I bought a used B21 (hourmeter reads 370 hrs). Prior owner (2nd owner) said he didn't believe the hours. It is a nice little machine that has done everything I asked until today. This tractor had a slow hydraulic fluid leak when I got it. The prior owner said his mechanic told him it was ok to run as long as you checked/filled fluids. Hydraulics work flawlessly.
A while ago I noticed that the front wheels didn't seem to be driving even when I lifted the lever into the position to engage 4wd. I planned to do some research thinking I may not have been doing things correctly. I was working on a project a long way from home so continued as other functions were unaffected.
While driving on a gravel road in high gear I heard a muffled clunking sound. I was traveling no where near top speed. The clunking seemed to come from the rear under the seat and increased frequency with speed.
I stopped and called Kubota asking about grease in the rear end and they said it was filled with hydraulic fluid and to check fluid level. I checked the fluids with all hyd cylinders retracted (no chrome showing) per dealer instructions adding about a quart to fill. I also wiggled the wheels to see if any were loose. None were. Since the hyd leak was minor I planned to find and remedy it this fall. While driving I noticed the clunk sound went away in medium or low gear. So I continued not using high gear.
I got it home today my wife asked me to move some gravel. While doing so I heard the clunk now occurring in low gear while driving down hill with a full bucket letting gears help slow forward progress. It clunked again and lurched a few inches ahead as if it had slipped a tooth then caught again. I was pointed down a fairly steep hill and not in a place that I could dump the bucket so proceeded slowly to a place where I could safely dump the load. It lurched a couple of times while using gears to slow. Once on flat the clunking seemed to subside. I moved to a safe spot, dumped the bucket and headed back in reverse toward level ground. The clunking seemed to stop while backing up hill. It became more pronounced when moving forward with very little throttle especially using the gears to help slow the machine. It is parked on level ground now.
I am kicking myself for not stopping, diagnosing and repairing immediately and worried sick at the damage I may have done.
Any ideas regarding symptoms, diagnosis and or repair are appreciated.
A while ago I noticed that the front wheels didn't seem to be driving even when I lifted the lever into the position to engage 4wd. I planned to do some research thinking I may not have been doing things correctly. I was working on a project a long way from home so continued as other functions were unaffected.
While driving on a gravel road in high gear I heard a muffled clunking sound. I was traveling no where near top speed. The clunking seemed to come from the rear under the seat and increased frequency with speed.
I stopped and called Kubota asking about grease in the rear end and they said it was filled with hydraulic fluid and to check fluid level. I checked the fluids with all hyd cylinders retracted (no chrome showing) per dealer instructions adding about a quart to fill. I also wiggled the wheels to see if any were loose. None were. Since the hyd leak was minor I planned to find and remedy it this fall. While driving I noticed the clunk sound went away in medium or low gear. So I continued not using high gear.
I got it home today my wife asked me to move some gravel. While doing so I heard the clunk now occurring in low gear while driving down hill with a full bucket letting gears help slow forward progress. It clunked again and lurched a few inches ahead as if it had slipped a tooth then caught again. I was pointed down a fairly steep hill and not in a place that I could dump the bucket so proceeded slowly to a place where I could safely dump the load. It lurched a couple of times while using gears to slow. Once on flat the clunking seemed to subside. I moved to a safe spot, dumped the bucket and headed back in reverse toward level ground. The clunking seemed to stop while backing up hill. It became more pronounced when moving forward with very little throttle especially using the gears to help slow the machine. It is parked on level ground now.
I am kicking myself for not stopping, diagnosing and repairing immediately and worried sick at the damage I may have done.
Any ideas regarding symptoms, diagnosis and or repair are appreciated.
