Kubota Letter/Cracked fenders/battery cover

[kevinj]

What you got was just a replacment, its not the real new fender. The new ones are thicker plastic and have struts molded into the bottom of them. It will be a clear difference.

Kind of what I thought. The dealer even called the tech folks to reconfirm the part # so I have asked them to check again !!!

 

[JEW]

I thought I was exempt from this problem. The temperature turned a bit cooler tonight, 35 deg F, and I stepped onto the platform to climb aboard and couldn't believe what I heard. As soon as I heard it I did not have to even look down, closed the garage door, turned out the lights and went back into the house to drown my sorrows. I'll deal with it on Monday.

Oh, by the way, my camera took a few pictures of the evidence for discussions with my dealer. As you see from the one picture, just resting my foot on the platform, the back part where it is connected to the fender is completely unsupported underneath. There is a frame member there, but does not come into contact with the underside of the platform. The fender fully supports that part of the platform, clearly a flawed design. For those who don't have the crack yet, step forward away from the fender if you want to avoid the problem.

I hope my dealer knows about the problem so my anger is kept in check. We'll see if I can get the new design as a replacement. I'm somewhat glad she's only 4 months old, but disappointed that warranty is becoming common place (seat, fender, battery cover, . . . what's next). Just as long as I don't dig its own grave!!!

 

[Doc_Bob]

I'm somewhat glad she's only 4 months old, but disappointed that warranty is becoming common place (seat, fender, battery cover, . . . what's next). Just as long as I don't dig its own grave!!!

Cripes, that looks bad.
Bob

 

[MOPAULY]

yikes. I wonder how long I have until it happens on mine. I know mine already had the seat recall bracket installed, but at the time my dealer had not known about the fender cracking issue. Winters coming and so are cold temperatures.

 

[GUMBO]

Jew, Looks exactly like mine did. Hope you get the "new" fender.Mine broke awhile back and I got the same fender, so I still have to watch how I get on it. I've been more interested in how to support the floorboard than a stronger fender.
GUMBO

 

[Mike_V]

Jew, Looks exactly like mine did. Hope you get the "new" fender.Mine broke awhile back and I got the same fender, so I still have to watch how I get on it. I've been more interested in how to support the floorboard than a stronger fender.
GUMBO

I've considered putting a spacer between the frame and the bottom of the fender/deck. The reason I haven't is because I cannot determine whether the clearance there changes as the frame and body flex. I'm concerned that if I were to put something like a piece of wood there, that when the frame flexes, it might actually cause something to break.

The lack of any support there is so obvious, the only explanation I can think of is that the design won't allow it and maybe the deck is SUPPOSED to "float".

Kubota's rumored fix of stronger fenders (rather than direct support) seem to support the idea that support may not work.

Mike

 

[KeithInSpace]

This really is killing me. Pictures from JEW look awful.

I have an idea for a possible fix, Kubota: METAL FENDERS

I hear metal is really nifty stuff and sometimes stronger than plastic in areas of high stress. Sometimes.

 

[DaveVales]

My BX24 is in the shop for a few warranty fixes and today I asked the service manager about cracked fenders. He said "Yeah, we've had a few and Kubota is coming out with a stronger fender". Seems to be more common as time passes, unfortunately. I have to agree with KeithInSpace - the JEW photos and other threads of the same problem do not sit well with me, but for now I'm stuck with the machine. Like death, I expect the fender break will happen someday.

 

[JEW]

I just picked up my BX24 this morning for the warranty replacement of the cracked fender. The new fender has an improved plastic mold with stiffeners added in the area where the crack had occurred. When I step on it now it is definitely stronger and has very little deflection. I'm around 6'-2" and 230 lbs. I hope it holds!

Here are a few pictures of the reinforcement ribs.

 

[JEW]

Jew, Looks exactly like mine did. Hope you get the "new" fender.Mine broke awhile back and I got the same fender, so I still have to watch how I get on it. I've been more interested in how to support the floorboard than a stronger fender.
GUMBO

With my newly replaced fender, new design, there was no new or added brackets that I could tell to support the fender.