B7800 - Busted Axle at 441 hours

[twodogs]

First - Thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the comments & thoughts. While I still believe that Kubota should have taken care of the full bill for a variety of reasons, your insight has made me look at things from other perspectives.

I think that this experience is another example of how important a good dealer is to the consumer. I would suggest Golden Eagle Equipment in Irwin to anyone looking in SW PA. They have been tremendous!

FWIW - I just got off the phone with the dealership & posed the question of loaded tires vs. a ballast. They stand behind the loaded tires approach vs. the ballast due to the amount of stress on the entire tractor using a ballast. I was told that loading the tires is the best decision overall.

 

[kevinj]

FWIW - I just got off the phone with the dealership & posed the question of loaded tires vs. a ballast. They stand behind the loaded tires approach vs. the ballast due to the amount of stress on the entire tractor using a ballast. I was told that loading the tires is the best decision overall.

Aside from dealer opinion, what does YOUR manual say about ballast for fel use. On my B7500 I cannot get the correct amount by tire loading only. Therefore I must have the rear ballast. Also without the rear ballast heavy loader use is unsafe due to the rear being too light.

 

[milkman]

I know that filling the tires and/or adding wheel weights are used for ballast, but shouldn't there also be weight added to the TPH as a counterweight for FEL work?

 

[nostep]

While it's nice that the dealer said the filled tires should be fine, who's stuck with the broken tractor bill I'm an Engineer by trade. I would never operate a FEL on my tractor with only filled tires as the physics says the filled tires do not protect the front axle. Only way to take the load off the front axle is with rear weights, period. If you're very careful with every load and drive over flat even terrain, you'll be fine (as long as you keep your fingers crossed too)

 

[kevinj]

While it's nice that the dealer said the filled tires should be fine, who's stuck with the broken tractor bill I'm an Engineer by trade. I would never operate a FEL on my tractor with only filled tires as the physics says the filled tires do not protect the front axle. Only way to take the load off the front axle is with rear weights, period. If you're very careful with every load and drive over flat even terrain, you'll be fine (as long as you keep your fingers crossed too)

I looked in my manual and it looks like tire ballast is about 100# per tire and 500# or so is the recommended ballast. I have close to 400# on the 3ph and about 200# in the tires. The rear will still get a bit light in the right situation.

On my L3940 I have 1000# in the tires and 1200# on the 3ph to make the recommended weight plus a few #.

 

[lawn_king]

I think kubota was fair in this situation. It stinks that the axle quit early in the game but ***** happens.

 

[twodogs]

I looked in my manual and it looks like tire ballast is about 100# per tire and 500# or so is the recommended ballast. I have close to 400# on the 3ph and about 200# in the tires. The rear will still get a bit light in the right situation.

On my L3940 I have 1000# in the tires and 1200# on the 3ph to make the recommended weight plus a few #.

I am running a 7800 with turf tires. I have approximately 400 lbs in the tires. Based on what everyone here has stated, I think I will add a rear ballast of some sort. Again - thanks to all.

 

[kevinj]

I am running a 7800 with turf tires. I have approximately 400 lbs in the tires. Based on what everyone here has stated, I think I will add a rear ballast of some sort. Again - thanks to all.

What size rear tires are on that 7800??? By your weight the tires must hold about 20 gallon each.

 

[twodogs]

What size rear tires are on that 7800??? By your weight the tires must hold about 20 gallon each.

A 7800 with turf tires comes with 13.6 - 16 tires. I am assuming that you haven't seen one based on your "???"

There is a significant difference in size as compared to R4 or ag tires. The weight estimate is from my 7800 manual & the dealer, so I tend to believe it is true.

 

[kevinj]

A 7800 with turf tires comes with 13.6 - 16 tires. I am assuming that you haven't seen one based on your "???"

There is a significant difference in size as compared to R4 or ag tires. The weight estimate is from my 7800 manual & the dealer, so I tend to believe it is true.

Um...no as I stated I have a B7500 which seems to have smaller tires. They are 12.4 - 16 industrial and the weight estimate in the manual is good bit less than yours.