L1500DT ToDo List

[KennyMillar]

Hi, I'm back. What have I missed? ;-)

Caught Covid last year in June, and been really lacking in energy ever since.
However, I'm now starting to feel human again and longing for winter to be over, so I can get on with fixing up my L1500DT

Last year I replaced the hydraulic hoses, 4WD shaft, and the alternator. I fitted a new exhaust manifold and muffler.

This is my "ToDo" list for 2023!

* Fix the steering - 100° of free play is no fun anymore.
* Fix the voltage regulator - charging voltage of 18V is boiling the battery ;-)
* Adjust the brakes - RHS one works great, LHS has almost full pedal travel before anything happens.
* Adjust or replace the clutch - it snatches and grabs, but doesn't slip.
* Fix a leaking cylinder on the front loader.
* Rewire everything. Looks like the last owner hacked just about every wire into pieces and twisted them back together randomly.
* Paint job.
* Actually use the tactor for what it was purchased: to help fix up my driveway!

All on a shoestring budget and whilst working 50 hours a week to get through the cost of living crisis in the UK.

Think I might YouTube some of the work I do on it. There's not much about L1500's on YT just now.

Come on springtime!

 

[jhon]

Hi Kenny , i have just acquired an L1500 dt also and need to replace rear universal joint on the 4wd drive shaft. The people i am talking to here in Australia are telling me the part is no longer available . Did you have the same problem in the UK ?

 

[KennyMillar]

Hi @jhon
Yeah - the shaft and the UJs are made from unobtainium.

However, since the shaft does not pass through any hangers, carriers or bearings, you can have it rebuilt using new UJs and Tube stock of a different, but similar, size.

The thing that will be difficult to match is the splined ends. If the splines on your shaft anre not excessively worn then they could be cut off and re-used, but if they are worn, then you can get new ones here:

OEM 5-15-232-02 Sleeve + Shaft 4WD 30 strength 18T L02 | Stavros Savva & Son Ltd

OEM 5-15-232-02 Sleeve + Shaft 4WD 30 strength 18T - Suitable for Kubota Tractor Models L02

www.stavros-savva-co-ltd.com.cy

Those ones are only 50mm long though, so some careful measuring to make sure the rebuilt shaft will fit and not bind up is required.

I got my shaft rebuilt using a company not far from me in scotland, but they did a terrible job. The welding could have been done better by my 1 year old grandson. It failed after a few hours. My shaft is currently away at another company being rebuilt properly this time. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[jhon]

thanks for your informative reply Kenny, i have in the mean time picked up my drive shaft from the driveline people who were not much help but it spurred me on to seek some help from a mechanic mate to measure up the yokes that are connected by the universal joint .( i hadn't noticed previously that the UJ had actually been tack welded on one end {circlip was still in place on the other end}and the driveline people had managed to remove the worn UJ for me. Upon further investigation i see that the front UJ is also tack welded but on both ends ? Initially i thought an over zealous farmer had done the deed however i also noticed that the blue Kubota paint covered the welds on the front joint ? I now believe Kubota was behind the welding ? Inspecting the splines (18 Teeth) revealed that both front and rear shafts to be in good order. So armed with the measurements taken by my mechanic mate i took to ebay to hunt for a 20mm x 52 mm Universal joint. And as luck would have it found they are available in that size for Honda CRVs and some Nissan models. Fortunately the front uni is ok for now, looks like it once had a grease nipple so i'm going to try and refit one and give it some lube. I have ordered a CRV uni and will let you know how i get on. Like you many small jobs to do on the tractor before she is up and running , the biggest hurdle will be tackling the reverse gear replacement( constantly jumping out of gear; which seems to be a common problem,) but saving that for last ...cheers