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Home / Farm Tractors / Kubota Tractors / Kubota L185

Kubota L185 Troubleshooting

The Kubota L185 is a 2WD or 4WD (L185DT) compact utility tractor. This model was manufactured from 1977 to 1982. The Kubota L185 tractor is equipped with a 45.3 cubic inches Kubota Z751 two-cylinder liquid cooled diesel.

The engine has a cylinder bore of 3.0" (76 mm), piston stroke of 3.22" (82 mm), and rated power of 15 hp (11.2 kW). The sliding gear transmission consists of a dry clutch and gearbox with 8 forward and 2 reverse gears. Max. forward speed - 13.1 mph (21 kph), max. reverse speed - 9 mph (14.5 kph). The open center hydraulic system includes a gear pump with a flow of 6.2 gal/min (23.5 l/min).

The main relief pressure is 147 bar (2130 psi). The 2-wheel drive models are equipped with 4.00x15 front tires and 9.5x24 rear tires. The 6.00x14 front tires and 9.5x24 rear tires are used for tractors with 2-wheel drive (L185DT). The wheelbase is 60 inches (1520 mm). The Kubota L185 tractor is compatible with a Kubota L1200 front end loader.

Engine Troubleshooting
Engine won't start or difficult to start
Dirty fuel filter element - Clean the filter or install new filter element
No fuel injection - Open fuel cock to inject fuel
Fuel-line is leaking air - Retighten clamps, replace defective pipes
Clogged fuel injectors - Service or change fuel injectors
Fuel injection pump malfunctioning - Change or repair the pump
Poor compression - Check cylinder block and replace worn parts
Engine shuts off while driving
Engine not warmed up - Warm up engine as required
Air in fuel pipes - Bleed fuel pipes
Uneven fuel injections - Repair or adjustment
Fuel filter plugging - Change the filter element
Fuel injectors are defective or dirty - Change fuel injectors
Engine starts and then stalls
Incorrectly set fuel injection pump timing - Check and correct settings
Fuel filter is clogged - Clean the filter element
Fuel injector nozzles fault - Install new set of properly balanced nozzles
Fuel injection pump is damaged - Rebuild or install a new injection pump
Dirty air cleaner - Replace or service air cleaner element
Engine stalls while idle
Incorrectly set low idle speed - Adjust low idle speed
Fuel injection pump is faulty - Repair or change injection pump
Clogged or defective injector nozzles - Test injector nozzles and replace as required
Excessive valve clearance - Correct valve clearance needs to be set
Engine overheating
Insufficient coolant fluid - Fill cooling system to proper level. Check for coolant leaks
Cooling system components are failed or system is dirty - Replace faulty parts or service cooling system
Not enough engine oil - Add oil to the engine crankcase
Fan belt tension is improper or belt is defective - Adjust belt tension correctly or change it
Defective thermostat - Check and change if necessary
Engine power loss
Dirty or faulty injectors - Clean or replace fuel injectors
Incorrect fuel injection pressure - Adjust pressure to proper level
Dirty air filter - Change or replace air filter element
Oil filter element is dirty - Service or change engine oil filter element
Engine is under excessive load - Change to lower gear or reduce load
Incorrect valve clearance - Adjustment procedure required
Improperly adjusted low idle speed - Adjust low idling as recommended
Restricted fuel pipes or hoses - Fuel pipes and hoses need to be cleaned
Loss of compression: Leaking or faulty valves - Install new valves
Engine noise or knocking
Incorrectly set fuel injection pump timing - Fuel pump timing settings need to be corrected
Fuel injector nozzles fault - Test injector nozzles and replace as required
Engine oil level low - Need to add engine oil
Engine has not warmed up to the recommended temperature - Warm up the engine as required
Worn main bearings or crankshaft - Worn parts replacement required
Piston rings failure - Install new piston rings
Loose flywheel bolts - Check flywheel bolts and tighten properly
Engine oil consumption is too high
Oil leaking: Gaskets or seals can be faulty - Change to repair leaks
Oil viscosity is incorrect - Fill up with the proper oil viscosity
Piston rings are seized or worn - Change the piston rings as required
Valve stems and guides are worn - Replace the valves
Worn cylinder liners or pistons - Inspect pistons and liners, change as required

Electrical System Troubleshooting
Battery won’t charge
Bad cell in battery - Change the battery
Bad battery electrical wire harness - Check wires for malfunctions, repair or replace
Corroded or loose battery terminals and cables - Tighten or service cables and terminals
Damaged belt or incorrectly adjusted belt tension - Adjust belt tension correctly or change belt
Starter cranks slowly
Battery power is low - Charge the battery
Battery will not hold charge - Service battery or change it
Battery cable harness failure - Check battery electrical cable for defects, replace or repair
Loose or corroded cables and terminals - Clean or tighten cables and terminals
Starter is not working
Low battery capacity - Recharge the battery
Drained or faulty battery - Change or recharge battery
Starter motor is damaged - Repair or install a new starter
Disconnected or incorrectly connected cables - Need to reconnect cables correctly

Transmission Troubleshooting
Hard to shift gears
Clutch is unadjusted or worn - Adjust clutch or change if necessary
Gear shift linkage is stuck or worn - Change defective shift linkage
Bent or worn shift forks - Change defective shift forks
Faulty gear shifting mechanism - Faulty parts must be changed
Transmission oil pressure is insufficient
Not enough oil in transmission - Fill the transmission housing to proper oil level
Plugged transmission fluid filter (if equipped) - Change or clean the transmission fluid filter
Damaged relief valve - Change the valve
Transmission makes noise
Bearings are worn or broken - Bearings replacement required
Oil level is low - Add transmission oil as required
Contaminated transmission oil - Fill up with fresh transmission oil
Defective gears or incorrect backlash - Change the gears or adjust backlash correctly
Damaged or worn shift forks - Shift forks need to be replaced
Transmission oil leaks
Worn gaskets or seals - Gaskets or seal need to be replaced
Cracked transmission case - Install a new transmission case

Hydraulics Troubleshooting
Excessive hydraulic system heat
Improper pressure in hydraulic system - Adjust properly
Main relief valve failure or incorrect setting - Adjust the valve or replace if necessary
Dirty hydraulic oil - The oil must be changed
Air in hydraulic system - Inspect the pump seals, suction line, and fittings
Insufficient hydraulic fluid pressure
Lack of hydraulic fluid - Check and refill the hydraulic fluid
Dirty hydraulic oil filter - Clean or change hydraulic filter
Hydraulic pump malfunction - Check hydraulic pump flow and replace pump if necessary
Hydraulic control valve block is faulty or out of adjustment - Replace or set properly
Hydraulic cylinder is broken - Check the hydraulic cylinder parts for damage or wear and replace if necessary
Hydraulic lines are leaking - Detect leaks in hydraulic system and repair it
3-point hitch does not raise or raises very slowly
Hydraulic fluid level is low - Check and refill the hydraulic fluid
Hydraulic oil is too cold - Allow oil to warm
Dirty hydraulic oil filter - Install a new hydraulic filter element
Defective hydraulic pump - Check the pump capacity and replace pump if required
Defective or misadjusted main relief valve - Adjust or replace the relief valve
Hydraulic control valve block is faulty or out of adjustment - Replace or set correctly
Hydraulic cylinder is not working - Inspect cylinder parts for wear or damage and replace if required
Damaged or loose suction line - Tighten or change
Hitch does not lower or lowers very slowly
Hydraulic spool valve is not set properly or defective - Adjust correctly or replace
Hydraulic cylinder is not working - Inspect cylinder parts for wear or damage and replace if required
Hitch cross shaft is damaged - Replace the shaft
Damaged mechanical components of the hitch - Replace worn or faulty hitch parts
3-point hitch lifting or lowering is jerky
Aeration in hydraulic system - Check the pump seals, suction line, and fittings
Hydraulic fluid is contaminated - Fill up with new hydraulic fluid
Hydraulic pump is defective - Test pump performance and replace pump if necessary
Defective or incorrect setting hydraulic spool valve block - Replace or adjust correctly
Hydraulic cylinder is defective - Check the hydraulic cylinder parts for damage or wear and replace if necessary

Steering System Troubleshooting
Hard Steering
Steering knuckle or steering column is stuck - Inspect steering column and knuckle, replace worn parts
Steering gearbox components are worn - Replace defective components of steering gearbox
Faulty drag link or tie rod - Replace or repair
Insufficient lubrication in steering box - Need to lubricate the gearbox
Not adjusted toe-in alignment - Check and adjust toe-in
Tires are not correctly inflated - Inflate tires as necessary
Excessive steering wheel free play
Steering column bearing or shaft is worn - Change faulty parts
Steering linkage assembly is worn or loose - Repair or replace steering linkage
Worn steering gearbox bearings - Replace the bearings
Front wheel hub bearings or steering knuckles are worn - Change hub bearings or knuckles
Damaged or worn steering tie-rod ends - Change faulty part
Tractor pulls to right or left
Worn or loose steering linkage assembly - Repair or replace steering linkage
Defective steering knuckle bushing - Replace knuckle bushing
Uneven tire pressure - Inflate the tires properly
Toe-in adjustment is incorrect - Adjust toe-in correctly

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