L185 Strange Engine Noise!!

[L185 Owner]

Hello All:

I am a new member to the forum but have used it several times and it is a great resource. I am hoping everyone here can help me with my problem. I have a Kubota L185 - 2 wheel drive - i am not home often so I use it very lightly, maybe 2 hours a week. Often times i simply start it and let it idle on the weekend just to keep the battery charged and keep the cobwebs out of the machine.

Last year i gave the machine a much needed service. I changed the all the filters and fluids, fan belt, put in a new battery and alternator, flushed and cleaned the radiator, replaced the front tires, swapped out old grease fittings etc. Got the tractor back to its original glory as it only has ~ 960 HRS on the machine.

Here is the issue - last week i was using the tractor to push up some brush. Once finished i parked the tractor to the side and let it idle while i was examining what else i needed to do. When i came back i noticed a whining noise coming from the engine. I'll describe it below.

It sounded like it was coming from fan/ air filter/ belt area?? It seemed to be related to the RPM's of the machine because if i gave it fuel to increase the RPM's the would increase in volume and pitch and decrease when i let off the fuel lever. The sound was high to medium in pitch and would come in and out, meaning it would whine for 1-2 minutes then maybe stop for 3 minutes, then return. Didn't seem to affect how the engine/ tractor would perform as i ran it for about 15 more minutes and parked it.

This weekend, i started the tractor. After a few minutes the noise started again. I let it idle for about 3-4 hours with the sound coming in and out but no issue with the engine performance - ie sputtering black smoke etc. However something strange happened on Sunday??!! I started the tractor and left it to idle. I had a few chores i was going to do with it. I went inside for 20 minutes and when i came out the tractor was not running. When i tried to start it - I have been fighting a dead battery - which is a separate thread been having to jump start it last 3 times - the fan was not turning and the belt was slipping over the pulley. Before you state the obvious, yes the belt is tight -maybe 1/2" +/- of deflection in the belt. When i tried to turn the fan with my hand it would not spin?

SO.......does the fan on the tractor free spin? If so, has the bearing on the top of the motor that has the fan shaft in it gone out on me? Could that have been the noise? Based on the responses I get, i can take of the radiator off and try to turn the fan....if it wont spin and if it is supposed to then i know i have quite possibly found the issue. But if that isn't it.......im lost and need help!!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I've send you a link (via PM, top right under your name) to download the WSM, go to page 28 bottom left of the page.

And yes the noise you were hearing was the bearings going out.

 

[L185 Owner]

Thank You for the reply. I'm new so i don't know where to go to access the link. However i googled the WSM for the L185 and see the diagram for the L185 fan bearing replacement.

A few questions:

Is the fan free spinning? For example if I take off the radiator and it spins with my hand then i know it isn't locked up. Which the fan has been spinning with the motor until yesterday. Is there an attachment to put on a drill to spin the fan pulley to see if I can replicate the noise? Basically, I'm curious if there is a way to confirm that it is the fan bearing prior to taking it all off/out.

Is there anything special about replacing the bearing. The diagram, and if my memory serves me right, shows the nut on the back (maybe a 7/8" or so) will come off. Is there anything strange here - ie reverse threads or on sooo tight you need an elephant to get it loose?

When i get the nut off will everything slide out? Will i need special tools to make it happen? I have a couple of good gear pullers if i need them...a little bit concerned about #6 - the snap ring - and how it is supposed to go.

Do i need to tighten or torque the nut back to anything special? Or is to get it tight and not break anything trying to over tighten it?

 

[Tim Kowalski]

It sounds like your water pump has seized. You are probably better off replacing the pump instead of trying to replace the bearing. The fan should turn freely with the belt removed.

 

[Daren Todd]

Tim, there isn't a water pump on that machine. It's a thermo syphon system.

L185 owner, There are two sealed bearings on your fan. Or it could be your alternator.

You'll have to loosen the fan belt. Then check both the fan and alternator to see which is binding.

In this case, hope it's your alternator and not the bearings for the fan. The bearings are cheap, at around $5 or so at the local bearing supply house. Just give them the number stamped into the side of the bearing. But with the crank case cover installed, the back bearing is a real bear to get too.


As far as the personal message Wolfman sent you. Look under your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen. There is a spot marked "Private Messages" in orange. There should be a number next to it if you have a message. Click on private message and it will bring up a list. Click on the appropriate one to get to your messages

 

[sheepfarmer]

Alternatively, in that spot it will say "Notifications" instead of Private Messages.
It might depend on whether you are using tapatalk or not, or your browser. In any cases if you click on it you can get to your messages.

 

[L185 Owner]

I found the private message tab. Thank you for your directions to find the area where the messages are. I hope to dive into the project tomorrow. That said - are there special tools that are required or will everything come out / go back in with standard tools.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Just standard tools, and don't force anything, Kubota parts are almost never press fit, they are mostly slip fit and held in place with snap rings.

 

[Daren Todd]

Pretty much standard tools. Especially for the alternator. If you have to replace the fan bearings, and have to pull the crank case cover. You will need an 1 13/16 wrench or deep socket to get the nut off for the front pulley. A pair of snap ring pliers for the bearings if I remember right. I replaced my fan bearings when I did the cam shaft plug replacement and had the crank case cover off

The manual that Wolfman sent the link to you for should explain all the steps.

 

[L185 Owner]

It's a new alternator and when I tried to start the tractor yesterday the alternator was spinning fine. Based on Wolfmans response I'm thinking it is the fan bearing. Can I replace them without taking of the crank cover?

 

[L185 Owner]

Update, I took on the project last night. A few tips for the next person who has to do this.

First - it is going to be difficult to put a wrench on the nut on the back of the fan shaft and keep the fan shaft from spinning. I was going to use a crows foot and an impact but didn't have one in the right size. I wound up having to use a pipe wrench to hold the fan shaft while the wrench broke the nut loose on the back side. Another option would be to have a piece of metal made that has the same bolt pattern as the fan shaft, use the fan bolts to bolt it on to the shaft and use it as a object to grip. You could also weld a nut on that same piece of metal and that would allow you to use and impact on the front side and hold the wrench on the back side. Mainly just know its gonna take a little creativity for you to get the nut off. Mine was not overly tight as it didn't take a cheater bar to break it loose.

Second - The shaft does not just "slide" right out!! It took some tapping with a hammer on the fan pulley, not the shaft, forward and backwards to break it loose. To define tapping the head of the hammer was no greater than 6" away from the pulley and the contact energy was low to slightly moderate. Didn't want to hit the pulley to hard and bend it, even though it is a replaceable part. Ultimately it was to take the rubber side (handle) of a normal hammer and place it on the fan fully and hit the other side with a rubber mallet to pop it loose. I would resist the urge at all costs to pry against the fan housing as it is part of the engine and not sure how you would fix it of you cracked it.

Third - Once the shaft is out now you have to get the bearings out. No, they don't just fall out!!! They will slide out.....with help!! So i used a screw driver and hammer from the front side to tap the back bearing out. It went pretty easy. Make sure you are contacting the bearing and NOT the housing. The front one proved to require some thinking but after a beer and some thought i came up with a plan that may help the next man. With the back bearing out, insert the fan shaft from the front and re-attach the nut on the back. From there pull on the front of the fan shaft or use the rubber end of a hammer (handle) on the fan pulley and use a rubber mallet to hit the top of the hammer to drive out the front bearing. It went pretty easy once i thought through it.

There are 2 snap rings in the housing. They are easy to access from the front with snap ring pliers. If you follow those steps and learn from my mistakes the process isn't all that bad. And after all this work...it looks like the back bearing was bad, and the front was going bad.

I do have a question on the installation of the new bearings. Should i coat them with anti-seaze grease when i slide them in? Should i put any type of oil on the shaft prior to putting everything back together. What about the housing? I cleaned it with WD 40 and wiped it out and blew it out but do i need to coat it with some kind of oil/grease when i install all the new parts? I know that shaft spins @ 1000 to 3000 RPM's and dont want to put something that is not rated for that and cause myself a problem or a FIRE!!

 

[Daren Todd]

Nothing special to install the bearings. A brass punch on the race to tap it in works good. Bearings are sealed and already greased. So you shouldn't have to worry about that either.

 

[L185 Owner]

All:

I wanted to close the loop on this thread. First off i would like to thank everyone who took time to offer advise and wisdom on the issue. Especially Wolfman with his early diagnosis. The bearings were bad and were the cause of the noise. That said, I replaced the fan bearings this past weekend. Wanted to say how i did it so it may help the next man.

The back bearing is a PAIN. I was able to get it started with my hand...placed it in housing approx 2mm!! From there i took a screw driver and pried it about 1/2 way in. I had to be very careful not to damage the bearing while doing this or damage the engine as i was prying against them both. It will wiggle in some though. Once it was half way in i put on my thinking cap because i couldnt work it any further in. So......i put in the first and second snap ring and set the spacer inside the housing between the snap rings. From there i took the other bearing...put some wd 40 on the fan shaft and and put the second bearing on the fan shaft. I had to tap it onto the shaft with a rubber mallet and a little bit of a metal hammer. But it went on with minimal effort....just dont get carried away and damage bearing.

From there, the bearing should be seated on the fan shaft, go ahead and insert the shaft into the housing....place the washers (key to remember that there are TWO) and thread the nut on the back of the fan shaft. Its key that the back bearing is into the housing enough so that you can get the nut AND AT LEAST the flat washer on the shaft. From there, get the nut started, then use a pipe wrench on the front part of the shaft and the correct size wrench on the back side. Turn the pipe wrench and the back bearing will go into the housing....its magic!!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE WASHERS ON THE BACK....then put the fan back on. PUT THE BELT OVER THE FAN.....i screwed around and forgot it and was a pain to snake though everything!! Put the radiator on....fill it up...reconnect everything and your back in business.

Its not a terrible repair so if anyone every needs any help i hope i have left a good recipe for how it is done. Feel free to contact me too if you have any questions. Id be glad to help.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Helpful thread.
I am getting a little noise on startup, suspecting a similar problem.
Will keep this im mind when i proceed with replacing bearings.