New kabotas

[8x56mn]

Just an observation that I have made. I have a 1980's vintage B2150 that is approching 2000 hours and have virtualy no issues with exception of a blown u-joint. It seems that the newer tractors are having a lot of issues especially the ones with HYD's. Does anyone else think the quality is slipping.

 

[BotaBX24er]

Just an observation that I have made. I have a 1980's vintage B2150 that is approching 2000 hours and have virtualy no issues with exception of a blown u-joint. It seems that the newer tractors are having a lot of issues especially the ones with HYD's. Does anyone else think the quality is slipping.

I agree, not only quality but also poor design improvements as they move to new models. I have a BX24. You would think that going from a BX23 to a BX24, that they would think to make replacing a $10 fan that can get easily torn up would have been made easier because of all the complaints on it. But instead they've now made it almost impossible to get to that fan without having to tear the tractor apart.

 

[art]

There are many things that may make it look like quality is slipping but there might be far more to it!

To think that a maunfacturer might sell 1,000 of a model in a year twenty years ago and work from that.

Let's say two they had issues with two tractors of that build.
Today they sell 10,000 of that model's replacement, still same failure rate, so now we have 20 tractors breaking!

Twenty years ago chances are any thing we heard in the news the same day was local or a major big catastrophy with hundreds killed!
Today I can open the paper and read about a two car accident that occured yesterday in Arizona that killed two people! News does travel fast today!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Does anyone else think the quality is slipping.

No. Infact I'd say the newer equipment is more reliable and has fewer issues than tractors of years past.

 

[8x56mn]

OK then how is it that the vast majority of issues here involve the late model tractors and very few involving tractors that are 20 years old. Did they all go to the happy hunting ground. I have been window shopping at a couple of dealers near me and I must say I am not overlly impressed with the plastic tractors that I'm seeing, seats that don't fit, fans exposed, shifters that hang up, the list goes on and on, but I guess that's the same with all manufactures. Perhaps there like car manufatures, they want to make profits on warrenty and to **** with you after it runs out . I don't plan on buying one as as long as my old one serves me well. Just my observation.

 

[TripleR]

I think much that can be said about old vs new tractors can be said about tractors. I could walk all over my 54 Ford car and not only not dent it, but not even scratch the paint. I could also use my bumper to push another vehicle to "push start" it; heck you use to even be able to push start an automatic. They were very well built, but were pretty prone to rust and I don't know anyone who got much over 100k. You can dent the sheet metal on my new truck or car, but I will get well in excess of 200k miles and I won't be working on it like I did my old ones. I get 280 hp out of a 284 cu in engine; may have gotten 150 out of a 292 before.

I do agree on too much plastic on the new machines, but mechanically, I will take the new stuff. I do have some old tractors, but I don't use them much and if they were all that good, I wouldn't have needed to buy new ones.

If you have a tractor that works for you, by all means keep it and don't waste your money. I have a late 80's model that spends more time in the shop than in the field; not a Kubota though.

 

[LBrown59]

Just an observation that I have made. I have a 1980's vintage B2150 that is approching 2000 hours and have virtualy no issues with exception of a blown u-joint.It seems that the newer tractors are having a lot of issues especially the ones with HYD's. Does anyone else think the quality is slipping.

I don't feel that that's factual.

 

[philipb]

I would say that tractors with small case hydrostatic transmissions have a lot of problems, mostly caused by overheating. Hydrostatic power transmission and speed control has been around in industry for a long time. In that setting, it's the same story, overload causes heating, then leaking, then failure.
My L2800 has a big case and it holds a lot of fluid. No problems.
Plastic is just a pain in the rear. The main problem seems to be that, eventually, UV rays will cause it to fail. I have never polished a tractor or used armourall on one, but I may have to start.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

OK then how is it that the vast majority of issues here involve the late model tractors and very few involving tractors that are 20 years old.

Thats got more to do with market dynamics than it does the machines. As was said, the compact tractor industry today is probably 10x the size that it was even 20 years ago. Thats not to say that todays tractors are perfect, but moden manufacturing has come a long way in improving many aspects of tractors like problem free transmissions, good implement fit, reliable PTO's and clutches that don't get trashed.

 

[AceDeuce]

The purpose of small tractors has evolved over the years as well as the typical buyer. Newer machines have to do more a lot more tasks than older machines were designed to do. Buyers aren't just farmers anymore. They are homeowners, businessmen, etc. They demand more "features" and creature comforts. Manufacturers respond to the market with products that satisfy demand and produce the highest margins. Simple concept, but hard to do perfectly. There is always give and take. Price, quality and features are often diametrically opposed to each other.

That said... there is no excuse for cutting corners on the basics.

And IMO plastic has no place ANYWHERE on a tractor.