Search results

No problem doing what you have drawn. There are a number of factors that effect flow. Losses from valves, fittings, lines and hoses adds up. Used a 12gpm hydraulic motor for a FEL pole chainsaw on a 16gpm 3rd function tractor. Intermittent use, usually near idle. So far no trouble even with...

Maybe it’s me but hoses don’t seem to last like they use to on equipment.

When subsoiling going forward with momentum and hit a rock or root too big the small bolt is suppose to shear and release the shank to prevent from folding the top link toward the tractor. Some top links are made beefier than others. Made to be easy to replace. You strengthen the weak link , you...

Looks like you have draft control. Set right? Looks like you show a lot of lifting cylinder rod length without much lifting arm height. There are different holes in the lifting arms for range and weight of implements. Have a owners or workshop manuals?

Good wordsmithing, good explanation.

If entrained air is a symptom might explain how dirt might be getting in. Possible original assembly issue? Lot of Kubota B26s were made for many years with a rubber elbow on the suction side of the hydraulic pump that would prematurely fail. Poor design often would lead to it cracking letting...

Sorry you are having so much trouble with a new machine. This size TLB is most useful on our wooded farm too. The insolubles may not be removed by the two hydraulic filters. The HST is much finer filter and polishes the fluid better. Lower micron rating. If the M62 is like our M59, the HST...

I’ve had both. Each have their best use depending on your type of work. Haven’t had much trouble from either. DIY clutch in Ford 860 no problem. Had problems with the manual three speed transmission on a hydrostatic B20. Much prefer my hydrostatic tractors now for mowing my hillside farm. With...

Usually have long bottom root grapple on the FEL. Lower in questionable terrain. People been farming and logging this property for almost 300 years and Cherokee before that. Worst trash comes from subdivision new neighbors.

We use a 6’ finishing mower on our Kubota B26. Wife can expertly mow close to rock borders, walls, fences, trees, etc without having to trim or weedeat. Love the rear discharge finish mowers. So like having the mower wider than tractor. Do run Oregon gator blades the give a better cut and stay...

For the past few year’s particularly under load hear what sounds like an exhaust system leak. Maybe getting worse? Exhaust system is readily accessible by raising the hood and removing the side panel. Inspection of manifold, turbo, tubing, muffler, flanges can’t feel or see any evidence of...

Sharpened the blades. Easy enough on the machine from the back thru the open push bar. The blades have two bevels, on side and end. Blades are flip-able to have a fresh edges. Cutting of brush now much easier. Even took another 1.5” off the black walnut stump. Gearbox full of grease. Tried to...

Pictures and little more info helpful. Agree proper adjustment of the deck is important. I keep the the front about 1/2” lower than the back. On the Woods rd7200 had the left blade spindle pulley shear the two 1/4” clamp bolts that let the blade not spin under load. We mow rough ground...

HST pedal and pto have switches that will not allow the engine to start if not in neutral.

Had a sneaky limb push up the exhaust pipe while pilling brush with the grapple. Enough to tear a quarter size hole in the pipe where a support strap was welded. The way the exhaust system is made really need the support for vibration and operation. Got a 2” SS band exhaust clamp. $10 from...

Ran the M59 during the hot part of the day using a high load pto Brown tree cutter. Tractor stayed a normal operating temp. Me not so much.

Been using radiator genie tools for cleaning radiators and air filters. You get both an air and water wands. Best tool for cleaning the shop floor, blowing dirt and grass out the door. Just bought a air comb to try too. Thanks for sharing.

Clean and check your fuses. On the B20 there is a high amp fuse near the starter. Looks like a loop of wire with a connector. Usually wire tied to the wiring bundle. Had this unusual fuse blow after decades of use. Think my newer kubota tractors have the same thing. All for safety and...

Tried out the used 5’ brown cutter. Grunts the tractor (Kubota M59) to start. Smooth running. Fallow pasture with tall weeds and this year trees no sweat. 2-4” trees or bigger limbs a little more chewing. Mulches better than two blade 286 bushhog. Easily sheds privet, multiflora rose or Russian...

Wonder how you can start a deep well pump with no load?

Used Bushhog 286 cutter for much of the small trees. It can take 2” out. Danuser Intimdator and backhoe ripper helps with bigger stuff. Tree encroachment big problem on our farm. Bought a well used and abused 6’ Brown or pre-brown cutter for $300. 50# of weld bead added. Needed slip clutch...

Best thing to do after buying a cheap box blade is to weld reinforcements and hitch frame before it bends. So much easier fix before a bend. Add a receiver hitch or tool pockets. Box blade now stores the hitch crane. After buying Land Plane hadn’t used the box or grader blade.

We operate our TLBs 80% of the time in 3pt hitch mode. Changing to and from backhoe often not a big deal. They are made to do it. The Kubota TLBs are the best I ever had to do this. Not talking about their ag tractors. I’m sure there are some models easier/ harder to change. Had a cheap old...

Upgraded the backhoe for better maybe safer use on our farm. Hillsides, creeks, ponds, woods, road and utilities maintenance. Don’t need to dig that high most of the time. Working on slopes, soft ground the the taller wider pads help. Rubber grippers for hard surfaces. Cleats for soft. Guards...

Bush hogging 6’ fall weeds in a remote 6 acre fallowed hay field down by the pond. Started early morning so the dew would help quell the dust and heat. Working from the outside in. Made about five passes when two camouflaged poaches stood up. Never know what you might find.

Wow! Looks like an impact. Had some sheer wind damage in the woods years ago. 30’ wide and 350’ long. Everything in the path was crushed to the ground. Limbs sheared. Whole trees crushed or missing limbs on one side. Looked more mechanical than natural. Like massive block of steel had come...

Your practice and tractors with many hours speaks well for Kubota’s recommendation. I do better with all the fuel, air, oil maintenance recommendations. Coolant changes in all my vehicles have been extended past the manufacturer’s recommendation with no ill effect. 5X past is probably too much...

Didn’t have any overheating problems. Regularly have to clean radiators and oil coolers exterior with Radiator Genie tools. Sometimes every day when fall mowing. Yes, a radiator can hold tremendous amount of hidden dirt.

2013 Kubota M59 with 1460 hours. First coolant change. Old coolant had some whitish color while flushing. Did several plain water flushes bring each up to operating temperature and getting diminishing color. Inspection of core looking down from radiator cap opening looked clear. Cleaned overflow...

Glad you found a way to use your exceptional skills, creativity, and work ethic to make a living. Remarkable craftsmanship and attention to detail. Awe-inspiring in all aspects. Thanks for sharing.

Have welded a short piece of thick wall tubing to hammers to easily tighten jam type screws on bucket forks or attachments. Also helps as a fulcrum when tightening fence wire.

While I was in between backhoes got a FEL bucket quick spade. Can use on bucket or forks. Surprised how a sharpen blade could cut thru roots of several inches. Mainly used on Kubota B20. Did manage to smiley face the bucket. Straightened and strengthened. It was great cutting multiflora rose...

Lot of people hurting. Hope they get some relief soon. Folks like us with tractors are usually better prepared. Couldn’t enjoy this lifestyle without a good tractor with FEL and chainsaw.

Agree heat is harder to take as I have gotten older. Don’t mow or make hay as much. Try to pick cooler times to mow in open station tractor. Experimenting using substitute ice packs in pockets to help keep cool. Medicine is shipped with these ice packs plastic bags. Fishing vest holds several...

Making what you have, work on what you need always a good thing.

Had a 36” oak fall in an old pasture early spring. Had removed limbs earlier and needed to work on the main stem yesterday. Grass and weeds now 4’+ tall. Used the LP to lay the grass down breaking most of the weed stems. Few extra paths for the many deer and turkey. Graded some dirt high spots...

I’m constantly having to move limbs or trees when bush hogging so the grapple stays on the tractor. Mowing yards we remove the bucket on the little tractor.

Since the tractor was split check all exterior suction line connections. Air inleakage from rubber line connections happen. Also check hydraulic filters for tightness. Good working vent important. After the system is bled the hydraulic oil should not be foamy or trying to blow out the fill...

Big variations in land plane designs and I’m sure in performance. Briefly had a well known manufacturer LP with short sides and nearly straight blades that didn’t perform well. Traded for an EA LP. Big difference in performance. Encourage you to watch the EA video on how and why they design and...

Nice reinforcement. Tines take a lot of stress. You always do good work. Looking over my equipment, tractors and attachments there is hardly a piece that hasn’t been repaired or modified to improve function or durability. Opportunity to challenge our skills brings greater work satisfaction.

Amazon or eBay. Amazon prices can change quite a bit over time. Been a rugged, rattle free way to carry fire extinguishers on the tractors. Used three square U-bolts per mount and didn’t require any drilling.

Yes the ballast box would need some strengthening to pull stumps or even a loaded small trailer. Be careful.

I collected -400# of sharps and plasma cutting drops and dross for years to make ballast for my anvil and post vise stands. Mixed with high Portland grout. 8x16” tube drops. Anvil base has 8’of railroad rail too. Now just trade with scrapyard.

Extraordinarily creative!

In paint shop. Combination rubber pads and cleats. 16x18”, about 5” height advantage over OEM. Combo advantageous on our hillside, falling water farm. Terrain soft to rock on a slope.

When I built my platform tried an experiment by adding safety legs. Easy to deploy. Only bad thing is they don’t fit under the part of the barn where I store the basket. Basket used more often without safety legs, just lazy on my part. Gets used often as part of the farm maintenance. Wife...

Long ago converted pin on bucket to ssqa. Lost some roll back angle that I didn’t like. Had other buckets and didn’t change. Just something to consider with your mods.

Been welding and preparing parts to test fit. Welding on the cylinder will be tricky. 2.5” square tubing base. Protection from weld splatter a must. Plan on 6, -0.5” welds on each one. Cooling with water soaked rag and cycling cylinder after each weld. Don’t want damage to the seals...

Had same break while loading my BIL Yanmar tractor to borrow. The new part was much heavier cast. From the local JD Yanmar dealer. Brazing cast repair might last.

Check your state and insurer. Homemade trailers might be illegal or not insurable making you liable for breaking the law, any damage your fault or not. When it’s not supposed to be on the road it is all your fault like being drunk. After many deaths from homemade trailers in Tennessee they...

Nothing beats being prepared and practice. We had yearly hands on fire extinguisher training at ORNL. Take advantage of low charged fire extinguishers to do a family practice and training session. Reward your children if they notice a low pressure extinguisher. Working safely takes practice...

Having a good bracket to securely hold your fire extinguisher important. Open station tractors are particularly vulnerable to damage. These are easy to attach by U-bolts to the ROPS. A little rubber plug on the pull pins makes them rattle free.

Everything Attachments has a new wicked land plane. Improve ripper teeth. They already had a better way of mounting rippers compared to other manufacturers.

Handy loading truck or in the shop. Crane training safety, never ever side load a crane. Winches made for pulling. Cranes made for lifting. Yes the backhoes are often used as a crane.

M59. Four post ROPS makes easy attachment with Ubolts. B26.

6’ with rippers. EA brand. Length of side boards and angle of blades improves operation of this type of tool.

About 7 years bought a EA land plane. Best tool for hillside driveway maintenance. Quickly paid for itself in recovering gravel and making a durable, low maintenance surface. Areas around barns, lawn, orchards are getting smoother just by occasionally driving around. Only used rippers once...

Have 2” receiver hitches on grapple and buckets for high work. Low work or narrow woods roads they get in the way. Made this with multiple receivers. Like that it lighter to high hillside work and doesn’t get in the way down narrow paths. Usually use the right top tall one.

Winches come in handy. While your winch will be fine for non-overhead pulls, it is not rated for shock loads like pulling a log. Pull a log to the tractor then secure to tractor with a separate rated line or chain. Also use caution when pulling something that stores energy like a tree, ie spring...

Thank you for sharing. Lot of us try to modify, repair and innovate our equipment to meet our needs. Materials and fabrication equipment certainly has changed and improved attachments. Operating a tractor in the woods needs several modifications. Any special procedure for welding AR400?

Some superpower that always finds the lost items after you purchase a replacement.

Nice fabrication skills!! Doubt you save much as your time is worth something. Even manufacture’s prototypes are expensive. But you have a piece of equipment you should be really proud of.

Nice. That will be useful.

Being in a wildfire Fire area you concerns are valid. Fire protection/prevention like choosing your roof materials important. Landscaping, debris management also important. Covering some/all exterior wood walls with metal an option? Sprinkles might help with a few embers. Hard to fireproof a...

Yes. The top is hinged and adjustable. Generally want to cut from the top to prevent binding. Being able to reverse gets you out of a bind.

Made one for the tractor. Sure been useful. Several manufacturers make similar saws.

Like 5030’s polishing filter suggestion. Like to up grade my tractors to this idea. Contaminated fuel with black slime is hard to remedy. Takes several treatments of algaecide and filter changes to clear up. No fun. Changed where and how I buy diesel.

Think he needs an always open line back to tank. Not a valved third function line. Some adapt the fill plug. Pretty big attachment for a small tractor.

Local welding supply buy their cylinder $150 one time free 1st fill. 120cuft. Exchange after that. Few days ago exchange was $44.50 75/25 gas. Larger cylinders more economical but heavy.

Wanting similar guards like was on the M59. Rocks or inadvertent bucket strike can damage the rod. The added steps sure help climbing up and down for us older folks. This is the M59 cylinder guards. Using materials on hand so they are thicker metal than needed. 5” square tubing, 17” long...

Not an oil expert but learned decades ago the right oil and filters matters in the long run. Was experiencing loss of power and black smoke once. Mice had packed my air cleaner housing full of small acorns. Didn’t hurt the filters. Screened the inlets on both tractors after that.

New super Kubota super UDT with new filters? Very few oils meet Kubota specs and HST is very picky.

Dedicated stainless steel brush for aluminum.

Do a lot of limb work with grapples. Gravel screening from scrap yard provides industrial strength protection for $.30/#. Be sure to add protection from coming up from underneath too.

Think limb Hog makes one of the better ones. Some are imported. Homemade one is a little longer but almost twice as heavy. Using materials I had on hand. It cuts like an angry beaver. Down side you really can’t under cut. Spring you can get some bark tear out. So valuable trees I’ll under...

United Pacific Stainless Steel Rectangular Convex Mirror w/U-Bracket for Cars, Trucks, Boats, Tractors, Forklifts, Improves Visibility – 1 Unit https://a.co/d/flHNi9x These mirrors help me see behind the tractor. Had not manage to break one yet.

Different parts of country probably vary. Local Kubota dealer in East Tennessee adds methanol rear ballast to any tractor with a loader. They added ballast to my used B26 rears for $36. In hill county ballast improves balance and traction.

I did similar on my M5030DT to run a grapple using a rear remote. Single sleeve for both 1/2” lines. Used Gates nylon hose protector from hydraulic shop. Welded on three line clamps to help support the lines. Over twenty years without any problem.

Limb Hog looked well made. Using my homemade similar polesaw yesterday. Had the backhoe on that let me tilt with the tractor with the outriggers giving another axis of adjustment. Can’t do that with a skidsteer. Added some vertical receivers to a SSQA trailer mover plate for the polesaw...

Have mounted a couple of these mirrors to help watch what is around me. United Pacific Stainless Steel Rectangular Convex Mirror w/U-Bracket for Cars, Trucks, Boats, Tractors, Forklifts, Improves Visibility – 1 Unit https://a.co/d/cu7Vlkq Help with age related neck and back range of motion.

Always like seeing what people can make or modify to better perform and increase productivity. Few have your ability to design and fabricate high strength attachments.

Operating a non-power steering MF135 with manure dump bucket for decades gave me Popeye arms. Great when you’re young. Appreciate modern loaders and power steering now.

Ready to dig. Whittling on this blow downed oak root ball. Good power to break 2-3” roots. Bigger roots take time but tooth and shank do their job. Ripper 150#, adapter 60#. B26 handles like a champ. Call this a successful venture. Miss my mega outrigger pads and cylinder guard steps like...

Unique idea. Might be fun. Don’t have a picture of all you are suggesting. Just have to be careful and safe as it was never meant to do this. Backhoes are stable with outriggers. Not so much carrying weight without them. There may be better options.

You are right. The shape is not optimal. One fellow added fangs to his thumb for better grip.

Nice design and fabrication work! Fine as any root rake I’ve seen. Very professional job. Hard to beat a design built to your particular needs. Do you cut the pieces or have them cut to your specifications? Clearing tons of invasive vegetation a yearly chore. Clearly can see the difference...

Changing from backhoe to 3pt finish mower on takes about 30 minutes on the B26. If you are not in a hurry takes 10 minutes. Backhoe has dedicated wood pallet. Kind of loss me cutting brush with mmm. Mmm would not survive my brush. Changing modes with M59 is about as quick but the weight of...

Grand ole machine. My first backhoe was a used 4500 TLB. Cheerful in all weathers. Cleanest engine oil of any diesel I’ve ever owned. Replaced some easy hoses. Those ones in the boom to the tractor always worried me but never leaked. The shop manual set for those machines are some of the best...

I’ve held the round end underneath with a large pipe wrench while a second person uses impact wrench on top. Replaced with coating spline parts and threads with never seize so not to have the problem next time.

RScotty, The quick attach pins are fully supported and pass through the respective side plates. Sees no rotational force. OEM 1” on the B26 ears and 1.19” on the excavator ears. These see forces at the extreme range of motion with an extension, anti curling movement of the attachment. The pins...

The wedge pin linkage has some adjustment. Double nut or locknut. Details how to adjust in the service manual. Might compare sides while opening and closing. Think I’ve have had to adjust every one I’ve had but I buy used equipment.

To maintain a crane operator license, had to have yearly tests for depth perception. Some of my technicians had trouble or could not past this test. More common than not. Think your case was distraction. I have hit $hit too. Age, trifocals, sweat, and many different attachments both front and...

Now complete. Adjusted one ear plate with 0.060” to 0.085” shims to allow hand insertion of pins. Several more tacking and installing checks. Trim sides and fabricate receiver hitch parts. Welded. Pins fit but are tight. Fitment might loosen some with use. This is where I really appreciate...

Had to modify the OEM thumb to work with a KX coupler on the M59. Your picture shows longer and curved thumb arms to better mate with the KX buckets. Good job with pictures showing details. If I had seen it probably would have influenced my modifications. Nice job and sure you will see if you...

Cutting from top helps prevent pinching. Manual polesaw a good educator persuader. Small 2-4” limbs are so shocked from being cut so fast binding is minimal. Pinch does happen and having a reverse to crawl out indispensable. Also cutting over 10” can stall the chain. Quick reverse to forward...

Thinking about this post while moving many grapple loads of oak limbs. Smell? Open station tractor but with dryer sheets and peppermint oil strategically placed to keep mice from nesting is quite skunked. Add oil and gas smells from carrying a chainsaw. Monitoring coolant temp but really...

There are several manufacturers now of similar saws. LimbHog, LimbSaw, limbinator. Built this one to match my scrap pile and needs. Have next 6-7 years of firewood cut. Being next to 300 year wagon road and farm buildings be a risk of milling the lower log section.

Had red oak come down this week. 34” diameter 120’+ tall. Decades of leaning, weathering storms finally succumbing force of gravity. Age like gravity wins in the end. Jacked up the corner of the steer/goat shed about 4’. Have 50 years experience cutting trees. It is a risk complicated by...

54” wicked rock and root grapple on B26.

Third time measuring, guessing, cutting and tack welding got a good fit. Full articulation of the thumb. Easier coupling and better fit overall. Craved a couple pounds off the steel plates. Better thoughts that this might work. The ripper can hit boom if crowded all in. Working carefully...

Got it on. Thumb has limited range from interference. It is a large ripper for this size of machine. Chewing on how better to move the ears for better geometry?

Kubota 12” excavator bucket compared to 12” B26 bucket. Tried test fit, no go. OEM ears interference with thumb. Need to trim front of ears to similar profile as bucket. Typical prototype progress.

Sunday funday! Tacked the ears on for fitment test. Waiting on wife to finish mowing to mount backhoe. While waiting tried out a new grinding wheel recommended by another poster to sharpen the leading edge of the ripper. Pferd 61201 5" CC-Grind-Solid 7/8" A.H. - SG for Steel...

My old Kubota M5030 had several types of fittings. JIC, NPT, British taper and SAE O-ring. Mix of SAE and British taper pipe thread grease zerks.

I’m no expert. A gauge pressure would tell if dead head pressure to relief valve is obtained. Relief valves are plumbed to control pressure from the pump side. Once the control valve is closed, pressure bleed off is either thru the control valve, internal cylinder or external leak. The smaller...

Similar problem with L45 on OTT discussing lack of grip with backhoe thumb. Knowing the pressure first step in diagnosing the problem.

Soil conservation recommendations a light disking or chain drag with barbs down to breakup thatch and improve seed to ground contact for best germination. CO-OP rents seed drills. Like everything seed has gotten expensive. Soil tests, advise on seeding and sometimes matching funds are...

Rinsed with water inside and outside while running and operating shudders controls. Dry and then coat liberally with used oil. Grease zerks. Storing inside necessary here. Oily, dusty from storage, but never any rust.

Piranha bar is especially made for scut. Size and power of tractor makes a big difference. Like mine but don’t have seaweed. Do turn a compost pile and do considerable clearing and driveway maintenance. No need to take it off and on for different tasks. Had bolt on regular toothbar on L3800...

Agree heavy tractor or construction equipment for moving trees is best. Construction equipment usually has better ROPS and overhead protection. The Kubota TLB plays well within that range. When looking for a used pre tier4, M59 saw many from Texas. Found my 2013. 1100hr, landscape model without...

Use the B26 FEL that’s about perfect size and maneuverability. Everything Attachments landplane has idled my rear blade and yardbox for driveway maintenance for 6+ years. Easily paid for itself in gravel saved and maintenance time. Wish I had one 50 years ago. Have used the Paumco quick...

FEL at right angle to driveway. Ground around ditch is usually soft and do several bucket width scoops to fill bucket. Makes for a clean, deep ditch. I use a combination of FEL, backhoe and landplane depending on area. My driveway is much steeper.

DIY grooved R4 tires for this hillybilly. Another option. Need the sidewall strength for loader and backhoe.

I fear loss of coolant while bushhogging. Really no indicator except maybe a whiff of coolant. Thought about adding a hose fluid continuity sensor many times. Watch the temperature gauge and have blow out screens and radiator several times a year. Usually running to engine stops is not good...

B26 is the smallest TLB in the series now. BXs are are separate group/series of smaller tractors. Building a dedicated ripper for the B26 VS this adapter not much added material. KX- ripper not too heavy but maybe too long? Leverage and possible boom strikes a concern. The 3 OEM buckets I...

Some folks take a bigger stick to get their attention. Modifying the handle position also allows easier setting of the brake more firmly. Gives another another indicator brake is on.

Parking brake indicator helped keep the peace with my wife using the tractor. Bringing the handle up also is a good indicator and make setting easier.

Agree. Frustration with availability of attachments with the M59 lead to KX-miniX conversion. While the B26 qa with its flared ears is so easy I would vote for the KX-miniX to be standard. Cover 2-18K machines.

Working slowly on making an attachment that will allow the backhoe to share attachments with the M59 with KX- miniX attachments. Most will probably be too big but hoping the ripper could help with some delicate maintenance. Also there is wide assortment of tools and cheap ears for other tools...

Skidsteer attachment called the “Beak” grapple especially made for pad removal. Right equipment makes any job look easy. Without seeing and knowing your requirements if the current concrete could be incorporated as base. Will your new drive need to support 80K truck?

Fabrication and welding skills are always helpful to support tractor work.

Good job on repair. I like parts manuals for their pictures and diagrams. Sometimes hard to find. Most of my manuals come used via eBay. Not only helps save money for DIY maintenance but have always helped sell quickly and at a premium price. Once registered, Messicks has good parts...

Did seem to take some time to work the air out of the system on my Ford 4500 from a broken hose. Boom and stick cylinders partially. Never remember much about the swing cylinders except there was mechanical linkage that throttled the valve at the extreme left/right travel to slow the swing speed...

Congratulations on new purchase and often can get good bargains buying a package deal. Used equipment value varies by brand, condition, locality and even time of year. Equipment Trader, auction listings, Market Place and Craigslist can give you estimates.

Guess some caught up debris. Once had some dried weed stem jam in the HST pedal linkage that looked liked the control rods. Took looking a second time to clear it. There’s at least one associated grease fitting on the HST pedal.

2nd Durafit. Fits tight and well made.

Good, low hour, pre emissions tractors are getting harder to find. Enjoyed a little trading to support my orange addiction. TLBs used to be some of the best bargains. Well shopped used ones could do years of work and sell at a profit. More into the work doing than the selling. Seem a lot...

Nice repairs and good use of your tractor. You are the very definition of a good neighbor how you handled the problem.

Congratulations! Don’t have a L45 but do have M59 and B26. Got hooked on TLB series over 30 years ago with the first B20. Versatile, powerful tractors soon displaced several Ag tractors and old construction equipment pieces. Age and lack of labor farm help has encouraged us to do more...

Come up frequently used. Have a Ford with 12” auger I haven’t used in >15 years. Screw point to handle Tennessee clay, shale and rocks. It has a feature of a lever to swing the auger in/out from the seat when starting a hole. Handy in hill country. Worth -$350.

https://www.kanequip.com/assets/StateContracts/Kubota-Loader-Landscaper-Series-B26-L39-L45-M59-March-2015.pdf 2015 price list. $523 for L45 3pt kit. Talk to a Kubota salesman.

CorrosionX is wiring’s connectors best friend. Also for threaded fasteners. Favorite for welding bench, tools, blacksmith tooling, campers and boats(particularly saltwater). Be sure to clean and tighten battery grounds if having relay trouble.

Maybe the #2 collar?

When you take the 3pt arms on/off the most forward pins for the arms have such a spacer. Did a lynch pin get knocked off while in backhoe mode allow the spacer to fall off? Painted might not be obvious those pins had spacers. Check the 3pt arm attachment points on the tractor. I’ve cut a...

On my 8hp diesel BCS the hiller attachment replaces the regular tine shroud. Hilled to both sides. After tilling with the tractor tiller can easily hill up rows with hoe and mulch in the valleys for nearly weed free garden.

Know our driveline specialty shop carries all types of ag shafts, u-joint and couplers. That’s where the tractor shops send their work.

No worries. I would hold off cutting and welding for a while. That tube acts more of a side to side spacer than a torque tube. I was alarmed my B26 ssqa did the same when new. Small amount of out-of-time, but can pick up an attachment, I simply curl all the way back which the hydraulics makes...

Make it high enough for a roofed ROPS if working around trees.

Conditions and grade for your particular work have to be considered. I have a 6’ LP and my 59hp, 4x4, differential lock, heavy tractor barely can pull up hill at certain spots on my driveway. Other areas it could pull an 8’ easily. Got to match Implements to the intended work. Not everyone lives...

Pulling privet and Russian olive. Tight between trees and rocks in the backyard. Make a pile then haul to gully. Carrying this way is easier thru gates and narrow driveway. Lack of hirable labor and age have to engineer cyborg solutions. Good test of skills and balance. Shouldn’t be this much...

My backhoe came missing the swing lock pin. 7/8” bolt, scrap pile tubing and hammer head to the rescue. Handy having a hammer around too.

These no-spill cans work great for the small tractor. Even my wife can do it. If you zoom in you can see I’ve added an air valve. This makes the fuel delivery 10X faster. Got them on Amazon, even came with the right size drill bit. Then simply screw in.

Kind of rarity item. Guess you have checked manufacturer? While easy to make, a fabricator doesn’t want inventory sitting on shelves. Most small backhoes have proprietary hole spacing and pin sizes. Knowing that you might get lucky finding a more popular match. If you’re able to weld ears...

50+ year old Howard rotovator. All original. Used yearly till a few years ago. Curved tines making virtually self cleaning. Had a friend complain about new TSC tiller performance. Those blocky straight tines are like a hay baler over vegetation. Tillage not nearly as fine and smooth.

Never underestimate what a determined little tractor can accomplish over time. Slow but steady wins the race.

Have owned a couple of 286. Good cutters. Hit a lot of limbs, stumps and rocks without much damage. Might want to check the pto slip clutch. Might check gearbox shafts for bends before investing much money. German Bliss and others bush hog dealers should be able to source the stock stump jumper...

$6 piece of SS tubing. Cut with side grinder. 1/2” hole for stem. Does take more skill to drill stainless. Made set for me and set for friend. Still have some stock for more or maybe a cup holder.

The old Massey with trip forked manure bucket gathered lots of rocks. The Howard Rotovator with the tailgate up would spew new crop of rocks out back to pick up from the garden spots. Woman I bought the farm from built a 600’ rock wall and 3,500’ sqft house from the rocks. Structurally from...

I’ll be proud of that! A welding cart and table are much like an artist plate and easel. Form follows function. Expect great and interesting projects now ;)

Found some stainless tubing at the scrapyard. TSC lights. Larger tubing made one to fit the oval hazard lights on the B26. Tough to cold form.

I would be upset paying a foreign fee at a brick and mortar local business. That’s their cost. Tried to do business with the new Metals Supermarket in Knoxville TN several times without success. Some DOM tubing wasn’t in stock but could get it but never called back, twice. Ordered online...

Newer model gas stoves have about 100-1000 watt heater to keep the oven safety valve open. Have to have 120volt supply to use oven. Significant draw if off grid. Old ovens or new specialized ovens for off grid don’t have the heater safety valve.

What did you come up with? Researching came up with this older topic. Lack of bucket and attachment options for the M59 had me change to the excavator coupler option. Contributor “M59” found USA Attachments made a coupler for our pin- on models. Did require a little fab work modification to...

Good point. Surprised Kubota didn’t source tension clamps from existing stock. All parts came bagged together. Haven’t seen how new B26s are built.

Angle or tubing across the back could’ve worked too. Eyelet bars could push thru the ground if needed. Proper attachment of rigging important. With trees always seems to be a fair amount of pulling and tugging.

I keep a gauge on mine. Used to not only measure relief pressure but also monitor KSR, Kubota Soft Ride feature. Being an eccentric engineer like seeing real time measurements. The electronic gauge has features like different scales, max pressure, tare, back lighting, etc. Down side is battery...

June of 2020 is when I found out about the upgrade for my 2016 B26. Should be easy to tell if it has the new designed line as it’s 4pc from the earlier 2pc. Old design on left, new right.

Nice looking but…better than nothing. Some of those holes looks kinda big for the brush I do. Finger size stick can do major damage.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/608949280659423/?mibextid=6ojiHh One of several on market place.

At government lab auction they had a like new, two trailer tired, 8’, pull behind, electromagnet sweeper. 20hp generator and rectifier for power. Movable Aluminum or stainless plate to help release. Sold for scrap. Sometimes I wish I had bought it just to see what it could find. 300 years of...

Love my new ripper for the Kubota M59. Kubota KX-QA is great. Only problem is the ripper wants to lay on its side. Too heavy to wrestle. Chunk of wood under the QA mount ears helps balance it so you can couple it has worked thus far and not a bad option. Made some shackle mounts to weld above...

Sorry, that was over 10-15+ years ago. Always insisted bolt-in stems on the trucks and equipment trailers. Use as short as possible. Like the metal hex stem caps with o-ring. Deep mud has taken out some rubber stems which makes a huge mess. Have yet to have a bolt-in stem failure. Mud, wood...

Good stainless steel bolt in off eBay for about $1ea. Tractors, trailers, trucks 🛻 get changed after having a rash of stem failures. Run Gempler’s bullet proof leak slime in the tractor fronts. High ply and extra deep treads on the M59 front tires. Do think the air in the tire dose react some...

I’ve had school my rather large dealer in buying similar accessories. Go thru parts department for 3pt hitch =$$$. Go thru a salesmen and they order from Wholegoods. 2014. l45 3pt hitch kit $538.00. Price lists are routinely made public thru government pricing quotes. I’m sure there is a more...

Amazing what people can come up with to complete a job with what they have.

Hard to beat a grapple for transporting. Transporting 0.5 to 1 mile would be a pain with an excavator but placing them would be a dream. Have dug, transported and placed a few with the Danuser Intimdator. Side gripping gives good bottom side placement options. Have used a chain/pipe to choke...

Wife likes her big rocks, and have many rock structures on the farm. Backhoe thumb was a godsend. Came with the used B26. Later got a backhoe with thumb for the M59. Though similar didn’t have the dexterity feel of the smaller tractor needed for delicate rock stacking. Maybe my lack of...

Collection mode. Discharge mode. Grass height doesn’t really matter.

Recently bought an ATI adapter that fits the backhoe to skidsteer attachments. Have a few building maintenance issues I can’t reach using a fork lift type man basket on the FEL. Two person job either way. Auger attachment would be easy. Boom pole. Often use backhoe for lifting and placing...

I can rotate the FEL handle to either position.

Removing the backhoe from my open station M59 is easy. Hardest part is dealing with the weight of 3pt arms when reattaching. Requires 14mm wrench for two pin/bolts. About 20 minutes. Going back to backhoe mode maybe a little harder/longer for alignment. Gets easier and faster with practice. Be...

Good plan. Your joints looked well greased. I’ve gone from red grease, to 3% molybdenum (black) to Lucas HD green EP in search of better lube. Grease has gotten expensive and hard to get. Seen one tube of Lucas HD on eBay for about what I paid two years ago for a case.

Better excavator and backhoe buckets are made out of AR400. How is that not structural? Grapples made of Hardox and T1? Does require some different skills, filler and techniques to make quality welds that complement their ultimate strength and toughness. AR400 is probably the most forgiving of...

Stainless steel tool cabinet attached to custom base has places to keep all wire, consumables stored and clean. Mig welder and plasma cutter bolted to top. Base has two bottle rack, 6” locking casters, fork pockets. SS dog food bowls repurposed to wrap cables around. Torch holders and clamps...

EA 54” wicked grapple tines touch point to point. The long bottom gives you good line of sight to see the smallest stick or rock. Dual lids give 4 contact points. Easy to control without gouging the ground in rake mode. With HST not only pick up a pencil size stick but can could write your name...

The pin groove is for grease flow around the pin. Drilled hole longitudinally on one end for a zerk and then cross drilled to flow grease to the groove greatly diminishes cross sectional strength at center. I’m more in the shear stress flexing and fatigue failure at the grease groove camp. More...

Picking up branches is a chore for us too. Wife does most of the small stuff. EA wicked grapple can pick up a pencil or cleanly pick up a pile. Often picking multiple piles at a time. Been most helpful.

Part 190. New Companion Broke 1080hrs questionable maintenance. 400hrs of heavy lifting since without problems.

The L48 was the first series of TLBs. Built tougher and higher capacities than its agricultural cousins. The B20 sold me on how useful a tank tough and versatile a dedicated tractor loader could be. The SSQA lower pin broke on the M59 at the center grease groove of the pin. Those pins probably...

Kubota soft ride (KSR) valve for the FEL looked something like that.

24 years on a Woods RD7200. Rear discharge. One belt, about a dozen sets of blades. Replaced caster wheel spindles with trailer axle bearing and hubs. Lot of back and forth trimming. Been a tough, well used mowing deck. Setting up a finish mower important. Front wheels deck setting about 1/2”...

Pencil size. Don’t have trouble breaking off too much. No tire puncturing stems. Can pull grass up by the roots. The distance out gives visibility. Good design. Just one stab with the excavator teeth underneath, then grab and go cleanly extracts bigger stuff with little dirt. Have never used...

Could use your tractor to flush each side into a container and inspect the fluid. Takes connecting , disconnecting QDs on the implement side a few times. Twice should have clear fluid and displaced old fluid and contaminates. Maybe a gallon or two. Then replenish new new fluid into your tractor...

No reason your idea won’t work. Some bushings have grease grooves. My old M5030 had both grease points with protection collars on those very pins. Broke a lower ssqa pin similar pin on the M59. Previous owner not friends with a grease gun. Replaced the four pins and may at some point replace...

Most of greenhouse roof and window walls made from 3/8” tempered glass. They were from a company that used glass for forms to make optical grade plexiglass. Greenhouse framing 2” pipe with welded flat bar.

The Husqvarna dual can does securely carry an extra chain, swrench, files, small wedge. Features I rarely need to use in the field. Like those no-spill type containers too. What best fits your space. Like your carry platform. Use to carry bigger containers on another tractor with bigger tool...

Found them effective too keeping the critters out of camper, tractors, trucks and cars. Got to keep them renewed or they use them for nesting material. They even use shedded snake skins for nests.

The Intimdator excels at stump and tree removal. Reaching up and tearing off head slapping limbs. Has been great for pulling out saplings and brush in tight areas with minimal ground disturbance. The smallest whippersnappers can’t hide. Clearing around fences, buildings, ditches where I can’t...

Going to have get the water off the road. Some old road paths may have to built up with gravel from erosion to get proper drainage. Some soils really benefit from geotex fabric under the gravel. Box blade will work but does take time to figure out adjustments. From your pictures a box blade...

Bought the Husqvarna gas can years ago and made the holder to fit. They are well made, leak free and refill without spilling. Last couple of years seems everything costs more or unavailable. Things that help multiply my/our work force and increase safety always a good investment.

Several different rigging chains in the upright 6x6” tube. Did write up making it. Built several versions improving each time. This adds skid plates protection to the loader hydraulic valve too. Bolt on. Saves so much time and improves safety carrying tools. Change tooling for logging...

Dig, pull, shake, back drag to fill hole and done.

Have a couple old atv tires cut to carry 75-150’ of cable. Easy to handle, carry and store cable.

Those Husqvarna gas/oil jugs are great. Even carry extra chain and tools securely. $40 on Amazon but the price fluctuates. Orange not red so technically illegal in USA to carry gas and probably why you will not find them in stores? White oak I cut almost thirty years ago now being finished for...

Impressive modification. Well researched and written. Be interesting long term results. Like gauges to help monitor. Be nice to have some parameters especially on heat rejection. Monitoring HST oil temp under high loads on my to do list. Be nice addition to a heavy little tractor like a B26.

Seen BT1000s come up for sale occasionally. Not sure if any difference between L39 and L45 versions. Took me >2.5 years to find a BT1200. Sold at auction in Canada to a farm equipment dealer near Detroit, shipped to me in Tennessee. Worried about buying without seeing but worked out OK. Even...

I bought one of those too to evaluate. Cute light buzzer combo. Worried about durability in an open station tractor with rain and dust especially facing up. Fortunately the dash cover had a perfect spot for LED sealed marker light. Prefer a hole saw for thin metal or plastic. Rubber grommet make...

https://www.lecinfo.com/products/ati-adapter-plate-system-kubota-excavators-can-pick-up-universal-skid-steer-attachments

Anyone have experience using this type of adapter? This one made by ATI is heavy duty, well braced and expert welded. The SSQA pin boxes are extra thick to take excavator power. Got it use on M59 TLB. There are places I can’t reach with the FEL. Man basket, polesaw, intimidator maybe grapple...

Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s how people learn. Hope you get your tractor back and finally fixed. Should be treated better buying new. Dealer support makes or breaks any brand. Powder coat diagnosis is new to me. Live between two big Kubota dealers and have experienced both...