Who has high-hour machines?

Jay4200 · Feb 9, 2011

My L4200GST has 2600 hours on it (and those are PTO hours, not those hippy clock hours the new machines have), and I've put on about 600 of those hours since '05 when I got my tractor. I replaced both tie rods when I bought the machine (torn boots), and have given the machine frequent oil and filter changes, and I just replaced the starter (first big mechanical failure). There is a little spooge that forms around the fuel filter (I think it is the petcock) and the transmission site glass seeps a bit. The left bezel seal started leaking pretty bad this summer - makes a pretty good puddle (fills a spray paint lid after a few weeks). I just checked the oil level in the axle housing and it hasn't dropped measurably since I filled it up last fall, so it looks worse than it is, I guess - I plan to replace that seal once the weather warms up.

The tractor still runs and operates perfectly, and just about everything works (except the safety switches) but I'm counting on the tractor in the winter now, and I'm starting to worry about general reliability, simply because of the age/hours. Some solidarity would be nice.

So, who has high-hour Kubotas? What issues/repairs have been done in their lifetime? How many hours does YOUR tractor have?

JayC

repete · Feb 9, 2011

I believe I am at about 4700 hrs on my 1985 (?) L2550DT. Not sure though, not home to look.

Just the regular front axle seal problems otherwise it has been great. Had to do some little stuff but nothing I would consider chronic or because of poor quality. Replaced the loader bucket because the front edge was gone.

If stuff has broken it is usually because I expected it to do the work of a tractor twice it's size

crazyal · Feb 9, 2011

Does 27 hours count as high :laughing:. At the rate I've been putting hours on the tractor will be 50 years old by the time I hit 2600.

jbooth · Feb 9, 2011

I have 5600 hrs on a Case 1845C skid steer. If it will do another 5000 that will take care of me.

art · Feb 9, 2011

jbooth said:
I have 5600 hrs on a Case 1845C skid steer. If it will do another 5000 that will take care of me.

We have them out with more then double that!

firemech · Feb 9, 2011

Had a 1983 B 6100 with 11,000 (Thats right eleven thousand hours) used daily since new for moving and launching boats at our marina and blowing snow in the winter. Replaced it in 2006 with a B7510 which now is approaching 2100 hrs. On 6100 broke one clutch disc, brakes were grabbing very agressively after being replaced, engine was making oil the last year and we decided it was time to replace when the 3 pt started to drop all the time. If I get near the same hours from the 7510 and recently purchased L 3400 I'll be very happy
firemech

funwithahoe · Feb 9, 2011

:licking

epends on how savy you are - If you can "McGuver" fix something then you are good to go. If you can't then you need a new machine and then a backup new machine!!!:thumbsup: I used to sweat the small stuff but now I only sweat the medium stuff!!:licking: but then my name is "funwithahoe"!!

slowzuki · Feb 9, 2011

I've got 1300 hrs on my Kubota L5030HSTC, have 4000+ on my MF. If maintained I'd say they are as reliable as new unmaintained machine. If you let every thing go until it breaks don't expect reliable use at high hours.