Newbie to Kubota

Barra

New member

Equipment
L1 385
Jan 8, 2025
4
0
1
Boonah, Qld, AUSTRALUA
Hi guys,
great to find this site. I am in Australia so I do understand this is an international site.
I have a Kubota L1-385 that has a 5 cylinder diesel engine, Monroematic transmission, a bucket ir front end loader & a slasher.
A couple, or three questions, does anyone have an operator's manual for these beasts OR does the transmission/hydraulics share the same UDT oil & do you fill it through the trans oil filter plug?
Thks in advance,
Barra
 

GrassLakeRon

Active member

Equipment
B8200HST-DP , RC60-82h Mower Deck, Woods RB6 Rear Blade, Homemade Carry All
Oct 27, 2023
294
172
43
Grass Lake, Michigan

They have thru L355, which might help some in your questions.
 

Butch

Active member

Equipment
Kubota 2410, RC60-24B, FL1000- kubota hydrolic front snow blade- plug aerator
Sep 10, 2009
669
127
43
75
Rising Sun, MD
Welcome to the most useful Kubota website ever! The guys (and gals) that frequent the site are the folks that realize their tractors are an investment, a tool to make life easier and pretty much a passion to keep them alive and mechanically well.
 
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Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,596
1,537
113
Austin, Texas
Hi guys,
great to find this site. I am in Australia so I do understand this is an international site.
I have a Kubota L1-385 that has a 5 cylinder diesel engine, Monroematic transmission, a bucket ir front end loader & a slasher.
A couple, or three questions, does anyone have an operator's manual for these beasts OR does the transmission/hydraulics share the same UDT oil & do you fill it through the trans oil filter plug?
Thks in advance,
Barra
The L1 series was a grey market import here in the USA so most information about them is under that section of the forum. But I think they were normally 4 digits after the L1 designation. I think they were under the name Sunshine. I do recall seeing some discussions on the Monroe system.

BUT there are L175, L185,…,L355 series that were legally imported by Kubota. But I don’t think that series went to the 385 size.

So I am asking that you clarify what the designation of your tractor is.

The other suggestion I have seen is to use the photos of the labels and switches to be translated into English from the Japanese language.

That’s all I have for you but others will be along to help.
 

Barra

New member

Equipment
L1 385
Jan 8, 2025
4
0
1
Boonah, Qld, AUSTRALUA
Thks Russell,
It does have a "Sunshine" badge on the very front but all that I know is the model number - L1-385DT. The info stickers are in English, typically translated from Japanese so amusing to read.
Cheers,
Neil
 

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,596
1,537
113
Austin, Texas
You may have some luck looking in this forum

I searched for “Sunshine“ and now see they did use 3 digits after the L1

this thread does link to some site in Japan but not to a manual now

I also found a link that you might find some help from Japan
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
31,537
7,335
113
Sandpoint, ID
L1 tractors are an oddity and all on their own.
And yes they are also referred to sunshines or ZL's
They are built the same time as the Lxx50 series for the US market, and have a lot of similarities.

They are what in the USA we call grey market tractors.
For you in Qld they are also grey market because they were never meant to leave Japan.
Most of the L1's do not have operator, service, or parts manuals.
And when you can find them they are in Japanese.
Most of the parts are the same as other Kubota's made at the same time frame.

The transmission is not Monroematic, that is the name of the three point control system.

Yes the transmission and the hydraulics all share the same sump.
There might be mutiple fill points.
 
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Barra

New member

Equipment
L1 385
Jan 8, 2025
4
0
1
Boonah, Qld, AUSTRALUA
L1 tractors are an oddity and all on their own.
And yes they are also referred to sunshines or ZL's
They are built the same time as the Lxx50 series for the US market, and have a lot of similarities.

They are what in the USA we call grey market tractors.
For you in Qld they are also grey market because they were never meant to leave Japan.
Most of the L1's do not have operator, service, or parts manuals.
And when you can find them they are in Japanese.
Most of the parts are the same as other Kubota's made at the same time frame.

The transmission is not Monroematic, that is the name of the three point control system.

Yes the transmission and the hydraulics all share the same sump.
There might be mutiple fill points.
Hey Wolfman - there appears to be a separate tank & fill for the hydraulics system as well as a fill point for the txmn, both use the same oil type. Thks for clarifying my mistake re Monroematic as the 3pl system NOT the txmn.
Barra
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
31,537
7,335
113
Sandpoint, ID
Hey Wolfman - there appears to be a separate tank & fill for the hydraulics system as well as a fill point for the txmn, both use the same oil type. Thks for clarifying my mistake re Monroematic as the 3pl system NOT the txmn.
Barra
They both end up at the same place, it's very common for there to be more than one fill point.
I'll guess there is one on top of trans in front of seat and one behind the seat on top of the three point.