SDT
Veteran Member
Complete agreement.Absolutely 100% correct. I deliver new tractors for my Kubota dealer and fiddle in the shop part time and the ONE thing I do when I deliver a new unit is I make the customer sign for their manuals which I give them on delivery and I always tell them to read and follow the instructions contained therein about how the emissions system works and what to do when it's regen time.
Interestingly, over 95% of the tractors that wind up in the shop are 'come back's' because the owner's didn't bother to follow the regen instructions or were just too lazy to follow them.
There is a specific procedure to follow. I didn't design any of the systems, in fact I don't care for any of it or them but if you don't adhere to the procedures spelled out in the owners manual, chances are the engine will fail and will require dealer intervention.
We had a large Kubota come in where the owner took it on himself to ignore the regen interval and push the over ride button repeatedly and the engine got so loaded up with soot that wasn't burned off by the SCR unit (it was a DEF tractor) that the intake was destroyed and even though it was new and low hours, Kubota denied any warranty claim due to owner negligence. I didn't see the bill nor the owner either but I'm sure a new head, new SCR unit and new intake wasn't a cheap date.
I'm sure he was pizzed but it was his own fault. READ THE MANUAL AND ADHERE TO THE PROCEDURES IN IT. real simple and a helluva lot cheaper in the long run....for you as the owner, end user.
I have 3 Kubotas with DPFs, though none requiring DEF (will go to my grave without any DEF equipment). Though annoying when the regen lamp comes on when finished with my work and backing into the barn, the electronically injected M9960 and L6060 are somewhat forgiving, and have been seamless regarding regeneration, but probably would not be if I ignored the regen instructions frequently enough. I have learned to hit the inhibit button when 15 minutes or so from completing a task so as to avoid regens when finished and heading for the barn. Less of an issue with the L6060, which has a bar graph display of DPF condition (which I monitor) than the M9960, which does not.
The mechanically injected, reformer equipped B3350 is another animal. It is less forgiving but does function as intended so long as all is well with the emissions system (quite another issue), and one follows the instructions in the Operator's Manual precisely. Few do. The B3350 is less forgiving of interupped regeneration cycles than are the electronically injected machines. DO NOT interrupt regeneration operations on a B3350. You might get away with it once, or even twice, but repeated interruptions will prove costly. Annoying, but manageable for the knowledgeable.
That said, all of this nonsense is the result of ignorant, cube-dwelling bureaucrats in DC who have probably never seen a tractor, let alone operated one. Worse, such incomprehensively costly nonsense is of no measureable value, though it does make certain groups of ignorant folks FEEL good about themselves.
Down from my soapbox now and finished with rant.