Need info on the L200

[T-Mo]

I have a line on a L200, and there is limited information on it from tractordata. From what research I have found, there was a gray market version and a US market version. And it appears the L210 was similar? I'm assuming it does not have a water pump, so is this model prone to overheating?

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

No they were not prone to overheating.
The cooling system works perfectly fine the way it was designed.

 

[Russell King]

The L200/L210 we’re not grey market. They were similar to each other and there is a work shop manual (WSM) here but I did not see an operators manual.

Index of Kubotabooks/Tractor Owners Manuals/

Here is a link to someone who recently pulled one out of a field and got it working again.

Kubota L200 Rebuild

As promised in this thread; Hello From A New Guy in Texas, I am going to start a rebuild of my little L200. I have several fully equipped shops around my ranch, but I set up this temporary 12x20 shelter next to the main house as I need to stay close by home for some personal reasons right...

www.orangetractortalks.com

They are able to overheat just like any engine and they had no temperature gauge (as far as I know). They did (probably) have a whistle on the radiator overflow that would get your attention if it overheated. They would get hot if the radiator airflow was not good which happens if you don’t keep the radiator and the radiator screen clean while using the tractor.

There was a series of tractors that started at L175 and went to L355S. They seemed to be similar in some sizes but different in others. For instance the L200 has the oil pan cast as part of the block but the L185 is a separate oil pan. There were some that used rear wheels that had separate rims from centers so the width was more adjustable than those wher the center was welded to the rim (L260 v L185). The fuel tank on the L200 is round and is also a hydraulic fluid tank (similar to the L260?) for some hydraulic pump. The L185 and others have a rectangular fuel tank and all hydraulic fluid was also the transmission fluid unless the implement used a separate tank and pump.

There were grey market imports of these that are out there. Some have been changed to look more like a legal import by replacing the labels and stickers. Those tractors were similar to legal imports but also different. Your dealer can NOT sell you parts for a grey market tractor! If you see information on the labels and stickers that have Japanese characters then that is a grey market import. If the grey market tractor has the same engine (or transmission) as a legal import then you can buy parts that will work but you would have to say it was for a legal import tractor. L185 is similar to L1500 (grey) if my memory serves me well. There is a whole section for grey market on this forum. I personally would NOT buy a grey market version unless it was spares for a legal version, just to avoid issues with parts.

These older tractors are usually reliable but OEM parts are becoming less available. For instance the L185 head is prone to cracking when engine overheated enough but there are no OEM heads available. There are aftermarket heads that were available.

 

[Flying V Ranch]

That was my thread that I started when I rebuilt my L200 this past summer.
Here are a few things to consider before purchasing;
1.What new parts that are left are very expensive.
2.The tractor gearing is very low. This tractor was designed for plowing and hard pulling. For general everyday running around, it will be a bit slower in road gear than more modern compact tractors with faster gear ratios. This does not matter much in my personal case, but it could be significant issue for you. Be sure to drive it in all gears if possible.
3. You just not going to start the engine very easily in cold weather without working glow plugs and the knowledge to use them properly.
4. With just two cylinders, the engine noise is pretty loud. It's not bad, just sort of a pop, pop, pop sound.
5. The seat and leg area is pretty cramped and tight. You almost feel like you are "wearing" the tractor vs. just sitting on it.

The good;
1. This would be a fantastic tractor for a small to medium size garden. With it's narrow gauge wheels and light weight - it's a plowing and tillage machine. The maneuverability is great for turning around in tight spots.
2. With it's large diameter rear wheels and light weight, it's just about impossible to get stuck. This tractor was originally designed to work in flooded rice fields.
3. The two-speed PTO is very strong as is the 3-point lift. This little tractor can lift way more than you think.
4. It's a very simple motor and machine. Very easy to understand and maintain. If you are new to diesels, this would be a great first diesel engine to get running.
5. If the price is right, you'll be happy with the value and usefulness of this little tractor.

Hope this helps you a bit in your decision!
Bud