Kubota B series questions for a newbie

[njc110381]

Hi guys. I picked up my new to me Kubota B4200 today - it looks to be in nice condition and everything seems to work ok. There are a few things I'd like to do with it though and I'm not sure how simple it will be?

For a start I want to take off the ROPS so I can tidy it up. It looks to be an aftermarket fitment and has some rust patches in the paintwork. The mounts are bolted on through four holes around the PTO - two inside the cover and two outside. The question is can I just take these bolts out to remove the mounts or will other stuff fall off if I do? I was thinking I could perhaps do one side at a time so the PTO cover is always fixed by two bolts? I'm not too confident that I'd get it back together if I dropped off any more complicated parts!

Second question - there is a pipe that comes off of the cylinder head (I think - it's at the front end of the engine on the side of the top bit)) which drops down out of the bottom of the tractor... What's it for? I can't find any info in the manual. I'm just checking it hasn't fallen off of somewhere as it's just hanging there pretty much and feels to be very lightly venting pressure?!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Ductape]

Any chance you can post us a few digital pictures? I don't want to speculate on the ROPS bolts, but I'll guess the pipe on the motor may be a crankcase vent, and would be left open. Pictures would help though........

 

[LD1]

#1, you are probabally okay to remove. I doubt whoever (if it wasnt OEM) fiddled with other stuff while trying to bolt the rops up. But maybe?? Pics would be helpful as ductape mentiones. Also be aware, that if they are into blind holes, you may need to revert to a shorter bolt or an extra washer or two when putting them back in after the rops is off.

#2 I 2nd the crank vent. Usually on the front side of the motor on a diesel venting out underneath the tractor.

 

[naildriver111]

Go here> http://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Parts Manuals/&file=B4200D.pdf to download a parts manual. It will help you identify a few things. And as the others have said, the downward tube conected to the valve cover is a vent. And if the ROPS was dealer installed it will probably have some thin shims between it and the mounting surface to reduce rattling.

 

[njc110381]

Thanks chaps. I actually did an internet search re. the breather pipe and it is indeed a crankcase breather so thankyou for that. It is supposed to be blowing too - phew!

The ROPS could be an OEM part - the paint just looked to be of a lesser quality to that of the tractor so I thought maybe it wasn't? Either way I haven't got time to tidy it up at the moment so I'll just leave it on - I'll try to get some pictures for you at a later date before I get the spanners out, but again I appreciate your advice.

Two more questions for you if I may? Firstly I understand that my cooling system doesn't have an expansion tank and any overheating will be indicated by a whistle? How can I check that this is present and working as there's no temperature gauge? Oh and what coolant mix should I use as I'm going to change it just in case it needs doing. Better safe than sorry!

Last but not least my lift arms on the 3 point aren't level. I tried adjusting the threaded adjuster but even when fully wound in the right arm as you look at it is lower. Then I noticed that at the other end of that link there is another arm (one on each side) which is fitted to a splined shaft with a clamp joint and bolt. Well the right one is lower than the left - seems silly! I tried removing the bolt and tapping the arm to remove it and shift it round a spline but I can't get it off. I didn't want to whack it too hard in case I'm missing something so figured I'd ask your advice before I get too keen and break something! It needs to come off of the shaft that joins the two arms so I can raise it a little and refit. What's the best way to shif it if it's stuck?

EDIT... Thanks Naildriver for the link to the manual. I've downloaded that one and three others too. That should make for some interesting reading.