Comments on Kubota's engineering

[two_bit_score]

I know this has been discussed but want to input my thoughts. New B2930 with 60" mmm adjustments to get level was little bit of work and all links rear and front not at same adjustments - That tells me either tractor links or mmm is not square from factory. Rear link to 2 point arm is a joke, Why couldn't they engineer a link direct off the 2 point main shaft on left side and not use the poorly designed arm that goes over two point arm chewing it up. Also the height adjustment - yes everyone the height adjustment. My kindergardner could design something better, should have a adjustable link lever connected to main lift system like other brands. I did remove and fashioned a plastic spacer shim to go on top of cam and reassembled to take the play out of the assembly and keep it tight as not to move when weight is off cam. Brakes same side as hydro pedals was that engineer on drugs or hung over that day? Other than that love the tractor in every respect so far. My thought on Engineers if they had to work/service what they design we would have well thought out designs on everything we use. They sit at their cad systems designing in the cubicals and never get out in the real world. The few that do change there inefficient designs to work properly.:confused2:

Seriously. Why did you buy it if it was such a piece of junk? Did you not look it over? Check it out? No research? Did they force you? Got conned by a slick salesman?

 

[two_bit_score]

Man, all I have got to say is some of you guys sure sound piss for people with new tractors! Where I come from, if we want something built a certian way or want it to have a certian thing on it, we make sure it is there BEFORE we buy the product. A company can not anticipate every detail that a customer wants before hand, and just because a few people want it, that does not mean that everyone else is willing to pay more to get it. Everything you add cost money. It is not just buying the part, it is installing it on the line, keeping parts stock, changing wiring harness, safety testing, etc. If there was a plug, some people would gripe it stayed on all the time (without the key) and some would gripe if it was switched with the key. Can't keep everybody happy. Just a few thoughts.

:thumbsup:

 

[MHarryE]

Engineers try their best balancing reliability, cost, and features. Could be they didn't put an accessory outlet because they calculated the electrical load and found that with everything like lights, etc., on they were drawing max alternator output so they wouldn't put on the outlet. Combine owners never can have too many lights, so at Gleaner we found many adding lights beyond what our system could handle so combining at night they would draw much more power than the alternator could put out and by the time they shut down the batteries were too low to start it up again, so combines had to let their machines idle all options off while they slept to charge back up. Since we had the largest alternator available our fix was to make a dual alternator option until suppliers came up with an economical larger size. Now we have xenons so light 'em up without needing an auxiliary power unit.

At Case we had a 15 year old combine cab the customers didn't like so we spent tons of money developing a new one. After the first one was in place we asked everyone at the Hinsdale Engineering Center to try it out. We had the new and old parked side by side. The engineers, mechanics, managers, clerks, all gave the new one a big thumbs up. Lots of back patting. Then someone asked if we shouldn't ask the end user. We got 4 combines, our production, our super cab, our largest competitor, and the competitor customers talked about the most. We brought in 2 dozen operators, major operators who spent from May to December in the machine, and had them do the same rating game. Result - our new cab came out worst, worse even than our old production. The designers missed several points the guy who spends his life in the seat felt was important. It's not like our engineers didn't get their hands dirty - everyone was required to spend at least 3 weeks per year out in the field operating and working on the machines. So we turned the cab project over to a cab design firm and started over.

Cat large equipment machines sometimes skimp on the power outlets because they are 24 volt. BCP machines are 12v (backhoe loaders, skid steers, etc.) but larger dozers, excavators larger than minis, wheel loaders, all are 24v for oomph to turn over the larger engines on cold mornings. Consequently they need a step down converter that is pretty pricey to bring a regulated 12v to the cab power outlet, but I think about all of the new machines have them now because operators need their phones and stuff. Every Japanese has at least one smart phone so if the power outlet was missed, it must have been stripped down for the US. The tractor that started this thread is one of the assembled in America machines isn't it?

 

[tag01]

Nice explantion mharrye. I have been on both sides of this dicussion, the designer and the end user.

 

[gabrichter]

[At Case we had a 15 year old combine cab the customers didn't like so we spent tons of money developing a new one. After the first one was in place we asked everyone at the Hinsdale Engineering Center to try it out. We had the new and old parked side by side. The engineers, mechanics, managers, clerks, all gave the new one a big thumbs up. Lots of back patting. Then someone asked if we shouldn't ask the end user. We got 4 combines, our production, our super cab, our largest competitor, and the competitor customers talked about the most. We brought in 2 dozen operators, major operators who spent from May to December in the machine, and had them do the same rating game. Result - our new cab came out worst, worse even than our old production. The designers missed several points the guy who spends his life in the seat felt was important. It's not like our engineers didn't get their hands dirty - everyone was required to spend at least 3 weeks per year out in the field operating and working on the machines. So we turned the cab project over to a cab design firm and started over.

There you go folks my reason answered... Yes B2920 is great tractor would not trade of for the world at this point but there is some small issues I noticed after having it for a while

 

[Verticaltrx]

The tractor that started this thread is one of the assembled in America machines isn't it?

All the B series are made in Japan, his mower deck was made in the USA.

 

[gabrichter]

All the B series are made in Japan, his mower deck was made in the USA.

Oh the ol metric to us standard measurement conversion throwing us off...

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Another thing that people are missing is that these tractors are building blocks.
With costs and design what they are these things are built for a world market and customized slightly for each area they are shipped to. Europe had the front 3pt hitches, Australia and the UK have some nice baggers for the BXs so what is a standard, custom, or sometimes a new law such as come up for the loaders in Australia are going to dictate designs also.

David Kb7uns