Towing Kubota B21

[kubotaswede]

I have previously been adviced in this forum that towing a HST machine like the Kubota B21 is a BIG no no. Thanks for that. But would it be advicable to tow it with the back wheels on a dolly and the front wheels on the ground if the tractor transmission is in the 2WD position? Maximum allowed speed for this in Sweden is 30 km/h (=18,6 mph) If not I would appreciate an explanation why. Thank you //Lars

 

[Carl_NH]

I would not attempt to tow in that manner - too many things to go wrong - connecting to tow vehicle, lack of control and tracking the wheels, then no brakes, then wear and tear on the front end parts.

Why not just drive it - 11 MPH is top speed is 18KM/hour or rent a proper trailer - they are cheap here - $40-50 a day

 

[dj1701]

I would think that towing a machine at a speed faster than it was designed to go could cause some issues.

Dave

 

[IndyIan]

You would need to lock the steering, probably hydrostat steering, so tying the wheel is not an option, but once that is done somehow, I don't think any bearings in the fwd system would be dry when free wheel rolling that way?
Maybe something in the fwd engagement system might not like one side spinning fast with the other side stopped? Now that I think about that, I would look into how the 4wd is engaged, what holds it in 2wd, hyd. pressure, springs, gravity? If the tractor rattling around and bouncing off the ground, can something get knocked and jam up in that?
If you are going far you might take $50-100 of wear off the front tires?

 

[4570Man]

Why wouldn’t you just drive the tractor if that was the only other option for hauling it?

 

[oldnslo]

If that model has two or three speed transaxle there is neutral between each range so could be towed in neutral as long as no chance could pop into gear.

 

[4570Man]

If that model has two or three speed transaxle there is neutral between each range so could be towed in neutral as long as no chance could pop into gear.

You probably could but you’re spinning the drivetrain faster than it was intended to spin. If he held firm to the 18mph rule there’s almost zero chance of burning it up but someone in America would try it going 70 mph.

 

[rScotty]

A B21 is a very desireable machine. You are lucky to have found one.
Around here, people with those little TLBs are reluctant to part with them.
Hope it treats you right.

 

[kubotaswede]

Thank you guys! Seems that no one knows for sure what is safe. The reason for towing the tractor 40 kilometers is that I want to share the machine with my son on a regular basis. Driving a B21 that distance in the summer is doable but in the winter is to say the least uncomfortable. Sitting in the car even in the maximum speed of the machine only is far better than driving it if there is no risk of damaging the transmission. When I lift the front wheels in the 2WD position I can spin them freely but they are rotating in opposite directions (effect of front differential?). Maybe it would be safest to mechanically disengage the drive shaft from the front wheels. Renting a trailer is not an option for me as I dont own a car heavy enough to legally tow the machine on a trailer even if I remove the backhoe. Towing it on a dolly brings me on the right side of the legal limit.

 

[RjCorazza]

I wouldn't attempt what you propose for a multitude of reasons. I don't know enough about the transmissions and axles to say that damage WILL be done, but I suspect there is a high likelihood.
If also sounds like an accident waiting to happen.