Literally drug home a B6200E

[300zx]

I couldn't pass it up. It has been sitting 2 years in the yard of a repair shop. The steering had failed and the teeth were sheared off of the comp. nut. Also, the arm on the LH steering knuckle has come loose sometime and it was welded and failed (I can't believe someone did this). I need to sort that out. It was a bear to load without being able to steer the front wheels. Here are some pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/KubotaB6200?authkey=Gv1sRgCPubmsvH9rHmKw#

Since the tractor has sat for 2 years and I was told it ran when they parked it, how should I approach starting the engine:

- the fuel tank is off and drained because of the steering gear removal
- Do I need to flush the fuel lines?
- Change the fuel filter
- Do I pull the glow plugs and check to see if they glow
- Turn the engine over by hand before I start it
- Change the engine oil
- The exhaust is in the up position and has had a cup on it, so I don't think any water got into the exhaust side.

Any suggestions on the engine or hydro before I try them out would be appreciated.

John

 

[300zx]

I was looking at the ball nut and shaft last night. I don't understand why I have one good one that is apart, ie, the the block with good teeth, 48 loose balls, two of the four split tubes that carry the balls around the back of the block, a clamp for the split tubes and two screws. It is always a mystery when you buy one of these machines that someone else has taken apart. I see where http://store.telepak.net/samstractors/page52.html carries the shaft and ball nut for $165 + 26.50 shipping. I think that is where I am headed, unless I find the other split tubes.

John

 

[Ach]

Have you watched Vic's primer on repairing steering boxes? Check it out on the homepage if not...

 

[300zx]

Have you watched Vic's primer on repairing steering boxes? Check it out on the homepage if not...

Yes, I have been through it.

Thanks, John

 

[300zx]

I wanted to check the glow plugs before I tried to start this B6200, but they wouldn't budge. So I left them alone. I have turned the engine over by hand and with the starter using a jumper battery. I also drained the fuel lines on both sides of the fuel pump and replaced the fuel filter. Now it is time to put some fuel in the tank, vent the lines and try to start it. Wish me luck!

John

 

[skeets]

You guys that do these things are my heros,, no really you are,,, if I may what did you give for the little treasure??

 

[300zx]

You guys that do these things are my heros,, no really you are,,, if I may what did you give for the little treasure??

I gave $800, but it has really been mistreated. It will probably take $1000 to get it back in shape, assuming the engine and transmission are OK. Otherwise, it will become a parts tractor.

Some time in its life, the steering arm had come loose from the left kingpin. Probably loosened up and wallowed out the woodruff key slot. To fix it, someone just welded the steering arm to the kingpin!! It is now loose. I had to grind off the weld to get the steering arm off. I then had to cut the front king pin off at the top because it was bent so bad, it would not come out of the axle. When I got it out, the thrust ball bearing that was supposed to be at the bottom was completely missing. No cage, no balls. I can't imagine what this tractor has been through.

After I vented the fuel lines, it did start tonight. It is missing at higher rpms. Probably a dirty injector. I am hoping it will clear up after I get it together and running. Probably wishful thinking!

While I had it running, I jacked up the rear and tried out the hydro. Everything seems to work OK without a load. 3pt hitch lifted and the tires moved forward and backwards with the hydro petal. I notice when I jacked it up, the right rear tire was loose. It had nothing holding it on. The clamping bolt (so called cotter) and locating pin were completely gone. The hub was rubbing on the axle casting.

Here are some pictures of what I went through tonight:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/20120725?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOdvviRz5q9Cw#

John

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Check with West Kentucky tractor and see if they might have some of the parts and steering knuckle you need to fix the tractor with. Tractor salvage yard might save you some money on parts.

www.wkytp.com

 

[300zx]

Check with West Kentucky tractor and see if they might have some of the parts and steering knuckle you need to fix the tractor with. Tractor salvage yard might save you some money on parts.

www.wkytp.com

Eric, I did check with wkytp and Wengers in Myerstown, PA. Both had the kingpin, but neither had the steering shaft and ball nut. I ordered the kingpin from Wengers who had the better price and are closer.

John

 

[300zx]

The serial no. plate is missing on this B6200. Is the Serial No stamped in the chasis somewhere like the B7100? Are there any clues that would tell me the year of this tractor? Just guessing it might be late 80's. What year did Kubota go to the newer style rear hub?

John

 

[hodge]

IF those are the original rims, they probably have a date stamped on them. I can't imagine that the rims are produced at the same time as the tractor, but it should put you in the ballpark.

 

[300zx]

IF those are the original rims, they probably have a date stamped on them. I can't imagine that the rims are produced at the same time as the tractor, but it should put you in the ballpark.

Hodge, thanks for the clue. I just checked and didn't find any date stamp on the front or back rims. I might see something after I clean them up.

You know, the recovery and restoration of these great machines isn't for the faint of heart! I'm already up to needing $600 in new and used parts and I haven't even looked at the mower deck yet!

But, the satisfaction is priceless,

John

 

[gurn]

I wish you the best of luck 300zx on your project. It should be a nice tractor when you get it all done.

 

[300zx]

Thanks, Gurn, I will need all of the luck I can get.

Well, yesterday's progress included moving the right side kingpin to the left side to make sure it all was still aligned after cutting and driving the original one on the left side out. You can see by the pictures in the link below the before and after. It is now back together correctly with a good key. The used kingpin should arrive Monday and I can get the other side back together. All other parts for the rear hub and steering box have been ordered. The decision has been made, it will not be a parts tractor!!

We dismantled the rest of the tractor, removed the mower deck and gave the tractor a good kerosene soaking and pressure washer bath. The only surprises yesterday was that we found that the mower deck mounts to the tractor had been welded to the frame!! Argh!!!

While we had it outside, we added some injector cleaner to the fuel and ran it for quite a while. It has significantly improved, but there is still a slight miss at full throttle. I am still hoping it will clear up once we can get it back together and get a good run on it.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/20120727?authkey=Gv1sRgCObN0ZGeoafc5wE#

John

 

[300zx]

Well, Saturday was spent tearing down the deck so we could get it back in shape. As you can see by the pictures, this deck had to be used as a rock crusher. All of the baffles were bent and one side of the deck was bent out and cracked. We heated the bent areas and moved them back in shape the best we could and welded up all of the cracks. These deck are really tough. Nowhere was the deck rusted though, all of the damage was due to rock hits. The blades that came on the deck were fairly new. I can't imagine what the "rock crusher" blades looked like. Believe it or not, there is still a lot of life left in this deck! The spindles, gear box and idler pulley are solid.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/20120728?authkey=Gv1sRgCJHt5-iZua3_EQ#

Here's the paint job. The first picture shows my son driving the B7100 (loaded with all of the deck parts) down to the shade of the old oak tree in our back yard (to keep the overspray away from the house):

https://picasaweb.google.com/110263893958737890068/20120729?authkey=Gv1sRgCLDWvpmayr3AxAE#

I had to take a two day break after he left. I was worn out!! More tomorrow,

John

 

[300zx]

Todays project was to get the depth wheels on the deck tightened up. The first picture shows the shaft for the ID of the wheel with the snap rings holding in the bushings. Of course the shaft inside the rubber wheel is supposed to be tight and the bushing should be snug on the axle. Neither was the case. It was very sloppy. I had an 1.5" OD tube that I could press into the rubber wheel and then needed a bushing to go from the 1.25" ID of the tube down to the 3/4" axle. I went to a machinist friend who took a piece of solid 1.25 " shaft and drilled a 3/4" hole through it to make the inner bushing. The lower picture shows the two pieces before I press them into the wheel. I will probably tack weld the two pieces together through the hole to prevent them from turning inside each other. I am now back in business and saved about $180 for two new wheels.

John

 

[SuperCharged]

The first picture shows my son driving the B7100...

I had to take a two day break after he left. I was worn out!! More tomorrow,

John

He's a good looking fellow and apparently a hard worker!

 

[300zx]

He's a good looking fellow and apparently a hard worker!

He is! He takes after his DAD!!

A year ago Christmas we put a super charger on his 97 Z28 Camaro. One of those Saturday afternoon bolt on jobs. 6 days later we had it on! His car had traction control and the control box was in the way of the supercharger. We had to make brackets to relocate it and then run new brake lines. The extra power and his smile made it all worth while.

John

 

[SuperCharged]

He is! He takes after his DAD!!

A year ago Christmas we put a super charger on his 97 Z28 Camaro. One of those Saturday afternoon bolt on jobs. 6 days later we had it on! His car had traction control and the control box was in the way of the supercharger. We had to make brackets to relocate it and then run new brake lines. The extra power and his smile made it all worth while.

John

Thanks, Dad!