Broken HST/ No Reverse= HUGE $ to Fix!

[murphy1244]

That would really suck to part that out. One thing I found out though, My MF is worth more pieced out than it is together.

 

[Grateful11]

Find a good independent farm equipment mechanic. My wife found one that's JD trained and worked several years for a JD dealer. He has a nice shop and a service truck with 3 ton boom crane on it. He works on about anything farm related, charges $45/hr verses $75-100/hr like dealers. He sure done a heck of a job on their New Idea Corn Picker last fall. Wife said for the first time in about 20 years the gathering chain didn't jump off not even once. $4800 to split the tractor is nuts, why would it not be by the hour? I doubt it would take 48 hours to split it. Main stream dealers aren't always the best anyway, you should see the mess one made of the clutch replacement on her IH 574.

 

[Grandad4]

It looks like the HST P/N is TA240-58005 according to the Kubota's online parts drawings. Using various online pricing sources the whole unit is listed between $4,116.30 and $4354.61.

There is a listing on ebay for a used item with the P/N referenced above, but listed for a L3010. Of course this is used and unlikely your desired path, but it is listed for $2,500. The only reason I point this out is it looks like the HST unit is used in other modes and therefore might be available used from various sources. Or if you buy a new unit perhaps fix your old one and sell it.

Curtisfarmer, I'll second everyone's wish for a good outcome on this. It's probably cold comfort to you, but this is the first HST failure I can recall hearing about in the large Kubota compacts. Pretty sure the same TA240-58005 HST used in all the Grand L10 series, maybe the Grand L30's also, so there may be other used units available from salvage yards, etc., should you decide to go in that direction.

 

[murphy1244]

Curtisfarmer, I'll second everyone's wish for a good outcome on this. It's probably cold comfort to you, but this is the first HST failure I can recall hearing about in the large Kubota compacts. Pretty sure the same TA240-58005 HST used in all the Grand L10 series, maybe the Grand L30's also, so there may be other used units available from salvage yards, etc., should you decide to go in that direction.

Yes it would be a crying shame to part this machine out.

 

[crazyal]

Have you asked how much it would cost to investigate inside the transmission once it's split? If it only takes an hour or so to get a good idea what went wrong and what parts need replacing you could find that it's not too bad to repair it. It could be a part that just broke, not related to number of hours.

 

[curtisfarmer]

I am considering parting out the machine, but if I can get it fixed for $7K+/- I will probably fix it. It has just shy of 2K hours so I figure with a new HST it would be good for another 1-2K hours, even if as my second line machine. Just seems like a huge waste to part it out. I do have another so I could keep it as parts, but the value there is questionable. Parting it out would probably be better, bucket alone is worth $500, rims and tires more, other parts probably just as valuable. 3PT hitch linkages are notoriously expensive. The dealer says HST problems are extremely rare, seems that way here too with all our collective knowledge. If I do fix it, seems like that is the most expensive repair I would possibly come across so hopefully it would be worth fixing. The L48 being just slightly less capable than a M59, is a very versatile machine, and since I do dirt work, I cannot settle for anything else. A new M59 was quoted at $57.3K with thumb.

Brian, you were right on the money with your labor estimate. The dealer with the high quote gave me the song and dance that Kubotas warranty guidelines represent an extremely low estimate of the work that needs to be performed, which I can understand, but not 2X the suggested hours to break apart the machine. I looked at breaking it apart, slightly more work as it has a frame, but the frame is attached at logical locations where it should be disassembled. Dealer says loader needs to come off, I disagree.

 

[WilliamBos]

Was there a core charge for the new trans?

 

[RobertN]

I have been here since the beginning of TBN when it was a Kubota site back in '98 or so.

Over that time, there have been hardly any HST failures(all brands...). Asked my local independent dealer/shop where I get parts for my old Kubota, and the NH HST model I have now. He said he hardly ever sees HST failures either.

The dealer says HST problems are extremely rare, seems that way here too with all our collective knowledge.

 

[texasjohn]

The rarity of hydraulic failure is surely no comfort.

When faced with a big expense, I try to find an alternative, as I am sure you do.
What about searching for somebody who would do the labor free/reduced cost for the experience? Maybe a mechanic school, surely people have to learn how to do this at places other than factory classes. Risk of a botched job should be reduced if you replace whole thing.

Just an idea...no idea if there is such a place in your area.

 

[moship]

Curtisfarmer,

If you elect to split the tractor you might want to consider any other maintenance items while it is apart. Example: Clutch disk or pressure plate assuming they wear on a HST unit.