Longtime lurker, lost my old ID.
Have an 1982 Kubota L-185DT with 905 hours that runs like a top. Used it since '98 with a Bushhog SQ60 rotary cutter, I'm the third owner. I think I bought it with 450 hours in '98.
Tractor is still running strong, but rotary is finally wearing out (deck perforation, etc)
Service items in 20 years other than routine mtc:
- Radiator re-cored & new fact cap
- New rear tires
- Starter rebuilt
- Oil pressure sender replaced. (Still has 85psi of pressure based on analog gauge)
- Replaced steering box/column/wheel
- New hoses/belts
Nuisance stuff still to be addressed:
- decompression cable rusted and broke
- Brakes stick
- Seat vinyl long gone, springs collapsed
- R front hub seal drip
- paint flaked off on the rear fenders
Probably will update to a L-2501HST with FEL and land pride 1860 cutter soon. (Or equiv, but I'm pretty sold on Kubotas)
May keep the L-185DT just out of loyalty, it's amazing what I've been able to do with the smallest L series Kubota made. But it shares many common parts with larger tractors, and has no issues with the 60" LW rotary cutter. (Though the Bushhog "Lightweight" squealer is made like the LP-1860 heavier cutter, so not so sure it's lightweight in modern terms.)
Also, decades ago I started and maintained the "compact-tractor-list" mailing list long before web forums. It ultimately ended up on yahoo groups and is largely abandoned, but it was a great source of info on Japanese tractors early on before the web superseded email lists.
Have an 1982 Kubota L-185DT with 905 hours that runs like a top. Used it since '98 with a Bushhog SQ60 rotary cutter, I'm the third owner. I think I bought it with 450 hours in '98.
Tractor is still running strong, but rotary is finally wearing out (deck perforation, etc)
Service items in 20 years other than routine mtc:
- Radiator re-cored & new fact cap
- New rear tires
- Starter rebuilt
- Oil pressure sender replaced. (Still has 85psi of pressure based on analog gauge)
- Replaced steering box/column/wheel
- New hoses/belts
Nuisance stuff still to be addressed:
- decompression cable rusted and broke
- Brakes stick
- Seat vinyl long gone, springs collapsed
- R front hub seal drip
- paint flaked off on the rear fenders
Probably will update to a L-2501HST with FEL and land pride 1860 cutter soon. (Or equiv, but I'm pretty sold on Kubotas)
May keep the L-185DT just out of loyalty, it's amazing what I've been able to do with the smallest L series Kubota made. But it shares many common parts with larger tractors, and has no issues with the 60" LW rotary cutter. (Though the Bushhog "Lightweight" squealer is made like the LP-1860 heavier cutter, so not so sure it's lightweight in modern terms.)
Also, decades ago I started and maintained the "compact-tractor-list" mailing list long before web forums. It ultimately ended up on yahoo groups and is largely abandoned, but it was a great source of info on Japanese tractors early on before the web superseded email lists.
