M8540/M9540 540/1000 rpm PTO Conversion install

[ovrszd]

The integral model weighs 2006lbs, and that is with only two tail wheels. I have a manual right here if you need any other specs or info.

Thanks for the info. I'm probably around 2200lbs with four wheels. If you don't have your 1008 anymore would you consider selling the manual??

 

[ovrszd]

We run a Bush Hog 3008, 2 pt hitch with our M8540 and the best thing about the mower is the tires! The dealer ordered it with (used) airplane tires and those stay on top and roll easily over everything. In 5 years of hard use the tires have not been punctured.
Those tires I would suggest to anyone with a big, heavy mower behind.
Looks like the 1000rpm conversion kit is a winner, too!

Yep, as heavy as these cutters are it would be an issue in soft ground. I think the guy that owned my cutter previously did fiinish mowing and didn't want tire ruts or scalps so he added two more wheels.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Thanks for the info. I'm probably around 2200lbs with four wheels. If you don't have your 1008 anymore would you consider selling the manual??

Still have it and going strong :thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

Still have it and going strong :thumbsup:

View attachment 299757

Cool, that's reassuring!!!

 

[bjmsam]

the gearbox is thicker due to having two sets of gears

How is the new gearbox switched between 540 RPM and 1000 RPM? I don't see a lever.

 

[xring100]

You have to swap output shafts one is 6 splines I believe the 1000 rpm is 21 splines

 

[ovrszd]

How is the new gearbox switched between 540 RPM and 1000 RPM? I don't see a lever.

If you go back to my first post and look at the third picture, it's of the housing extension with the PTO shaft removed. It also shows the two shafts and a snap ring laying in the foreground.

To change speeds you remove the snap ring and pull out the existing shaft and replace it with the other shaft. If you look closely at the two shafts you will see that they are each driven by a different gear. You can tell by the location of the teeth on the two shafts. So 540 engages one gear in the housing assembly. 1000 engages a different gear.

Warning. When you swap shafts park the tractor nose downhill so fluid doesn't run out. If parked flat the oil level is slightly above the opening and will pee out fluid. You know exactly how I figured that out don't ya....... :ashamed:

 

[bjmsam]

If you go back to my first post and look at the third picture, it's of the housing extension with the PTO shaft removed. It also shows the two shafts and a snap ring laying in the foreground.

To change speeds you remove the snap ring and pull out the existing shaft and replace it with the other shaft. If you look closely at the two shafts you will see that they are each driven by a different gear. You can tell by the location of the teeth on the two shafts. So 540 engages one gear in the housing assembly. 1000 engages a different gear.

Warning. When you swap shafts park the tractor nose downhill so fluid doesn't run out. If parked flat the oil level is slightly above the opening and will pee out fluid. You know exactly how I figured that out don't ya....... :ashamed:

Ah, that makes sense, and helps explain these posts from an earlier thread:

Here's a pic showing the new gears, thrust washer and inner race. The upper pinion is 2-pieces.

This went really well - here is the finished 2-speed box ready to go back on. The leftover parts to the right are the old single pinion, its gear, and the dummy spacer that's been replaced by the new gear and race.

Toughest part of the job was getting the old gasket cleaned off - they use some serious adhesive at the factory.

I'd love to find such a kit for my L3710 to spin a 540 PTO generator at a slower engine speed.

 

[wmonroe]

I don't think Kubota makes a kit for the L's do they? I would buy one if they did.

 

[bjmsam]

Yes, for some L models, anyway - here is a quote from the thread I referenced in my previous post:

My L4150 had a 2-speed pto, 540 and 750, which was very handy - often I could save fuel, noise and engine wear by running the higher pto speed but with the engine at around 1800. Also, I could run my snowblower up a little to get better throw distance.

My L5450 only has single-speed 540 pto. So I run the engine at 2300 rpm or even higher, but would like a faster pto gear like I had before.

In going over the 5450 parts list, it shows that the tractors in this series made for Australia and New Zealand have 2-speed pto. I've compared the lists and by replacing 2 parts and adding three new ones, my rig will have both 540 and 900 (approx) pto speeds.