A little disappointed with Kubota

[Gator6x4]

It's been said many many times. Nothing to do with the dealer or assembler. This is how KUBOTA does it

Kubota does not install the wheels, the Dealer does. Kubota ships the tractor in a crate, minus the wheels.

 

[RickB]

Kubota does not install the wheels, the Dealer does. Kubota ships the tractor in a crate, minus the wheels.

Kubota will also assemble tractors at the distribution warehouses and ship them complete as per dealer order. BX tractors are crated with wheels installed. M series tractors and most MX tractors arrive at dealerships fully assembled.

 

[crazyal]

Kubota does not install the wheels, the Dealer does. Kubota ships the tractor in a crate, minus the wheels.

The dealers just assemble the tractors with the hardware Kubota specifies. To do any different would put the liability on the dealership for anything that goes wrong. The lock washers are captive on the bolts so you don't get a choice about using or not using them.

 

[SPYDERLK]

The dealers just assemble the tractors with the hardware Kubota specifies. To do any different would put the liability on the dealership for anything that goes wrong. The lock washers are captive on the bolts so you don't get a choice about using or not using them.

On the L2900, and probably all earlier, they were not captive. I stated this previously when I removed a bolt for testing:

OK. Good.

I just went out and checked the L3450 (AGs) and the L2900 (Turfs). Both have the 6 bolt hubs using studs and the bolts with a 7 on the head just as you say. ... I pulled one of the bolts from the L2900. I found it to be 16MM with NON captive lockwasher. I removed the washer and replaced it with a Grade 8 flatwasher. I then reassembled dry to 200ftlb and then upped it to 250. No problems. Twice.​

I dont think the 7 is a class marking. -- The bolts are at least class 8.8 to take what I did.

BTW The dish showed damage from the tang of the lockwasher.​

 

[crazyal]

I don't know about the bolts but I had to drill out the stud and I can say for certain that it wasn't grade 8 (10.9). It drilled easy so I'm guessing 8.8.

 

[s219]

It's been said many many times. Nothing to do with the dealer or assembler. This is how KUBOTA does it

I don't understand why this keeps being labeled as a Kubota problem. Lots of other tractor brands do it the same way. These wheel/tire combos come from Titan, and many brands use them. I'm not trying to defend Kubota here, but seems like this is more of a generic issue and I don't think orange paint has anything to do with it, pro or con.

 

[Oldoak]

I don't understand why this keeps being labeled as a Kubota problem. Lots of other tractor brands do it the same way. These wheel/tire combos come from Titan, and many brands use them. I'm not trying to defend Kubota here, but seems like this is more of a generic issue and I don't think orange paint has anything to do with it, pro or con.

I agree. I never had wheels slip or bolts/nuts come loose on my Kubota L4200 which I had owned for 20 years.

 

[JWR]

I don't understand why this keeps being labeled as a Kubota problem. Lots of other tractor brands do it the same way. These wheel/tire combos come from Titan, and many brands use them. I'm not trying to defend Kubota here, but seems like this is more of a generic issue and I don't think orange paint has anything to do with it, pro or con.

Agree 100%. After 156 posts no one is yet quite sure what the problem was (and no one knows whether it will return.) It seems likely to me that

1) someone other than the factory mounted the wheels on the tractor. Whoever that was MIGHT have been better advised to use large flat washers. Maybe. 2) that the buyer may not have checked the nuts/bolts for tightness after several hours of use as he should have. I've committed that mistake myself a few times.

No matter which of the many possibilities is true, I have seen no evidence here that should cause one to be "dissapointed with Kubota."

 

[sixdogs]

You would expect those elongated holes to just cause the wheel to slip again?

 

[SPYDERLK]

You would expect those elongated holes to just cause the wheel to slip again?

As long as the holes are not oblonged so much that the bolts are off center a lot the pressure footprint will be regular and symmetrical enough to provide a condition of inherent stability. With the flatwashers to span across and beyond the worn area I expect no problem at all.