internal gear ratio to the L185DT so as to do the math before laying out some $600 for new rear tires. It's either this, or giving up the 4wd option.

Deestone makes a solid 6 ply 6.00 x 14 at the larger diameter (need the 6 plys for the FEL). What I'm looking to do is find a rear tire that jibes with the Deestone to maintain the proper rolling circumference balance and save my 4wd. But again, I need the gear ratio to do the math.

Anyone out there have any clue? Kubota's been of little help. My local dealer scratched his head for a while, then shrugged. And I've been unable to locate anything online.

Thanks in advance.

North Idaho Wolfman · Jun 14, 2017

I've looked for the RC of the front tires and so far have drawn a blank.
The original tires are:
6.00-14 RC?
9.5-24 RC 123

If the RC of the original tires can be dug up then the ratio can be computed.

And if you stay within 2% of that ratio you will be fine.

Lon · Jun 14, 2017

Okay,

I got the gear ratio for the L185DT, two of them actually.

For serial numbers 10680 and lower the ratio is 1.647.
For serial numbers 10881 and up the ratio is 1.675.

These numbers come directly from Kubota's USA engine manufacturing division. One of their reps gave me a call in response to an email and spent a good amount of time discussing the particulars.

Tire diameter and width are basically irrelevent other than fit and that the rolling circumference ratio between the front and rear tires is recommended to fall between 3% and 7% with the front tire 'pulling' the tractor slightly.

For those having problems finding replacements for rusted out rims, Long Wheel and Rim (800) 874-0869 will custom manufacturer whatever's needed. Don't know the pricing, though I imagine it'll be to the steep side. This is the firm Kubota uses when they have need for a specialty rim or wheel.

And finally, West Kentucky Tractor specializes in Kubota parts. This guy travels the country with a trailer buying salvage Orange. The Kubota guy said he has an extensive inventory. His number is (800) 564-0567

Rosher18 · Jun 14, 2017

Lon said:
Okay,

I got the gear ratio for the L185DT, two of them actually.

For serial numbers 10680 and lower the ratio is 1.647.
For serial numbers 10881 and up the ratio is 1.675.

These numbers come directly from Kubota's USA engine manufacturing division. One of their reps gave me a call in response to an email and spent a good amount of time discussing the particulars.

Tire diameter and width are basically irrelevent other than fit and that the rolling circumference ratio between the front and rear tires is recommended to fall between 3% and 7% with the front tire 'pulling' the tractor slightly.

For those having problems finding replacements for rusted out rims, Long Wheel and Rim (800) 874-0869 will custom manufacturer whatever's needed. Don't know the pricing, though I imagine it'll be to the steep side. This is the firm Kubota uses when they have need for a specialty rim or wheel.

And finally, West Kentucky Tractor specializes in older Kubota parts. This guy travels the country with a trailer buying salvage Orange. The Kubota guy said he has an extensive inventory. His number is (800) 564-0567

This is awesome news for me, being another L185DT owner. My right rear wheel has a fiberglass patch over a big (~3" round) rust hole in the rim and I'm sure I'll eventually need this guy's contact info.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Lon · Jun 14, 2017

North Idaho Wolfman said:
I've looked for the RC of the front tires and so far have drawn a blank.
The original tires are:
6.00-14 RC?
9.5-24 RC 123

If the RC of the original tires can be dug up then the ratio can be computed.

And if you stay within 2% of that ratio you will be fine.

The RC for the DEESTONE 6.00 x 14 is in the 79/80 range. I coupled two of these with a pair of Carlisle Farm Specialist 11.2 x 24 R1's (RC 129.1).

The other 6 x 14's on the market are ranging between 77 RC and 79 RC, though most of them are 4 ply, a magnet for sharp objects and too wimpy for an FEL.

My ratio between the two sets sits within the 3% to 5% range, the sweet spot for a L185DT. So I end up a couple of inches taller with an extra four inches of weight displacement on the back end.

Lon · Jun 14, 2017

Rosher18 said:
This is awesome news for me, being another L185DT owner. My right rear wheel has a fiberglass patch over a big (~3" round) rust hole in the rim and I'm sure I'll eventually need this guy's contact info.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

More info for the potential you'll be upgrading tires.

The RC for the DEESTONE 6.00 x 14 is in the 79/80 range. I coupled two of these with a pair of Carlisle Farm Specialist 11.2 x 24 R1's (RC 129.1).

The other 6 x 24's on the market are ranging between 77 RC and 79 RC, though most of them are 4 ply, a magnet for sharp objects and too wimpy for a FEL.

My ratio between the two sets sits within the 3% to 5% range, the sweet spot for an L185DT. So I end up a couple of inches taller with an extra four inches of weight displacement across the back end.

kwolfey · Apr 14, 2018

Lon said:
More info for the potential you'll be upgrading tires.

The RC for the DEESTONE 6.00 x 14 is in the 79/80 range. I coupled two of these with a pair of Carlisle Farm Specialist 11.2 x 24 R1's (RC 129.1).

The other 6 x 24's on the market are ranging between 77 RC and 79 RC, though most of them are 4 ply, a magnet for sharp objects and too wimpy for a FEL.

My ratio between the two sets sits within the 3% to 5% range, the sweet spot for an L185DT. So I end up a couple of inches taller with an extra four inches of weight displacement across the back end.

Lon,

Did you figure out what the original L185DT rear to front ratio is? I'm currently searching for tires for my L185DT and trying to figure out my options.

North Idaho Wolfman · Apr 14, 2018

kwolfey said:
Did you figure out what the original L185DT rear to front ratio is? I'm currently searching for tires for my L185DT and trying to figure out my options.

Lon stated the 185DT ratios are:
For serial numbers 10680 and lower the ratio is 1.647.
For serial numbers 10881 and up the ratio is 1.675.

kwolfey · Apr 16, 2018

North Idaho Wolfman said:
Lon stated the 185DT ratios are:
For serial numbers 10680 and lower the ratio is 1.647.
For serial numbers 10881 and up the ratio is 1.675.

Wolfman I was thinking of the factory original Rear wheel divided by Front number.

North Idaho Wolfman · Apr 16, 2018

With the number given, you will be able to figure what you need.

9.5 - 24 RC=123
123/1.647= 74.68
123/1.75=73.43

So you would be safe with the front RC being 73-75

Careful as most RC of newer 6-14 and 6.00-14 with have a much higher RC 77-80 range, and that won't work.

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L185DT Internal Gear Ratio?

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