Working a B21 TLB to the limit

[ashwood486]

I just purchased a B21 a few months ago from craigslist, 452 hours. I think its about 10 years old.
I have been working it a little around the house and have replaced several hoses on the BH. They are factory hoses and seem to spring a leak, my cousin owns a hydraulic shop, so the cost isn't a big deal. He said the original hose is a inferior quality rated at 2500psi and over time I will be replacing more, so we are putting 4800psi hose back on the machine.
So this being said I put this machine to the ultimate test and worked it cleaning up an area almost like a swamp, cutting ditches and clearing roots, moving stumps, etc.
The worst possible conditions and everything was great until I blew another hose on the FEL. I admit I was using every function this machine had to pull myself around in the deep mud digging ditches. I repaired the hose and the machine had more power than before the hose blew?

With all this said I still would buy another B21 because it has performed better than I expected, I goes just about anywhere and has good power to the attachments. A few times I was looking for a seatbelt thinking of the possibilities of a roll over but, this machine is very stable on the side of a hill in wet muddy conditions.
Looking back I should have bought one of these years ago.
Just for the record I never needed a pull or had to hook to a tree to be pulled free, I thought a few times I might, lol. This old sticky mud was all this machine wanted but, we got the job done and I am proud to own it.

I would like to find someone with the specs for servicing this machine from the owners manual if anyone has them. filters, fluids, and anything I should know.
Thanks

 

[PatasColo]

Wow! That second picture looks like either it's gonna need some help, or you'd need you and a friedn, one each working the FEL and the backhoe to spider yourself out! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

From what you said, it sounds like you got it through all that under its own power. :thumbsup: Glad you're enjoying it!
-Mitch

 

[kcender]

That B21 looks like it is earning it's keep :thumbsup:

 

[ashwood486]

Haha , I didn't have an extra hand to put on the steering wheel. I did have to use every function it had to get out, the only thing I do not like is the brake pedals and the forward/reverse pedal are on the same side? I would like to know how to lock the wheels in full time and not the limited slip, :laughing:without having to keep a foot on the pedal. I guess I am still learning, LOL

 

[Ductape]

Note to self: Don't buy ashwood486's tractor when it comes up for sale.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Note to self: Don't buy ashwood486's tractor when it comes up for sale.

...or anything else he owns.:laughing:

 

[Tomtint]

Eeeech, I might not even do that to a rental.

 

[ashwood486]

Oh, thats funny,
I really am not hard on the machine. When it comes back it will be pressure washed and serviced from top to bottom. I have been just gettin the feel of what its capable of and knowing the positions the machine works best at. So next time I know how to approach each job and should get through them faster.
Just another note,, LOL ,, I had know idea the bottom was going to drop out on me and after that it took a little while to get out.
I do have alot more respect for the ability of this small TLB than I did before. :thumbsup:

 

[teg]

...I would like to know how to lock the wheels in full time and not the limited slip...

By your left foot - actually heel, (not 100% sure about your model) should be a lever that you can lock both the rear wheel together... don't use it with the wheels spinning.

PS. Nice "playing around" photos!

 

[don white]

Yeeks I had a B20 in pretty deep one time but not that deep. Did you walk it out or get a tug.

The time I got stuck I went into a wet area after a week of cold weather. After I got the wood loaded the front end broke through the mud/ice. Bit of cussing over that one.

 

[ashwood486]

Thanks for the info on the lever but I am still a little confused, :confused2: My machine has a yellow lever with 2 positions, and it also has a foot pedel behind my left heel. I could get the rear wheels to lock when my left heel was pushing down on this. I never tried the yellow lever.
I had a hard time holding my foot on this foot pedal all the time,
I am also not the smallest most flexable guy, LOL.

So my thoughts are, there has to be a way to lock all the wheels in full time. I also noticed the front wheels never spun together one would spin and then the other. What am I missing or what controls have I got set wrong?
I may be wrong and I really do need to order an owners manual.
thanks for any info.

 

[teg]

It's only for the rear tires, the one for the heel of your foot.

Not sure about the yellow lever.... (???)

You should not use it full time as it could break, a few people reported on other tractors, using it all the time to blow snow = breakage.

 

[Ductape]

So my thoughts are, there has to be a way to lock all the wheels in full time. I also noticed the front wheels never spun together one would spin and then the other. What am I missing or what controls have I got set wrong?
I may be wrong and I really do need to order an owners manual.
thanks for any info.

You have it right. On small tractors, the front diff is always open. The best you can do is three wheels spinning.

 

[ashwood486]

Thanks for the info guys, I have been wondering about the front differential.

I will continue to watch for a service, owners manual on ebay. I can't believe the price of these things.

 

[Deano]

:laughing:Outstanding pictures!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::laughing:

 

[Goodluck w/ That]

I buried my L39 like that, I didn't think it was alot of fun getting it out. Push with loader & pull with the backhoe. I still have swamp mud hung under it.

 

[ashwood486]

Thats about the only way to work it, push and pull. Its decieving to go in a place and everything is good, then in a few minutes the whole machine is buried to the frame. I had to use the FEL to get front of the machine up out of the mud. It was so sticky everything had a suction on it and wouldn't let anything move.

I agree at one point it wasn't very fun when I blew a hose.
I think the hoses are a weak point on this machine from the factory. I understand they are 10 years old but, they are only rated for 2500psi. I guess thats how you make more money when you sell lots of machines. LOL

 

[MarkV]

Ashwood, there is a vent on the front differential and it looks like you could have gotten it under water. I would check the front diff fluids. There is a drain plug on both sides of the axle housing. Kubota says it may either be filled with hydraulic fluid or 80 - 90 wt gear oil.

MarkV

 

[ashwood486]

wow, I never thought about that. I will check the fluid and the vent hose.

That seems a bit strange to me, why not run the vent hose a little higher and never have any worries.
thanks for this info, it helps alot.:thumbsup: