Buying Advice B3200 Vibration Issue--Affected Serial Numbers

[leonz]

I had 'some' vibration on our B3200 which didn't really bother me. I mentioned it and the discussion on TBN casually while shooting the bull with my dealer.
He quickly asked if he could do the mod as you described. I agreed and they picked up the 3200 the next day and returned it about a week later.
The vibration is gone, period.
I'll not discuss what caused the vibration, I don't do pee'ing contest, I just know the new operator platform/mat mod did what Kubota said it would.
You will love the B3200, enjoy it.
Ken

EDIT: delete

EDIT: delete

All they ever needed to do is install an catalytic exhaust scrubber for less money than they have been spending dicking around adding mass to dampen the vibration due to the fuel starvation.

Kubota previously did this for the tractors that were used for underground use and sold by Elmac which is no longer in business.

Simple fix , muffler clamps, universal pipe hangers, no more out of compliance engines.

Its not my fault that they are doing things the hard way when the answer has been in front of them for over 30 years.


EDIT: Please accept my apologies Ken, I will crawl back in my hole where its cooler after being smacked with some Wet RAMEN; moving too much fire wood with 20 cord left to move.

Happy Canada Day to EGON and the other fine members from above the border
and happy July Fourth to everyone south of the canadian border.

 

[kmassing]

Leon, chill out. My comment wasn't directed at you.
This topic has touched a tender spot for many owners with different views. I was just posting my experience and stating that I'm not discussing any other possible causes or proper solutions. I respect your expertise and opinions, I'm just not discussing the issue except to report what solved the (to me) minor vibration issue I had with my B3200.
Ken

its not a pissing match!!!

It amounts to the truth!!!

All they ever needed to do is install an catalytic exhaust scrubber for less money than they have been spending dicking around adding mass to dampen the vibration due to the fuel starvation.

Kubota previously did this for the tractors that were used for underground use and sold by Elmac which is no longer in business.

Simple fix , muffler clamps, universal pipe hangers, no more out of compliance engines.

Its not my fault that they are doing things the hard way when the answer has ben in front of them for over 30 years.

DUH!!

 

[leonz]

Again my apologies per my edit above,

Happy Independence Day.:thumbsup:

 

[Verdemont]

Herein lies another problem, Kubota keeps pushing the rated RPM up so newer models have more power on the spec sheet. 2700rpms is what the B3300 is rated at, but IMO that is just too fast. The engine itself is the same as the B3200, B3030, B7800, etc. Kubota doesn't publish the torque output on these engines, but I would guess that they would all be identical. You'll be much happier with the performance, economy and longevity if you run it a bit under rated or PTO rpm.

Agree. My B3300 spends most of it's time around 1500 rpm or less. No need to crank it up so far.

Tom

 

[My Hoe]

Leonz,

I don't own a Kubota yet, but I have to jump in here, just to register my bewilderment that (only Kubota's?) FOUR cylinder engines vibrate more than THREE cylinder engines. I come from an automotive background, and to me, the more cylinders, the closer the power pulses, so, in theory, the SMOOTHER the engine should be--witness a V-12 vs. a four cylinder, for an extreme comparison.

THANK YOU, Leonz, for explaining that the vibration complained of in some FOUR CYLINDER models, like the B3030 (and the newer B3200's, etc...) is a matter of fuel delivery timing, but that is the FIRST thing that has made any sense of this for me.

I test drove a (three cylinder) B2630 and LOVED it! As an "aside," (and no offense to BX owners!) but in my opinion, the (three cylinder) B2630 didn't vibrate as much as the (also three cylinder) BX2630 (or 60? I don't remember). Even though they were both three cylinders, the heavier (and I realize it's only by only a couple of hundred pounds) B2630 just ran smoother than the smaller BX, IMO.

I do NOT want vibration issues, so I will pursue a three cylinder Kubota. I like the B2630 the best, for my needs, but thank you, Leonz, for giving me the first PLAUSIBLE explanation for why a four cylinder could vibrate more than a three cylinder, when the four cylinder has power pulses every 60 (or 120 degrees, because it's a four cycle? The Heinekens are kicking in, and math was never my strong suit...:laughing as opposed to a three cylinder, with WIDER-dispersed power pulses (120 degrees? Or is it 240 degrees, because it's a four cycle?)

Either way, THANK YOU, again, Leonz, for explaining something that finally makes SENSE out of a four cylinder vibrating more than a three cylinder!

And I'm happy that there's a fix for all of the four cylinders that vibrate too much. I know it wouldn't bother some, but it would bother ME.

My Hoe

 

[leonz]

Greetings and salutations MYHOE,


Happy Independence day,


Please be sure to request of your dealer that the fuel pump settings are reset to normal on your 3 cylinder as well if you still intend to purchase a 3 cylinder unit
as they have advanced the fuel pump settings on all the small diesel engines to slightly starve the fuel delivery to reduce the tail pipe emmisions.


The two, three, and four cylinders kubotas DO HAVE a well balanced low and high idle when the fuel delivery is not STARVED!!!!!!

These engines are a very fine quality watch of a machine when the engines are tested and run in Japan. When the machines are assembled here the fuel settings are changed slightly to starve them and reduce the exhaust emmisions.

This was the EL CHEAPO METHOD to make the EPA HAPPY without installing a catalytic converter for the diesel engine in question; If they do not do it you can always get an engine manual from Foley Engine and do it yourself changing the shims on the fuel pump and then you can simply have an engine with a catalytic converter fromn Dr. Diesel that will only emit carbon dioxide and water in its exhaust as the EPA considers them all LAWN MOWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The catalytic converters are very small and require little work to install them.

Please PM me so I can add more information that you will need for this ASAP.

 

[bbbobbb]

can anyone post a pix of these noise dampner fixes ?????

 

[Blitzn]

OK, so today I went down to the dealer and rode a 2012 model year B2920, B3200, and B330. I had read all the reviews, and heard from the dealer that the vibration issue was fixed.
Holy cow patties Batman! That 3200 shook like , well, I'll refrain from any derogatory analogies. Suffice to say - I understand the comments people make about it making their hands and butts going numb.

Well, the B2920 and B3300 had loader attached - but the B3200 did not.

Does the loader frame mounted on the model change the harmonics and dampening frequencies enough to combat the vibration?
The dealer said adding attachments does smooth it out. Has anyone experienced this to confirm it?
I thought I had it all figured it out for the B3200, but I think this experience bumped me down to the B2920 (bummer).
Thanks for any feedback!
-Dennis

 

[red4now]

Does the loader frame mounted on the model change the harmonics and dampening frequencies enough to combat the vibration?
The dealer said adding attachments does smooth it out. Has anyone experienced this to confirm it?
I thought I had it all figured it out for the B3200, but I think this experience bumped me down to the B2920 (bummer).
Thanks for any feedback!
-Dennis

Simple answer - no, still there in its full glory. I noticed it most when the loader was off (frame still on of course) and I was cutting grass at around PTO speed. Loader work - you did not notice it. And you will not notice it on the 3 cyl units.

 

[Blitzn]

Simple answer - no, still there in its full glory. I noticed it most when the loader was off (frame still on of course) and I was cutting grass at around PTO speed. Loader work - you did not notice it. And you will not notice it on the 3 cyl units.

Thanks - that made it easy - any time I take the loader off I'm looking at that issue then....
Thanks for the honest answer.