Kubota LA302 being mounted on a Kubota B6100 - old tractor with new tricks

[SilverLakeFab]

I purchased a used Kubota LA302 FEL about a year ago and I finally have had time to work on mounting it on my Kubota B6100 tractor from 1978. The vertical bracket plates and rear axle mounting plates were cut out about a year ago, and just this fall I'm having time to get everything mounted up. Just as mechanics never have time to work on their own cars, as a fabricator, it's hard to find time to build your own toys.

This past fall, my little Kubota finally went kuput! All three cylinders were down on compression, with the rear-most cylinder being all the way down to 200 PSI. The engine's been completely rebuilt now (bored cylinder block, new 1st over pistons & rings, all new bearings, all new gaskets and seals, new glow plugs, all parts thoroughly stripped, cleaned, and primed, and ready to receive a new coat of old Kubota blue paint) and the subframe for the loader is all tack welded together, awaiting a finish welding this evening. Also, as part of this large small project, the radiator was upgraded to a modern aluminum unit (Honda Civic radiator - had to spread the hood by 1", adapt top engine coolant outlet, plumb in lower radiator outlet, and welding a bung for the block heater), so new mounts for that and the hood had to be fabricated.

Things I still need to do include welding up the entire subframe structure (mostly tack welded together), cut out and weld on upper pin hole support plates (makes removable pin hole mounts thicker), clean everything, and paint it. Here are a few pictures of the project so far. I'll post more when I'm to the painting stage.

 

[SilverLakeFab]

 

[ericher69]

Sounds interesting!

No pics posted though

 

[SilverLakeFab]

I'll post more pics tonight

 

[Egon]

Sounds like you are getting ready for another 10K hours.:thumbsup:

 

[Kernopelli]

Looks awesome so far. I too subscribe to the "if the loaders doesn't bolt up, make some brackets" club.....my work doesn't look as good as yours though.

Don't want to steer the thread in a different direction but how did the RT5000 turn out?

 

[ddb123]

subscribed

 

[SilverLakeFab]

Here's some more pics. I'll be back welding this evening.

 

[SilverLakeFab]

Hi Darryl. The RT5000 is still in the shop. The engine's all assembled and installed, but this Kubota took over my time when the parts for the engine rebuild arrived (I waited 3.5 months for all the bits) and I need to get it done and the front of the machine (engine, subframe, and loader subframe) painted before it gets much cooler, as my shop isn't heated. However, remaining work on the RT5000 includes boring the PTO clutch disk hubs (the new crankshaft is a few thousandths larger), replacing two cables, getting a new battery, and firing that pig up. Honestly, I'd love to sell the darn thing now, as I'd love the shop space back, but it doesn't make sense to do so before I can hear and verify that it runs.

 

[SilverLakeFab]

Thanks for the compliment as well Darryl.

 

[SilverLakeFab]

I've gotten some more work done. I've welded in a bung to mount the block heater (right on the bottom of the radiator so it's well protected and out of the way), built a new aluminum grill (1/2" square stock frame, .120" perferated aluminum sheet with 1/2" holes, and 1" round aluminum stand-offs), finished welding up and primed the front subframe, completed the radiator mount (had to weld the top mount for the grill onto it), and am very close to completing the main loader frame (still have to weld on the loader valve mount and the top mounting hole supports - make the top pin holes each 1/2" thicker). All and all, I've put another three nights and a solid day into it today. I'm getting there, so here are some new pics.



I'll post more pics when the loader mounting frame is completed. I can't wait to paint everything and work on the new plumbing updates.


P.S.
Would anyone be interested in purchasing the stock radiator? It works just fine and I can provide pics. I'd trade it for a loader valve.

 

[2458n]

Make sure you trade for a three handled loader valve. It will help when you attach your grapple. Nice work. You will love the loader. Kubota made a heck of a product back then. Well worth your time and attention.

 

[SilverLakeFab]

More pics of progress

 

[SilverLakeFab]

I finally got to get some final paint done today. I'll be able to paint the underside of the main mounting brackets, along with the remaining parts of the connecting bars and front frame on Wednesday. I should be able to bolt everything to the tractor next weekend. I can't wait to make this machine roll again!

 

[SilverLakeFab]

I've made good progress and this project is very near completion for the winter, as I need it to plow snow with. The loader mounting frame has been mounted up, the auxiliary hydraulics have been fabricated/plumbed in and I'll be picking up a batch of powdercoated parts on Friday (and dropping off the very last batch of small there on Friday too - my fabrication shop is super busy with snowplows right now, so I can't justify stripping and painting the remaining parts myself at the moment). That said, it'll be like Christmas next weekend when I get to bolt the remaining parts together. I do still have to clean up the wiring a bit, but I'm super close to completion. I fully plan to clean and paint the remaining parts in the spring, along with have the bodywork, wheels, and any other piece I can remove from this machine powdercoated as well. I have a ton of work into this little machine, and I plan to hold onto it forever, so I want it to be beautiful.

Here are some pictures of the recent progress:

 

[ddb123]

Pretty awesome.

 

[Mendonsy]

Nice job!!!
The most amazing part is that you actually found a used LA302 for sale. Those are downright scarce!!

 

[Mendonsy]

Nice job!!!
The most amazing part is that you actually found a used LA302 for sale. Those are downright scarce!!

 

[SilverLakeFab]

So my fabrication shop has been super busy, and time is money, so I decided to hunt down a local place to do powder coating. I found in place in Bow, NH by the name of RS Powder Coating and brought a batch of parts to be coated. I picked up the batch of parts and the work is fantastic! The price was great too! This project has to be tied up yesterday at this point, as I need this beast to plow with this winter (did I mention that I still need to build the plow too?). I have one more batch of parts that need to be picked up from RS on Friday (along with a batch of other fabricated items for SLF) and then I can tidy up the wiring, hopefully in time to start this thing before Thanksgiving.

Here are some fresh pictures taken this evening to show the progress.

 

[Jasonc87]

Looks like its coming together.. wiring..plow.. wiring... plow! just keep thinking that..