M6800SD pops out of 2nd gear??

JRP · Nov 17, 2001

My M6800SD with 25 hours on it pops out of second gear into neutral. Serial number 62418. Another new M6800SD in this area, serial 62413, just spent many weeks in a dealer shop while the dealer and Kubota bickered about the warranty claim.

We think it is parts in one gear sfaft and gear string that are made wrong. Any one else seen this?

JRPoux

JRP · Nov 17, 2001

When it is all over I'll report on how well Kubota handles my warranty claim.

Do you think a tractor popping out of gear at the top of a hill is a significant safety concerd?

rbargeron · Nov 17, 2001

Does it pop out when pulling a load (like going uphill) or does it come out when going downhill under engine braking ? If you hold the shift lever does it jump out anyway? That would indicate a more serious problem - like your suspicion of a bad gear.

For a tractor to pop out of any gear is a serious situation that needs the dealer and Kubota service rep's attention. And it sure is a SAFETY issue - Imagine towing a Float on a hill in the Homecoming Parade !

It could be simple like an internal transmission part being assembled incorrectly or maybe a missing shifter spring or detent. If it is more than a shifter problem - if it requires splitting the tractor to correct, you should insist that the Kubota service rep get involved and supervise any major work. Do you think Kubota is aware of these two units having the same problem (did the other one have the same symptom?)

These tractors have regular gearbox transmissions and mechanical shuttles - so finding the cause should be straight forward. If it is a design or manufacturing problem, Kubota may know about it and they'll eventually stand behind it - you may need to persist with them and the dealer to get some action. The cost could be high so they might all drag their feet for a while. Expect some "blame the victim" questions about the way you use your tractor - like "exactly how much does that homecomming queen weigh?"

Keep us posted on this one. Good luck !

JRP · Nov 17, 2001

The other tractor stayed at the dealer six weeks, most of the time was waiting for approval from Kubota.

The tractor pops out of gear when the accelerator is lifted, after climbing a hill. No significant load, just an empty 50 gallon sprayer on 3pt.

I'm not so concerned about the repair work, as a local dealer mechanic just worked on the other tractor. He will also be doing the work on this tractor. Also, I have no problems with Kubota yet. The real test of Kubota is to find out if the warranty guy is big enough to stand behind is products and take care of problems, or if he does every thing he can to avoid doing any warranty work. The quality problem can happen to any company, even Ford. The way they handle a problem, however, is the difference between a good company and a worthless one.

rbargeron · Nov 18, 2001

Jim: My knowledge of Kubota's overall warranty stance is limited - but in the few instances I'm aware of, they do eventually stand up - but it may take some pushing from the customer. If this turns out to be a design or assembly problem, they might agree to fix your tractor - but they might not stand all the way up and recall all affected units.

As an example, the L3 tractors (L3750,L4150,etc) had a trans oil cavitation problem - Kubota designed a parts kit to correct it but only fixed the ones where the owners complained.

If you hold the shifter, does it still jump out when you lift the pedal? The reason I ask is that my L345 would slip out of 4th under light engine braking (going downhill with foot off the fuel) - but if I held the lever it didn't try to come out. I just lived with it - tractor was already 10 years old.

rbargeron · Feb 23, 2002

Hey Jim - how did this problem come out? Is it fixed? What was thought to be the cause?

JRP · Feb 26, 2002

Results have not really been fully tested. I think it is OK now, however. Before the "operation" (split the tractor) it would pop out even when driving through a drainage ditch. The mechanic said Kubota engineers wanted 0.015" material cut from each of three detent groves that are cut into the 1-2 shaft. The new shaft was sent out for machining. The entire set of parts in the 1-2 gear string were replaced, along with the machining. Prior to the work it would pop out when climbing hills in second, only after the gas pedal (really diesel) was released. It has not poped out of gear since the work was done.

The dealer, Hlavinka Equipment in Bay City, did a great job. The mechanic liked it that I pressure washed the tractor before bringing it in. He knew I was concerned about the tractor looking "torn into". When he was finished you could not tell by looking that it had ever been worked on.

I would also like to report that the first Kubota rep I spoke to was not at all customer oriented. The next person I spoke to, who I think took over the responsibilities of the first guy, was much better to work with. I give him and Kubota a ten.

Overall, Kubota and the dealer handled the warranty claim well. If I had to do it all over again I would buy the exact same tractor.

JRPoux

JRP · Mar 3, 2002

The repair Kubota subscribed is replacemnt of the 1-2 shaft and all gears, syncro's etc on the shaft, plus the three detent notches on the shaft were machined 0.015" deeper. The dealer did a very nice job of splitting the tractor. You can't tell it has been worked on.

I tested the tractor yesterday on "the hill" and the tractor would no longer pop out of 2nd. It still, however, shifts smooth as a sports car.

Great tractor.

JRPoux

rbargeron · Mar 3, 2002

That was a costly fix for Kubota - if parts and labor were added up it would total in the thousand at retail, not counting their engineering and analysis costs.

It is often said that the real measure of a company is how well it handles problems. I can imagine other companies just putting a shifter on the outside with heavier springs.

I think Kubota took the integrity route on this - and they should get high marks for it. It's a little more proof that Kubota is a safe place to spend hard-earned dollars.