L-225 Clanging noise in transmission

SoftwareGeek · Jan 18, 2009

Hey,

I've got an L-225 which has done me great for years, and I depend on it! Recently, I've starting hearing a clanging/ratcheting sound in the transmission when a load is on the rear wheels - such as going up a hill. It sounds like the noice an impact wrench makes when it has tightened a lug nut all the way.

While this noise is going on, the tractor doesn't move. I find if I put it into reverse I can make headway, but the forward gears don't seem to be working at all.

I figured that I'm at least in this for a clutch job, so I've gone ahead and split the tractor & pulled off the clutch. I split the tranny off today; and everythingn LOOK's ok. Any suggestions for how to continue troubleshooting? I'm going to be laid up in a month or so while I go through Chemo, and I need to get this running for the hired help.

Cheers

IRNCTY · Jan 18, 2009

I don't have a clue what your problem might be, but I'm glad to see another L 225 owner show up! I thought I was the only one, and I only aquired mine recently. I am in the process of welding up cracked wheels. (front)

SoftwareGeek · Jan 19, 2009

Well, good luck on your welding. One of the things I need to do, once this is sorted out, is to replace the front hubs - one of them is dog-eared (only 3 holes left), the other one the previous owner did some welding on. You may know that welding cast iron is tricky, and not the same as welding steel.

There's a company called Sparex that makes a lot of parts this tractor, and they have new hubs.

rbargeron · Jan 19, 2009

Here is a complete guess. From the description of the sound, it could be a splined connection somewhere inside the transmission that's worn or cracked. Attached are some parts pages. Any more details on how this developed?

IRNCTY · Jan 19, 2009

SoftwareGeek said:
Well, good luck on your welding. One of the things I need to do, once this is sorted out, is to replace the front hubs - one of them is dog-eared (only 3 holes left), the other one the previous owner did some welding on. You may know that welding cast iron is tricky, and not the same as welding steel.

There's a company called Sparex that makes a lot of parts this tractor, and they have new hubs.

I saw some hubs, I believe on ebay, for like $40.00

SoftwareGeek · Jan 19, 2009

This happend very suddenly - one day it wasn't happening, the next it was. I don't recall any gradual happening.

dex3361 · Jan 19, 2009

Wonder if it oculd be one of the bull gears on the rear that drive the axles. I could imagine this making this noise and working in reverse but not forward. If the spur gear (turns the bull gear) has feathered it over or wore it out. Just a thought.

SoftwareGeek · Jan 19, 2009

I reckon I'll find out soon enough. I'm going to tear the tranny apart on wed/thursday.. Here is a link to the pictures of the whole process:
Karl Froelich's Photos - Kubota L-225 Transmission repair project | Facebook

IRNCTY · Jan 20, 2009

Now that is a dis-assembled tractor!!!!! Was it neccessary to do all that, or do you intend to put it all back re-built?

BTW, I saved the link to the pictures in my favorites for future reference. THANKS.

I also found out by looking at yours, that the linkage that operates my 3 pt hitch has been botched. I'll have to look into that.

Keep us posted about what you find and for sure how it goes back together. (with photos)

Willl · Jan 21, 2009

Keep going, you'll find that tranny yet. j/k

SoftwareGeek · Jan 21, 2009

Tell you the truth, it's been a lot of fun. I grew up working on cars, and after being in software for the last 25 years it's nice to get my hands greasy. A tractor is a dead simple thing in terms of electrical systmes, engine, drive train etc.
I'm currently undergoing chemo treatment, so I'm taking a few weeks off to get this done. I fgure as long as I've got it apart, I mght as well do what I can so it last another 20 years.

I'm thinking Ill be finding a chipped gear somewhere in the tranny or the differential, with the noise it made. I'll rebuild what I can, and clean it up a bit too - it will be much, much more than a "dupont" restoration. Today I'm taking the clutch into the dealership to see about getting it resurfeced, and replacing the disc. I'll probably pull of the flywheel and get that cleaned up too.

SoftwareGeek · Jan 24, 2009

Well, I think I found the problem today. I popped open the rear end, and low and behold - the spiral bevel gear is all chewed to bits. I pulled off the right axle case, and the shaft differential gear bearing is totally shot. So at least it's new bearings for the shaft differential, and a new bevel gear. If you check out the link I have above, I've added pictures showing this. I reckon it will be monday before i can call around for parts.

To whomever suggested the spur or buldog gear (which I'm assuming is the same as the differential shaft gear) - you were the closest! I don't know if the bearing went first, and that caused the bevel to get chewed up, or the other way around.

Willl · Jan 24, 2009

Good grief, that looks nasty. Hows the pinion look ?

SoftwareGeek · Jan 25, 2009

Willl, the pinion looks in really good shape. Really, the only thing that looks bad (so far - I haven't pulled them out yet) is the bevel and the differential shaft bearing.

rbargeron · Jan 25, 2009

That much damage to the ring gear usually means damage on the pinion too. Look close for cracks and worn profile. It's a lot of work to do twice.

SoftwareGeek · Jan 26, 2009

yeah. I went in and ordered parts today - new bearing and oil seal for the differential shaft gear; new differential bearing race. What I cannot get is a new ring / pinion, so I'm going to have to hit up the salvage yards. Anybody have a recommendation? I hear there's a place out in kentucky or somewhere that has a lot of L225's. I kinda hate to use salvage parts after all this work to get here; but I'm open to options.

I've updated the link (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60021&l=6180b&id=577472985) with a few more photos. I haven't pulled out the pinion gear yet, I'll wait to see how things go trying to find a matched set pinion / ring; I'm hopefull that I'm done dissasembling, and all there is now is cleaning, painting and reassembling.

With a word to painting, I'm thinking of sticking with the stock kubota color scheme, although I really don't like the blue. It makes it hard to see if anything is leaking. I'm open to suggestions, though, as I'm not terribly clever when it comes to color.

BTW, so far I'm about $500 into this for parts - ~$300 for the clutch assy, and ~$200 for the bearing race, diff. shaft bearing and seal. I'll be into it a bit more for the ring / pinion, but with the exception of gaskets (differential gasket set) and replacement O-rings for the hydraulics, that should be it.

IRNCTY · Feb 7, 2009

BTW Softwear geek, how's the treatments going for you? I hope you're much better. How about the tractor repair? Did you get all the parts yet?

SoftwareGeek · Feb 8, 2009

Thanks for the thoughts! Coupla things - cancer treatment is going well. More of an annoyance than anything else, but I'm bald as a cue ball.

Got the new ring and pinion, and have assembled them. I've put the engine and tranny back together, had to re-jigger the clutch a bit - the new clutch is more "inset" than the original, resulting in a lot more release bearing travel, which messes up the linkage.

I'm still waiting on some bearings, seals and o-rings from the dealership. I'll probably pick those up this tuesday, and get them on on wednesday. My HOPE is to have it all put together by this weekend - it depends on how much screwing around I have to do to ensure the ring & pinion are meshing properly. New pictures are up on my facebook site at the link below.

I'm taking the opportunity to make this look purdy, doing a lot of cleaining and painting. I'll be doing a lot more. I've attached some pics - also one of all the broken bits and metal filings I pulled out of the differential case.

IRNCTY · Feb 8, 2009

I'm thankful to hear your health is improving. I am highly interested in your "rebuild". The engine and transmission look good! It's amazing what cleaning and painting will do.
I can imagine that the whole thing will look like a new tractor when finished. My tractor only has 1200 hrs, but it obviously has sat outside it's whole life. It also has some hood damage, as if something fell across the front of it. It has some bondo on it. The thing runs good though, so the looks don't bother me. My only problem is that the transmission gets crossed up once in awhile and I have to take the shifter plate off, and line everything up. I'm not sure what is worn that casues this. Any ideas?

rbargeron · Feb 9, 2009

Hi IRNCTY - sometimes this is caused by the little detent balls that travel back and forth in a drilled passage between the shifting rods. The balls stick into rod grooves so only one rod can move out of neutral at a time. But as the rods and balls & passages wear, the accumulated clearance can allow two rods to move at the same time, putting the transmission into two gears at once (just a lock-up if you are lucky - gear tooth breakage if not).