Hello all
I thought I'd reply to this thread after it died down a bit
To start I should have been clearer at the end of my origial post that what I was looking for were opinions on the 7800 conversion e.g. had anyone done this conversion or knew of someone or knew of any pitt falls
I didn't start this thread to bad mouth Kubota's treatment of me. They've tried to be very helpfull in making me happy. Although as someone not knowledgeable in such matters it seems to be taking longer then need be. As for the non -disclosure of details, I appeciate your concerns but there wasn't or isn't any agreement of me keeping quiet. In fact the people I'm dealing with know I started a thread back in Sept. about my B3030. I wouldn't have agreed to a non-disclosure agreement if one were required. I'm not looking for any monetary gain from Kubota and non has been offered. In fact the price for purchasing another tractor will probably increase for the new year so I will pay more out of pocket. I didn't start this thread to create a class action suit. I haven't talked with an attorney. I started discussions with Kubota as a fyi after a near tragedy caused by my B3030. I was ignorant to the fact that it would start in gear, so I purposely left it in gear to prevent any one from starting it.
I think I should explain a little about myself. I was a safety coordinator for a large telecommumications co. for over thirty years so I could say that safety is part of my make-up.
I've recently come to realize that Kubota isn't going to notify previous B3030 owners about the starting in gear issue, and I'm told they don't think there is a safety issue so there isn't going to be a fix, they're only going to revise the owners manual.
For all those unfamiliar with this issue please allow me to explain what I found on my B3030 tractor.
With the exception of the B3030, all Kubota tractors have a clutch pedal that needs to be depressed before you can start the tractor. The B3030 does not, it works on fliuds. The best way I can think to explain it is for you to think of the automatic transmission in you car. Your car will not start unless the shift lever is either in neutral or park. That's because there is what is or was called a safety neutral switch in place. If that switch were not there, you would be able to start your car in gear. Imagine this hapening on a cold morning when you first start your car with the engine racing because the choke is on. Good bye garage door or garage wall, good bye car if you only opened the car door to reach in to start the car while in gear to let it warm up. ( I hope no one comes back with " you shouldn't start your car unless you step on the brake first. etc. responses)
Now for the B3030. Although not exact but close try to look at it as having an automatic tranmission. The owners manual states "The engine will not start unless the range gear shift lever ( that's the same as the shift lever in your car), speed control pedal (foot pedal) and the PTO clutch lever are in the neutral and off positions respectively" The B3030 will start with the shift lever in gear. Thats the error in the owners manual
Kubota claims that if someone were to start the B3030 from the ground, and then accidently pushed or gets caught on the foot pedal the tractor will only travel 3 1/2 ft. an then shut down. And so mine does. But it only travels 3 1/2 ft. before shutting down if in low range and at an idle. If in medium range at an idle my tractor travels 6 ft. in hi range 9 ft. before shutting down. Now if you are like me and shut the tractor down but leave the hand throttle lever at the last speed you traveled at, and later someone starts the tractor from the ground and then accidently pushes on the foot pedal,or gets their coat caught, my tractor will travel 6 ft. in low, 12 ft. in med. and 17 ft. in hi gear. (Now before someone says that I shouldn't leave the hand throttle in place, read the manual it says to set the hand throttle about 1/2 way before starting. I was doing it in advance)
For any B3030 owners who want to test my findings, just make a mark on the ground by where your rear tire rests, and then stand on the deck and start your tractor in any gear at any throttle speed and then step on the foot pedal. When the tractor stops just measure the distance traveled. Just remember don't sit in the seat before or during the test because this will actvate what's called the operater presence switch which will overide the test.
For B7800 owners your tractors will also travel. My friend has a B7800. We tried the same test but not at all speeds. But you have a pedal that needs to be depressed before starting that's a plus.
In closing of this long winded post, I'm only explaining what I discovered on my tractor. My opinion, there should be a switch. Your opinion may differ. All I'm trying to do is make people aware. If this post causes some problem with my negotations with Kubota so be it. The worst is that I keep the B3030, but now like you I'm aware of it's issues and can live with it as long as no one gets hurt.
John
I thought I'd reply to this thread after it died down a bit
To start I should have been clearer at the end of my origial post that what I was looking for were opinions on the 7800 conversion e.g. had anyone done this conversion or knew of someone or knew of any pitt falls
I didn't start this thread to bad mouth Kubota's treatment of me. They've tried to be very helpfull in making me happy. Although as someone not knowledgeable in such matters it seems to be taking longer then need be. As for the non -disclosure of details, I appeciate your concerns but there wasn't or isn't any agreement of me keeping quiet. In fact the people I'm dealing with know I started a thread back in Sept. about my B3030. I wouldn't have agreed to a non-disclosure agreement if one were required. I'm not looking for any monetary gain from Kubota and non has been offered. In fact the price for purchasing another tractor will probably increase for the new year so I will pay more out of pocket. I didn't start this thread to create a class action suit. I haven't talked with an attorney. I started discussions with Kubota as a fyi after a near tragedy caused by my B3030. I was ignorant to the fact that it would start in gear, so I purposely left it in gear to prevent any one from starting it.
I think I should explain a little about myself. I was a safety coordinator for a large telecommumications co. for over thirty years so I could say that safety is part of my make-up.
I've recently come to realize that Kubota isn't going to notify previous B3030 owners about the starting in gear issue, and I'm told they don't think there is a safety issue so there isn't going to be a fix, they're only going to revise the owners manual.
For all those unfamiliar with this issue please allow me to explain what I found on my B3030 tractor.
With the exception of the B3030, all Kubota tractors have a clutch pedal that needs to be depressed before you can start the tractor. The B3030 does not, it works on fliuds. The best way I can think to explain it is for you to think of the automatic transmission in you car. Your car will not start unless the shift lever is either in neutral or park. That's because there is what is or was called a safety neutral switch in place. If that switch were not there, you would be able to start your car in gear. Imagine this hapening on a cold morning when you first start your car with the engine racing because the choke is on. Good bye garage door or garage wall, good bye car if you only opened the car door to reach in to start the car while in gear to let it warm up. ( I hope no one comes back with " you shouldn't start your car unless you step on the brake first. etc. responses)
Now for the B3030. Although not exact but close try to look at it as having an automatic tranmission. The owners manual states "The engine will not start unless the range gear shift lever ( that's the same as the shift lever in your car), speed control pedal (foot pedal) and the PTO clutch lever are in the neutral and off positions respectively" The B3030 will start with the shift lever in gear. Thats the error in the owners manual
Kubota claims that if someone were to start the B3030 from the ground, and then accidently pushed or gets caught on the foot pedal the tractor will only travel 3 1/2 ft. an then shut down. And so mine does. But it only travels 3 1/2 ft. before shutting down if in low range and at an idle. If in medium range at an idle my tractor travels 6 ft. in hi range 9 ft. before shutting down. Now if you are like me and shut the tractor down but leave the hand throttle lever at the last speed you traveled at, and later someone starts the tractor from the ground and then accidently pushes on the foot pedal,or gets their coat caught, my tractor will travel 6 ft. in low, 12 ft. in med. and 17 ft. in hi gear. (Now before someone says that I shouldn't leave the hand throttle in place, read the manual it says to set the hand throttle about 1/2 way before starting. I was doing it in advance)
For any B3030 owners who want to test my findings, just make a mark on the ground by where your rear tire rests, and then stand on the deck and start your tractor in any gear at any throttle speed and then step on the foot pedal. When the tractor stops just measure the distance traveled. Just remember don't sit in the seat before or during the test because this will actvate what's called the operater presence switch which will overide the test.
For B7800 owners your tractors will also travel. My friend has a B7800. We tried the same test but not at all speeds. But you have a pedal that needs to be depressed before starting that's a plus.
In closing of this long winded post, I'm only explaining what I discovered on my tractor. My opinion, there should be a switch. Your opinion may differ. All I'm trying to do is make people aware. If this post causes some problem with my negotations with Kubota so be it. The worst is that I keep the B3030, but now like you I'm aware of it's issues and can live with it as long as no one gets hurt.
John
