Skid plate insanity

[dieselmadman]

After reading about troubles in the BX series regarding the plastic cooling fans breaking apart from below, I went ahead and ordered the skid plate from Bro-tek. I haven't received it yet, but out of curiousity I slid myself under my BX24 and was shocked at the poor design for housing this fan. I really couldn't believe that for a tractor company that really seems to know how to build em, that this problem, which apparently has been around for awhile has not been addressed. My unit is the latest of the 07's, right out of the box so it appears no effort has been expended by Kubota yet. My question is, do you think they left it this way on purpose as a way for the dealerships to make some $$? The exposure of that fan is laughable. The cheapness of the part and the expense of its replacement has to make one wonder if this is a dealership incentive offered by the mother company. Any thoughts?

 

[Volfandt]

I doubt it, conspiracy theory notwithstanding .....

If you were to take alook at most every Scut and L&G tractor that uses an HST fan to directly cool the pump housing you'll find that every one of them has the cooling fan in harms way. It's an unfortunate nature of the beast since these fans are directly driven from the driveshaft. Even the units that utilize a vertical shaft engine and drive belt w/the fan on the top of the unit get their cooling fans damaged also.
Usually the MMM provides the protection for the vitals but in the case of a BX TLB, Kubota should have provided additional protection since they recommend to remove the MMM when operating the BH on the BX24.

You may not have noticed but the HST's fluid filter is lower than the fan, alot closer to the ground and all that would like to puncture it and it's right beside the mid pto too..
Course the JD (2210 & 2305) & MF(GC2300/2310) SCUT's are in the same boat so it's not just a Kubota thing. Perhaps it's an industry wide conspiracy

I do agree that there should be an OEM skidplate option but then again, enterprising folks like Richard at Bro Tek offer a fine product to correct this OEM shortcoming.

 

[dieselmadman]

Thanks, for your reply.

You make some good points. I did notice the HST filter was low to the ground and is vulnerable. I also agree Bro-tek is providing some great products (I know, I bought one). However, the delta difference to to Kubota corporate to throw their own skid plate on would be minimal. Or, a slight redesign to make the fan a little more sturdy (metal perhaps? Don't know or understand the engineering this would present). You could always house the plastic HST filter in metal instead of plastic. I don't know, the present design is such an obvious Achilles Heal given the fix seems so obvious. However, if not obvious already, I am no engineer. Just a happy owner...

 

[dieselmadman]

Oh wait...

A metal fan is a bad idea. If the fan doesn't give, something more expensive will...

 

[Roadkill95]

I am looking at the JD 2305 and that hydo filter is even lower than the BX. The dealer tells me they haven't had a problem with any.(yea right) there is no way people are not hitting these filters Unless they are just mowing grass and driving around on the driveway.
Why have a 4WD tractor with a loader and BH and not leave the lawn

 

[VABlue]

I have a JD2305 and can report no molestation of the filter unit. I've been in the woods skidding trees a few times, too! It is low, but I've heard of more broken fan blades than filters. Seeing that the design is essentially the same as Kubota's, I would expect the same amount of issues between the two. Why not? The design stinks in either case!!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Hmmm, In both the Deere, and Kubota, that cooling fan is attached to the driveshaft. On my older shaft drive Simplicity Legacy garden tractor the fan is on the rear of the transmission above where the pto shaft would be if I had that option...... now I'm wondering how it is driven. I'll have to look.

 

[David_G]

BX23 600 hours Lots of bush work driving over logs, rocks etc.

Only broke one fan and that was in a clear school ground where there was a single stick that I ran over.

Fan was easily replaced. Not a real problem.

 

[ChuckinNH]

On a related note, I have read that the best way to change the fan on the JD 2305 is to disassemble the rear universal joint. It seems like a pretty good way to do it, and I wonder if the same thing could be done on a BX. It sure would take less time than some other methods I've read about! Perhaps something difficult is in the way to do this?

 

[Lockport]

I have to assume that their is a design justification for this. They must have weighed the statistics of broken fans/cans in direct relation to end user satisfaction, I.E. changing the filter by reaching under with a wrench without having to get right in their and spend 20 minutes unbolting a skid plate, dropping the wrench, slipping off a bolt, cutting your finger, skinning your knuckles, losing bolts, etc. Hence the plastic fan placed above the now open space. Rather than a bent metal fan which might, say, cut something delicate nearby like wires or hoses when malformed as to a plastic that just loses a blade. Maybe its still good without, say, upto three blades missing. I think there is tremendous quality in these tractors and anyone having ever been in a brainstorming session with a company known for quality products will testify that seemingly lame ideas are always challenged and, when justified, have substantial reason at the basis of their implementation.
Reflections?