kubota in a max IV

[vern]

Hi guys I have a chance to pick up a 21 hp kubota duel fuel gas and lp 3 cyl engine at a pretty good price. Im wanting to put it in my 85 max IV my question is if this is a good one to put in or too many problems or too heavy to do? and has anyone done this before? thanks for any info.

[hydromike]

...my question is if this is a good one to put in or too many problems or too heavy to do? and has anyone done this before? thanks for any info.

Yup. I've put a couple of them in machines, and I absolutely adore them. Great, simple little engines. They're really not THAT heavy, all things considered. I dropped one into a Super Swamp Fox, an Attex 8x8 and have plans on putting one in another big machine. Here are a couple pictures.



If you plan on placing the engine over the transmission in a stock configuration, you'll have gobs of room. Another option is to lower the engine down to the frame, at which point a lot of other mods will need to be made (but worth the work, in my opinion). It'll be a lot of weight up high, but I don't know how the weight of the Kubota compares to the 29hp Kawasaki that they put in the IV. Are you getting the engines with the stub shafts that bolt to the flywheel?



I get lots of compliments on my little gas engines. They're really, really cool.....

Are you looking at a WG-750 or WG-600? The engines I'm running are the 24hp (or so) 750s, and I see that the 600cc units are rated closer to 21hp. Here are the specs for (essentially) the 750 engine. Kubota Engine America - Compact Diesel Engines
This shows the dry weight at 136 lbs. The radiator, coolant and oil add about another 15 pounds or so.

[vern]

I will be getting the numbers for it soon so i can look up the specs on it. was there any problems you ran into that I need to look for? like will the clutch off my 16 hp tecumseh work? or do I need to find a different one

[vern]

It is a wg 750 with radiator all mounted on a plate.

[micmac]

I'll chime in. It might not be quite as easy. I'm in the process of mounting aBig Block Briggs in my IV. An engine that substantial probably shouldn't sit as high as it would on the engine stand due to CG. So that would require lowering the engine to the frame, new clutching and fabrication. Just saying its not an easy plug and play but it can be done.

[jpswift1]

It would work best if you were to mount the engine on the frame and move the transmission forward, thus getting rid of the engine stand and lowering the center of gravity. It would take a little bit of custom work, but it could be done.

[fmints]

It would work best if you were to mount the engine on the frame and move the transmission forward, thus getting rid of the engine stand and lowering the center of gravity. It would take a little bit of custom work, but it could be done.

i do agree.

things to consider doing:
shorten the bars that connect the laterals to the t20
shorten the shifter bar that aids in shifting the t20
fab up another set of chain adjusters for the t20.
flip the center sprockets to the rear axles and the rear sprockets to the center axles
fab an engine base plate/battery box, lowing the engine approximatey 1 inch or so on top of the frame.
making sure you measure everything so you will have room to use the same belt.
move the t20 under the rear seat,

in this configuration, you should still be able to keep the same sitting room as before, even "if" you have to raise the rear seat up a bit to accomodate the t20

the t20 should rest on the frame as is, you just have to drill mounting holes. I would get the engine in first and allow room for 2-3 inches of belt adjustment/removal,,, then do the t20


what do you think? in a nut shell, i dont think that i missed anything.

[Noel Woods]

The t20 under the engine is the only thing about the Max4 that I dislike. The reconfiguration should be pretty easy for those with mechanical and or welding skills. A Max2 or Buffalo Truck can be used as a visual walk through. Once done a larger engine will have more than enough room to be mounted lower in the chassis.
I am always amazed at how much my Super Swamp Fox feels like a Max2 in terms of center of gravity and maneuvarablity, especially considering how big the machine actually is.

[vern]

Thanks for all your help guys. I think I'm going a different route. Im going to get a 22hp kohler v twin for it. It will make my life a little (or a lot ) easier. if anybody is interested in a lead to the kubota just pm me.