B3200 Vibration Update

PSDStu · Dec 4, 2009

As outlined in this previous thread my B3200 has some significant vibrations when operating at/or close to PTO speed.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...hydrostatic-transmission-pedal-vibration.html

Well this morning I got a call from my dealers service dept head who said that the Regional Kubota Rep and 2 techs have some mods that want to install/test on my tractor. I will be bringing my tractor to the dealer on Tuesday morning for them to install/test these mods. Not sure what they are but I will keep those interested posted on the mods and the results.

I am very pleased that Kubota is taking a hard look at this issue!

More to come.

Stu

BotaBX24er · Dec 5, 2009

Always glad to see when Kubota steps up and is willing to offer some fixes or at least try to. Yes, keep us posted...

kuboman · Dec 5, 2009

I too have a B3200 that gives a good message over 2000rpm. I have contacted Kubota Canada but have yet to hear anything constructive from them. I look forward to hearing what they do with yours. Maybe if enough of us complain they will do a recall and fix the problem. I heard that the 3200 does not have a harmonic dampener while the 3030 does. Go figure why they would cheap out on something like that. I had a b2620 before and loved it so I was somewhat disappointed when I got this one.
Please keep us informed with your progress

mark2610d · Dec 5, 2009

From what I have read hear on TBN the b3030 also has has vibration issues. Can't remember if kubota had a fix for it or not.

number two · Dec 6, 2009

mark2610d said:
From what I have read hear on TBN the b3030 also has has vibration issues. Can't remember if kubota had a fix for it or not.

Neil Messick has mentioned that an occasional B3030 has a vibration issue.Our B3030HSDC seems fine except for a little rattle in the 3PT area on occasion.No big deal.

ruralruss · Dec 7, 2009

Have any of the dealers here heard of a possible fix for the vibration? I sure would like some relief for it as well. I have tighten bolts and put bungie cords on rattling things, of course that just effects the sound and not the vibration. I can't imagine how anything could be done however, at least cheaply.

Russ

bstrom · Dec 7, 2009

I can't understand why they didn't design or redesign one of their 3 cylinder engines for 32 hp. The L2800 is a 30 hp 3 cylinder. Maybe it would have helped? Of course not everyone is complaining about vibration. I've got a b2620 which runs very smooth but I was interested in the b3200, now I'm not so sure I would want to trade in my tractor on a vibrating chair

lawn_king · Dec 7, 2009

I ran a 2005 B3030 HSDC for 3 years with no vibration issues at all. I sold that machine to a member here @ TBN. he has had no vibration issues with it!

bstrom · Dec 7, 2009

The B3030 and B7800 are 4 cylinders? You don't really hear any complaints from B7800 owners I don't think and the B3200 engine is basically that engine I believe? Just curious if 3 cylinders are smoother than 4's.

kuboman · Dec 7, 2009

bstrom said:
The B3030 and B7800 are 4 cylinders? You don't really hear any complaints from B7800 owners I don't think and the B3200 engine is basically that engine I believe? Just curious if 3 cylinders are smoother than 4's.

The design of the three cylinder makes them a smooth engine compared to a 2 or 4. The real poser is why would Kubota use the 4 in these tractors when they had a three that was just as big???

PSDStu · Dec 9, 2009

Took my tractor in and what they did was to remove and replace the two floor pieces. The new floor pieces have 1/8" plate added to them to stiffen them up. This did a good job of getting rid of much of the vibration in the seat.......but did nothing to the remove the vibration in the HST pedal when operating at PTO speed which is/was my chief of complaint.

Kubota Rep is aware that the HST pedal vibration still needs to be looked at, and I hope that Kubota will continue to investigate this complaint.

Will let you know what developes.

NH-Rob · Dec 9, 2009

Sounds like a band aid fix to me. I think they need to find the source of the vibration in order to fix it.
Rob

ChuckinNH · Dec 9, 2009

If I remember correctly from posts on this subject a few years ago, the culprit is the firing order of the 4 cylinder engine. It is a two up, and two down firing order situation that is hard to dampen. I do know that even back then when I was trying both the B2630 3 cylinder, and the B7800, I found the B2630 smoother. I ended up buying a smaller tractor, so I can't give any first hand experience.

kuboman · Dec 9, 2009

Well that bandaid fix is disappointing. They need to address the source of the vibration and that is the engine. Put a harmonic balancer on it. There are many 4 cylinder engines out there that run smooth.

JTPass · Dec 9, 2009

I would expect all B3200 owners have a vibration issue to one degree or another. The only way that Kubota will react is for all of us to make sure our dealers and Kubota Reps know that we are not happy with the vibration situation. I, for one, have the problem and have not gone to my dealer with the issue. I have been reading posts on TBN thinking I will get the information I need on here...wrong approach. I will be notifying my dealer about the vibration issue very soon. I encourage everyong with a B3200 and any degree of vibration do the same. Hopefully Kubota will come up with a fix that get's to the root cause of the problem.

ruralruss · Dec 9, 2009

Yesterday I sent an email to Kubota from their website. This is what I got back today. I am pleased with the responsiveness.

*******************************************
Russel, thank you for your comments about your B3200HSD tractor. Kubota Tractor values your comments (good and bad). I would like to ask you some questions in regard to the vibration of your tractor.
(1) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. Rate the vibration in these 4 areas. Floor boards/step, Seat, Steering Wheel, and HST Pedal.
(2) What rpm does it start at or goes away? Which rpm is worst?
(3) Do you operate with the loader on or off the tractor?
Thank you for your response on these questions.
********************************************

Russ

bstrom · Dec 9, 2009

kuboman said:
Well that bandaid fix is disappointing. They need to address the source of the vibration and that is the engine. Put a harmonic balancer on it. There are many 4 cylinder engines out there that run smooth.

What is a harmonic balancer and how does it work? Just curious.

kuboman · Dec 9, 2009

The harmonic balancer is a rubber mounted weighted disc that bolts on the front of the crankshaft. Almost every engine of any size has one. Although most of these smaller engines it is done internally with balance weights and counter shafts. Obviously these are large enough to need one on the crank too.

smilykubota · Jan 15, 2010

I got my new B3200 today. I have to agree that the unit runs with much more vibration than a 3 cyclinder modes I drove in the past.

It only has 0.8 hr on the clock

so I will report more as the clock hour rises.

DC3 · Jan 16, 2010

Is there a serial number range we can look for that will have the vibration problem, or is it randomly spread across all units? It is related to a specific engine serial number range or, again, randomly spread among all engines?