Stupid Question

[TonyC]

I had a professor who said there is no such thing as a stupid question...just stupid people who ask them. So here I am. Being a new Kubota owner (formerly John Deere) I haven't taken my tractor apart yet (hopefully never will!). Is the hardware metric, SAE or both?

 

[Bird]

Tony, I know the tractor uses metric nuts and bolts, and I think (but not absolutely sure) that it's all metric. However, if you have accessories on the tractor, you may have either or both. In fact, my FEL manual states that there are both SAE and metric (don't ask me why).

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I disagree, there are no stupid questions, as anyone who takes the time to ask (whatever the question) has shown they are NOT stupid. It takes guts to ask questions because you never know the response.

I'd bet a penny that everything on the tractor that is from Japan is metric, anything sourced US (possibly the loader, backhoe, even other "Kubota" implements could be SAE.

This is America and we resist all forms of change, we love our pounds, miles, ounces and SAE threads. Powers to be have been trying to cram the metric system down our throats for decades. Hasn't worked yet. (much) And when we finally dabble in it we try the odd sizes. Before I bought a Chevy Tahoe, I don't think I had EVER used my 15 mm wrench. The oil plug takes the 15. Kind of nice as that wrench is never out lost near some other vehicle or project as nothing else I can find uses the 15!

del

 

[TonyC]

Well you've told me what I need to know. I'm light on metric tools and wondered whether I might need them. I'd rather not wait for a problem to run and buy the tools. I'm not surprised the FEL has both...the tractor might too. I guess it depends on which sub-assembly was made in which country and on which week. Foreign cars are like that too. Thanks.

 

[hayden]

The loaders are made in Atlanta which I think explains the US sizes

High techie, reciently founded a startup company and struggling for tractor time.

 

[accordionman]

TONY,
everything i have worked on so far is SAE. L3000DT. i know there are some metric
sizes on it somewhere, the wheel nuts, and bolts are SAE, and this is what i have
worked on. i had to move the rear wheels out, because the stabilizer bars were
hitting the inside of the tires.
accordionman
william l. brown

 

[TonyC]

That Metrinch set is looking pretty good about now!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Actually having both sets can be helpful, if you do a decimal equivalent conversion on your tools you will see that 13 and 1/2 are close but different, 14 and 9/16 are close but different etc up and down the line.

By making a chart for your garage you can sometimes have a slightly tighter socket or wrench for a given size for stubborn bolts, or a slightly looser size for after you break it loose and are trying to get it out easier. This is especially helpful when you are trying to loosen/remove something you can't see (arm up/down somewhere etc). A lot of guys just think they are the same, try to use one set, and end up cussing because their wrenches don't quite fit, sometimes hard to get on and sometimes rounding the bolt off.

del

 

[frank_f15]

tony: i would suggest, that u keep a full set of each handy.in these times u never know what u are going to have on what!!! including allen wrenches and lets not forget the all important torx set. no matter how many tools u have u are always going to be 1 short/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif