b7800 locker problems

[whistlepig]

I'm not saying the 7800 is a bad tractor. Mine obviously has some issues I need to figure out though and based on my experience with it and now comparing it with others I wouldnt make it my first choice again. I'm not happy to say that but it is what it is. So far just looking at it I can see the linkage is not on par with the other b series I've put my eyeballs on. I WILL upgrade this linkage once the warranty is out. The problem i see with it is for starters where the linkage goes through the figure c420 in the picture. if you look under the seat you'll see this is just a notch in the metal with a bent chunk of metal "pinching" the linkage in there. It looks like it will pinch in tighter the harder you have to push it. The foot lever section is long with no real gussets or mounts to support it before that pinched spot. The final lever near number 110 is short and offers little leverage. I think I can improve on this linkage set up for starters. My locker has never worked or felt like the aforementioned b2150, nor does it feel like any of the other b tractors I checked out today and I think this linkage is at least part of the problem. I think theres more to it but i really do think this can be improved for starters.

With crbr's posting of the schematic and your very excellent description of the problem I now have something to look at on my tractor. This is a very good post. A lot of wisdom in very few words. I learned something today.

 

[captin_insano]

The linkage I think has been a big portion of my problems. Push yours by hand once and see how hard it is to actually make it go all the way down. now next time your near a kubota dealer stop and press down a locker on a b3030 or any other b series they have there and let us know what ya think. Mine takes alot to make it go all the way down and since its placed in a manor that makes it difficult to always apply the needed pressure on it I've probably not had it not fully engaged at times. Mine doesnt give you that positive engagement feel the old b2150 did and like the other b series likely do. I dont know for certain though if mine is or is not any harder to press than any other 7800.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Actually the diff lock pedal on my B3200 is pretty dang hard to push all the way down as well. I have to keep all of my weight on it with that foot to really engage it as far as it will go. I might look at increasing the leverage ratio on the little arm that goes into the trans as you mentioned.

 

[wowwee]

I don't like the way my B2320 engages either, takes a lot of effort.

Dale

 

[captin_insano]

You guys should try mine! I would give a shiny nickel or 2 even to have what you guys have! I'm going to get a scale of some type and measure how much pressure it takes to engage it. Obviously, when you do push the pedal if the locker components arnt lined up it may not engage so in that case dont force it or you may bend something. All the new ones I looked at on the dealers lot were smooth like butter compared to mine. The one obvious difference between them and mine is the linkage, I dont know if theres any difference on the internals.

 

[captin_insano]

Actually the diff lock pedal on my B3200 is pretty dang hard to push all the way down as well. I have to keep all of my weight on it with that foot to really engage it as far as it will go. I might look at increasing the leverage ratio on the little arm that goes into the trans as you mentioned.

We'll I talked to kubota about this linkage stuff. talked to jeremy in service at the california number listed with their warranty info. He was very helpful and got back to me right away. He checked with engineering who said the early b3200's had the same... or maybe he said similiar linkage as mine. The brandy new ones on the lot were the ones i was looking at and they are really slick. Felt like the old unbreakable 2150. He did say the new linkage will work on the early 3200's and the b7800. If you have a machine under warranty i wouldnt mess with modifying the linkage myself. I would consider upgrading to this new linkage though if it doesnt affect your warranty and you do use your locker often. I'm pretty sure the "crappy" linkage was the majority of my problems and once its gone I can expect real kubota reliability. I'm starting to feel so much better about this machine now that were getting somewhere. I wish i would of looked into it better the first time around.

 

[captin_insano]

Well kubota has left me down. Bob from pristows called today and said kubota wont cover it under warranty. On top of that the cost of the diagnosis to tell me what I already know is $460. I already know the locker is bad, I'm not paying it. I called kubota again, asked to speak with a warranty manager. They put joe on the phone and Joe said he doesnt talk to customers. He transfered me to customer satisfaction. I spoke to steve there again and I bet he is getting tired of hearing from me becuase its getting hard to contain my frustrations. I hope none of you folks have to ever go through this. They tried again telling me my machine was out of warranty and again I had to recite what the warranty says. 3 year powertrain and it says "rear axle and EVERYTHING contained within". I'm giving them until tomorrow to have it fixed or tell me it will be fixed or I'm letting them keep it and I'll have the state attorney generals office deal with it.

I know every manufacturer can let a lemon slip out to the consumer. I understand that but I thought that Kubota at least would be one of the companies to back up their products.

 

[captin_insano]

And again, I feel like I'm being treated like I'm a complete idiot. I may not be the brighest man but come on. I asked what they determined to be the cause and was told "thats kinda grey" "no way to really tell" asked what type of testing was done to determine if anything was defective and was told "we took digital pictures and put it back together" "Everything LOOKED ok but the locker for some reason is deteriorating". Was told "they said they fixed it once and they wernt going to do it again". ugggh! Sorry to vent this but I really hope none of you get stuck in my situation.

 

[captin_insano]

That was the dealer telling me this stuff above (telling me also what kubota said). So I called kubota again and spoke with becky in warranty. She looked and said pristows never filed a warranty claim for my tractor. I asked if they would need to in order to determine if it would be covered and she said yes. I asked if they could refuse a warranty repair without filing a claim and she said the company policy is to file a claim and they will determine. Now i know Pristows talked to Joe in warranty at kubota so I am really being d@#k'd around. The question I have is pristows just saying no or did Joe just say dont bother filing a claim, we did it once and were not doing it again? Either way i wont let this slide.

 

[captin_insano]

Again talked to Bob at pristows who I think is really trying to help. I get the feeling its kubota's warranty department causing the grief. kubota says its up to Bob to decide, not up to them. What I didnt mention up to this point, or to kubota is my Dad was the service manager at the same dealership before Bob and I REALLY doubt they would put me out like that. Bob said if its up to him it would be fixed and I believe that 100%. Bob said he asked for preapproval before filing a claim and Joe at Kubota told him "no, we fixed it once and once we fix them they never break again". Thanks Joe, you figured all that out from pictures I guess? Joe probably never even looked at the pictures because what the heck are they going to tell you anyway. Just because it broke twice in 200 hours you decide I'm the problem? Nevermind 17 years and all those hours on kubotas B series tractors (not to mention other equipment, loaders, excavators, etc) and all of a sudden I buy a new machine and forget how to use it? Pictures are all it takes to really decide whats wrong with it. freakin pictures! No rockwell hardness, no specs on the linkage and degree of engagement?