Kubota M9000 Not moving in High Gear

TexanRider · Dec 2, 2012

Hello Everyone, I have a Kubota 2000 Model M9000 2WD with ROP and recently have a problem with it not moving while in High gear range. I bought the tractor last June with 335 hours on it. Previous owner didn't use it much, mostly for hay operation (loading and unloading round bales but not actual bailing or cutting).

I will give everyone a background prior to tractor having this problem. I took the tractor on a drive on road for total of 12 miles for diesel (Saturady). Everything was fine, took around 30 minutes. Got back on property and used it, no problem at all. Next morning used it again, no problem again. Following evening, got on it and tried moving it, the tractor would not move in High gear range. messed with it for short time and it moves in Low gear. It goes back and forward with no probem in Low gear. FEL and PTO works just fine. I checked Hydraulic Oil level and it was low or mostly outside the acceptable range.

I left it alone for a week, had to go out of town for work so couldn't look at it. This weekend I added Hydraulic oil to it (5 gallons, dip stick shows more than necessary). I checked what I can and still doesn't want to go. Don't see anything physically broken. I confirmed this morning and Low gear works as before (slow). I appreciate any help/suggestion anyone can give. Thanks. T.I.

I wasn't sure if I should post this in Repairs. If I dont' get any response I will move.

redgreen · Dec 4, 2012

Is it possable the emergency brake is on.

john_bud · Dec 4, 2012

What are the symptoms?

Is it possible the range shift is falling short of going fully into high?
Can it be the clutch is weak and just slipping in high where it has enough grip for low range?
(can you move in high gear low range from a dead stop?)

TexanRider · Dec 5, 2012

john_bud said:
What are the symptoms?

Is it possible the range shift is falling short of going fully into high?
Can it be the clutch is weak and just slipping in high where it has enough grip for low range?
(can you move in high gear low range from a dead stop?)

I can move in high gear in low range from a complete stop. It doesn't move in high gear at all so, I don't think its slipping. I am also thinking it's not fully going into the high range. I remember it took a little bit of an effort to put it into high range and now it goes into it too easily.

TexanRider · Dec 5, 2012

redgreen said:
Is it possable the emergency brake is on.

Brakes are off.

DT86 · Dec 5, 2012

It does sound like the linkage is bent or out of adjustment some how and not engaging high range.

TexanRider · Dec 5, 2012

DT86 said:
It does sound like the linkage is bent or out of adjustment some how and not engaging high range.

I checked the linkage arm from Hi/Lo shifter to side of transmission and nothing is bent or broken. If it's just an adjustment that is needed, hopefully someone here can chime in.

john_bud · Dec 5, 2012

TexanRider said:
I checked the linkage arm from Hi/Lo shifter to side of transmission and nothing is bent or broken. If it's just an adjustment that is needed, hopefully someone here can chime in.

I would say that the next logical step is to look long and hard at the schematic for the range shift mechanism. Something is messed up there. It going in "too easy" is normally a tip off that expensive is in the forecast. (sorry)

TexanRider · Jun 29, 2013

$2140.50 later and tractor is fixed. Clutch needed replacing.

DT86 · Jun 29, 2013

Ouch! I see it had 335 hours when you bought it but how many when the clutch went?

Any indication from mechanic as to why it failed?

TexanRider · Jun 29, 2013

It currently has 385 hours on. In 50 hours I must have rode the clutch too much. The mechanic said that was most likely cause. I saw old parts and it was pretty wore down. My opinion is when I took it on paved road it sped up the clutch problem and just decided to not work right. Hopefully I never have to replace it again.

DT86 · Jun 29, 2013

I have seen people "rest" their foot on the clutch, especially while doing loader work (a lot of directional changes ie. clutching) While they may not realize it, the clutch tends to slip ever so slightly. Not a good idea IMHO.

For all you know the poor clutch could have been hanging by a thread when you bought the tractor.

Hopefully this one will last you a lot longer, that's a lot of money!

B212005 · Sep 5, 2013

john_bud said:
What are the symptoms?

Is it possible the range shift is falling short of going fully into high?
Can it be the clutch is weak and just slipping in high where it has enough grip for low range?
(can you move in high gear low range from a dead stop?)

I had the same thing happen to me and the high low shift linkage was off at the left side of the transaxle, the last thing I heard was a small pop when the transaxle came out of gear and with the link off it did nothing when I shifted the lever. Had to remove the tire and fender to see the problem. After the pop all other hydraulics worked just the tractor would not move.

xring100 · Sep 5, 2013

Are these same people that drive for miles with their left foot slightly applying the brake in the left lane with their left blinker on driving 60 mph in a slow drag with a semi truck and then stop suddenly because their exit is just ahead, meanwhile seting off a chain reaction scaring the crap out of you and every other torqued of person behind them because you've become immune to seeing the red brake lights on

DT86 said:
I have seen people "rest" their foot on the clutch, especially while doing loader work (a lot of directional changes ie. clutching) While they may not realize it, the clutch tends to slip ever so slightly. Not a good idea IMHO.

For all you know the poor clutch could have been hanging by a thread when you bought the tractor.

Hopefully this one will last you a lot longer, that's a lot of money!

xring100 · Sep 5, 2013

TexanRider said:
$2140.50 later and tractor is fixed. Clutch needed replacing.

Ouch i hope i never have to split my tractor

TomSeller · Sep 6, 2013

TexanRider said:
$2140.50 later and tractor is fixed. Clutch needed replacing.

Not making sense to me that it didn't move in high gear at all, but did move in low gear. Same clutch, right? Sounds like the clutch was worn for sure but linkage still must have been an issue and the adjusted it when they put it back together. Also "ride the clutch too much" ....... Shouldn't ride the clutch at all. Good luck with it now, those are nice tractors.

Tx Jim · Sep 6, 2013

TomSeller said:
Not making sense to me that it didn't move in high gear at all, but did move in low gear. .

Moving in a lower gear but refusing to move in high gear is a typical symptom of a slipping clutch.

xring100 · Sep 6, 2013

Tx Jim said:
Moving in a lower gear but refusing to move in high gear is a typical symptom of a slipping clutch.

Yep that's for sure. Because it Requires more engine torque to maintain the same road speed in a higher gear.

TomSeller · Sep 6, 2013

Tx Jim said:
Moving in a lower gear but refusing to move in high gear is a typical symptom of a slipping clutch.

The actual quote was "It doesn't move in high gear at all". Not moving "at all" does not fit with a slipping clutch if it moves normally in low. I could see if it budged and could not get up to speed but that is not what he said. If it works normally in the highest gear of low but not "at all" in the lowest gear of high, I can't believe that is exclusively a slipping clutch.

He also said moving it into high was difficult, then it wasn't, as if something changed: "I remember it took a little bit of an effort to put it into high range and now it goes into it too easily.". The clutch would not effect the force to shift normally into high