Salvaging a L345dt / 1720 loader

[DarrellSimpson]

I saved a l345dt with the 1720 loader from a certain wasteful death. I now have the tractor inside my shop , the previous owner removed the engine and did a partial tear down because of a stuck piston , the parts were difficult to collect and round up because the old timer I bought it from is struggling with Alzheimer's . The engine is in surprisingly good shape and the injectors were kept submerged in diesel fuel to try and prevent decay . I am trying to find a reasonably priced rebuild kit for the engine , if anyone has found a supplier I would appreciate the suggestions , I'm nervous about the ebay kits .
The loader has a large hydraulic tank on the right support tower with the controls , I have not been able to track down any info on that set up .
Two intake valves are stuck open so the head has to go in to a shop since I don't want to screw it up .
I have considered a V2200-DA engine for it but I don't fully understand what kind of machinery used one with all the front bolt holes intact for the front differential , any suggestions would be great .
I have heard that some people go to a single disk clutch setup ? doesn't that make the pto less useful ?
I will post pic's as this restoration progresses , I hope to return it to a very nice and useful tractor .
I am going to have to purchase tires , have any of you had any luck finding turf tires that will fit these wheels ? Thanks .
I am so happy about this forum , I have used the search engine to learn many things that I really needed to know .
Sorry the pics are turned wrong , I don't understand why .

 

[brain55]

Great tractor. Have no idea why one would change to a single clutch disc I see zero advantage. Nor do I know how you'd do it. The L355SS had a single disc but it was a shuttle shift machine. The front pump kit for that loader was the reason for the external tank. There may be few people that know much about it anymore. That machine was a nearly a current model when I started working on Kubotas in 1987. I set-up many of them and installed plenty of those 1720 loaders.

 

[DarrellSimpson]

We had 2 of them on the dairy farm as a kid , I spent many hrs on them but neither of them were 4 wheel drive and they did not have the tank on the loader that I can remember , but the 70's and 80's were a long time ago .

 

[Mikefromcny]

Looks like a fun project! I like the 80s and 90s Kubota over the new stuff.

 

[wtemplar]

Hey I have the same tractor!! In fact I found your thread because I am looking for the bushing that slides on the crankshaft and bolts to the drive pulley that turns the shaft for the pump on the 1720 loader. Looks like a funnel with both male and female splines on the narrow end. My dealer says he can't get one. Any ideas?

 

[rbargeron]

wtemplar: this could be your lucky day - a few days ago I was talking about that very part with these people in Maine. The have an L345 and an L355ss they are parting out. One of the splined drive bushing coupling you're talking about was mounted on their L355ss even though the 1720 loader on it used the internal hydraulics. Talk with Scott - he had quoted me $150 shipped to MA, cheap when you think of what it would take to make one. Did you remove your old bushing yet? Scott said after the three screws are out it still needs a puller to get it off?

The splines on my bushing are ok so we won't be needing the one Scott has. On ours the internal splines on the next shaft are worn out and slipping. We're going to drill and tap for dog-point set screws into the splined bushing. We'll add a collar on the outside to provide more tapping depth.

Scott said they have two 1720 loaders available. I posted at OTT about that here.

Good luck everyone - Dick B

 

[rbargeron]

That L345DT looks like a good find! Well worth restoring to full function.

I've had two L345's and a L355ss - very handy units. They have some nice features like power steering, live pto, strong-lift 3-point hitch. The L345's pto is 2-speed. The external hydraulic system with front pump and side tank was an option to provide higher flow and operating speed for the loader and when a backhoe was supplied.

Turf rubber is not commonly seen on 4wd L345DT models - need to get the front and rear sizes right for rolling speed. You may find the existing R1's are acceptable, the tractor is not all that heavy. Just remember to stay in 2wd when turning on the lawn

For bits and pieces these people have L345 and L355ss parts:

maine tractor crossing

Take care, Dick B

 

[DarrellSimpson]

Thank you rbargeron , it seems the link you provided is dead or not working , I am trying to understand the double disk clutch and if its my only option , the guy I got it from was convinced that a single disk clutch was the best way to go but from what I think I understand an single disk clutch makes the PTO only operational when the tractor is in gear and moving , so I don't think I should do that . Have you ever heard of someone going to a single disk , and was it a good outcome .
I am going to need a new pto drive gear for the crank shaft , the one I have is very worn . I can not find one listed online or a part number .
Thank you for the information on the Tank and front drive hydraulics , I was a little stumped as to the purpose .

 

[rbargeron]

Hi Darrell - I reposted the link - seems to work now? I thought I posted a direct path to the L345 and L355 parts page but apparently there was a hair out of place.

On the dual clutch question, all L345's had the dual-disk setup. A dual clutch allows for a live pto, independent of tractor travel. Pushing the pedal partway down disengages travel, all the way down disengages the pto too.

When a dual clutch needs work, its most often the travel disk that's worn out, not the whole thing. Travel disk is around $90.

Which pto gear are you referring to? Maybe a picture? (See attached parts listing from Kub website) Dick B

 

[DarrellSimpson]

Thanks again rbargeron , I am just rounding up parts and trying to make sure I know what I would be getting into if I did convert to a single disk , I see no reason to keep considering a single disk clutch and I will be installing a duel disk back in , Thank you for the information .