BX Fire Hazard

Anonymous Poster · Apr 7, 2001

Someone posted on the John Deere forum an email? that JD sent out and/or is sending out about a problem with the Gator.

Wish Kubota would do the same, I have heard nothing regarding the known BX fuel tank leakage problem, in fact have never received anything from Kubota about anything, not once. You would think they would want to deal with the problems on a more professional level. I already know about the 3pt problem, someone else posted that this has to be resolved during warranty, as if YOU have to bring a FROM THE GITGO defect to their attention to get it fixed.

I guess they hope they will sell more tractors when the earlier ones catch fire in the garage. Since I haven't been notified of anything, I know nothing legally. I guess when my BX finally goes up in flames Kubota can buy all the other toys in my garage as well. But that's OK, my Ford NH is due for an oil change and there's some moss on the roof. Why deal with those items sensibly when Kubota is volunteering to pay for it all?

JD sure seems more on the ball.

And did you catch that recall notice on the airwaves about the Chevy Trailblazer (a vehicle I haven't even seen yet but is already recalled!)

They are asking people to stop driving them IMMEDIATELY and instructing dealers to GO PICK THEM UP! Now that's really taking a recall seriously!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

del

Snell · Apr 7, 2001

Del,
Do you have an e-mail address? I'd like to check something out for you.
Matt

TresCrows · Apr 8, 2001

Del, yes the infamous Trescrows. Why not just give your dealer a call? Mine replaced it (the tank) once with a new one and when they came out with an improved version he came back out and installed it all free. Also, I called the rep about that 3-point "kit" and found them very responsive. The message was passed from the USA rep to the regional rep who called my dealer and before I could say "Kubota" I had it all fixed up just jiffy. Kubota has a very strong desire to maintain their reputation--you just need to call and tell them you want it fixed--it will not just happen. Your dealer may never have registered your sale--did you? Anyway you can get all your problems solved with your dealer, if need be get a hold of your regional rep, I bet he will get you smiling. This should not be a problem--really. Good luck. J

Anonymous Poster · Apr 8, 2001

If "my" dealer was like your dealer or a "normal" dealer I'd do as you suggest. And yes we filled out the registration papers. It would not surprise me at all to find they threw them in the trash or wiped their you know what with them. I'd like to relay what the company secretary told me about one of the owners that just about blew my mind, but decorum prohibits such nonsense on this board! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

del

Roy · Apr 8, 2001

Del;

I did receive a mandatory recall for the fuel tank. Since I'm ****-retentive about keeping paperwork and audit trails, I still have it. Recall scanned and uploaded. (The hand written notation on the top is just my reminder that the work was performed).

The other issues were not mandatory. If the owner complained, they addressed them. Usual and customary procedures for non-safety issues by all manufactures. (Remember all the bru-ha-ha on this board from the JD owners that the tire scuffing problem was only addressed if they confronted the dealer directly, and the problem/fix was known by JD. They all do it.)

But, I would think that the HST pedal sticking would be a safety issue, surprised that I never received notice on that one /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

Did you receive your ownership survey after 6 months? If not, then something probably is amok with the paperwork.

Roy

Roy · Apr 8, 2001

Forgot to add another personal story about John Deere in particular. I purchased a new JD 170 lawn tractor 03/1989, which was a 1989 model. After a while, it became difficult to start. It was only through another forum, that I found out that there was a fix for it from JD ('Improvement Starter Solenoid Wiring Harness'). So, I picked the kit up from my dealer ($16.64).

Now, here is one of the kickers. The kit came with a Service Bulletin (JD M77862) on how to install. The SB was dated July 1988! The problem was known when my tractor was sold, and most probably even when built. My neighbor also bought a new 170 the following year (1990), and sure enough, they were still building and selling them with a known problem!

I know $16.64 doesn't sound like much, but as Paul Harvey used to say 'Next, the rest of the story'. I approached my dealer about this starting issue many times over the course of several years (was out of warranty). They told me to replace the coil ($45.13) and then the voltage regulator ($72.43). So, I spent years fighting a problem, spending money at per the dealer's advice, and JD knew the problem! When I finally learned about the wiring kit, this is what the guy at the JD parts counter said, 'Yeah, we sell a lot of the them.' So, my dealer knew about it also!

So, due to my own personal experience, and other issues I have seen reported, like the 4x00 tire scuffing, INMO, I cannot hold JD up as the model corporation for addressing issues.

Roy

Anonymous Poster · Apr 8, 2001

Del, you've lost your court case when your garage burns down right here. First you've stated that you know about an existing problem yet post that your mossy roof and the contents under it will be paid for by Kubota. Unlikely since you now have proof that others with BX's have had theirs successfully repaired. I will go out on a limb here and say that either your dealer is not all it could be in which case they will not survive long selling tractors or your going in with an attitude and their dishing it right back at you. The latter is my guess and perhaps instead of being so pesimistic as I have now read in many of your posts, you go in with a less vindictive and more coporative mindset, you'll be amazed at how much more people will deal with you, and like you for that matter.

TresCrows · Apr 8, 2001

Call the rep. Tell him your problems. Find another dealer. I bet the rep will help you out. Why did you buy from such a Jackarse? Make it happen. J

Anonymous Poster · Apr 8, 2001

Dear Mr. Anonymous.

That's a laugh, you haven't read many of my posts then! I'm not vindictive or pessimistic. I had good results with parts and previous sales with the dealer itself in the past. During my last purchase of two tractors it became unbelievable. I'm been in the customer service business with car repair and parts with people for 30 years, I know the drill.

It never helps to yell, shout, be negative, be condescending, be critical, be anything but calm, hopeful. As someone on the company side there's been many times I've been "in the right" and still went the customer's way, it isn't worth the loss of a customer or even worth getting po'd. Life's too short. I maintained this until the end, way beyond when my wife was going nuts over it, and she is the CALM one in the family/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif.

A customer service representative from one a major supplier even gently stuck his nose in and was also taken aback by the response. Everybody can have a bad day, but a bad 6 months?

My comments about the insurance were tongue in cheek, I'm not one to let my stuff burn up. When the BX starts to leak I'll get it fixed (hopefully before then!) with or without Kubota's help. As Roy mentioned there is a notice (which I think someone posted), it's probably paperwork problem?

All big companies I've run into have problems and seem to look out for themselves in a big way. There are people that do try to take advantage of a situation and sometimes the big companies seem to over react to this and assume everyone deserves a kick in the butt. But not always. It seems to come down to the individual company rep, some who are such great people you want them as neighbors!

I was just bringing my feeling that most companies will let your paint fall off 24 hours after you bought your car ("secret warranties"), but when it comes to a real problem of fire or accident they really get with the program. I don't care if we all find out that our BX cupholders are constantly cracking, but I would like to know if I'm going to be trailing flaming diesel behind me one of these days /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Live Long and Prosper, Mr. Unregistered...

del

Anonymous Poster · Apr 8, 2001

Del.
are tou sure your tractor falls under serial numbers recalled.Kubota did ship tractors with updated tank installed from factory last year,also the 3pt.ht. update is on the newer tractors.don't get to wound up to you have a chance to checkyour ser.# against the service bulieten with your dealer, he may be right you may not fall under recall.I belive in giving everyone a chance,until i catch them lieing to me then all hell breaks loose.I'd put a smily face but i'm lucky i can type this!

Anonymous Poster · Apr 8, 2001

Tim

Here's the face /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif just peel it off your monitor and then use it wherever you need.

Don't feel bad about having trouble typing, we were all there once. What's really sad/bad is that the typical keyboard the qwerty keyboard most of us use, was created intentionally screwed up to make typing difficult so you couldn't type fast. The reason? Originally typewriters had keys that swung up on sticks to hit the ribbon and they would jam. Make it difficult/slow to type and they don't jam as much.

Decades later IBM came out with the selectric, the one with the bouncing ball, I used to get those going to the point the ball would shatter. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

There have been attempts to introduce a better keyboard but too many of us old goofs are out here. Kind of like the metric system they've been trying to cram down our throats on and off for 30+ years. Who cares if the rest of the world likes 10x10x10x10. We Americans like our 16 ounces, 43560 sq ft acres, 12 inches, 2000lb tons, not to mention bushels, hogsheads, "hands", chains (measurement), etc. That's why the US is so undeveloped and backward, our failing measurement system. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

To put up the faces just type in a bracket [ before the word then a closed bracket ] after the word, and don't use a parenthesis ( ) or a { } the name of which escapes me.

the words you can type in the brackets are

/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif = blush
/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif = cool
/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif = crazy
/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif = frown
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif = laugh
/w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif = mad
/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif = shocked
/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif = smile
/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif = tongue
/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif = wink

You can thank forum moderator/creator/maintenance headache accumulator Muhammad for his creation of these "emotion transmuters".

My BX was one of the earliest ones out there. I'm not ticked off, I'm not even surprised, was just glad to see JD doing a heads up by getting the info out. If this registration thing is a problem for dealers to manage to do, seems like it would make sense to put up a RECALL NOTICE bulletin board at the dealer parts dept, but you know the chances of that..

"Hey guys here's all our mistakes!" Probably wouldn't happen, but in the case of fire hazard you'd think every step could be taken.

del/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

gordon · Apr 8, 2001

When I worked on R/Vs we sold a quite a few different lines of coaches and trailers, each outfitted with a bunch of different manufacturers in each unit. So basic warranty work could be fun in itself on who was paying what and for how long. Let alone a major recall or problem.

But it's sad how some of the major companies handle a problem. They will try and brush it under the carpet just as quick as possible instead of being up front about it.

Then you have the other side of the coin. Companies that step up to the plate and handle it to the best of their ability. Sad that all companies aren't on this side of the coin. But compaines are profit driven. They look at cost of sweeping it under the carpet versus a major recall. Or t.s.b. as alot of the manufacturers like to call it.

Another thing is the dealer level. Sometimes the customer will get a mailer before the dealer is notified about the problem. That makes you look like a real smart dealer when the customer knows more about a potenital problem than you do.

Alot of companies will hold the dealer responsible to notify the customer of a problem if the unit is already sold off the lot.

Each company is different from the very good to terrible.
Gordon

Bird · Apr 8, 2001

Each company is different from the very good to terrible

Yep, Gordon, and with quite a few years of owning 6 new RVs, I learned a lot about which ones are which, too./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

JATO_RaT · Apr 9, 2001

Del, the metric system is superior. Anyone who takes chemistry will attest to that. Laziness may have as much to do with our slow transition to the metric system. As one who uses a tape measure all day 5 days a week, its amazing how slow it is to add 7 15/16 + 3 5/8 + 4 1/16 + 3 1/2 + 2 1/4. It just takes time and now carrying a pocket calulator that does it for you is great but its one unncessary step. I do think we will go metric (completely). Cars etc are mostly there. Machines can now be calibrated either way. After I took my chemistry courses, thats when I realized why the standard system as inferior. Our money system is metric, its pretty easy, I understand the resistance people have with learnig something new. Americans, some Americans may as you say love the ounces, be they fluid ounces or dry ounces, but I'll bet they like their money better and its metric.

P.S. the Qwerty keyboard was not built "intentionally screwed up". As you say it was designed to help keep the keys from jamming with each other as they tried to occupy the same space. Those letters of the alphabet that where most likely to be used prior to or after another were simply placed apart to lessen the jamming. Call QWERTY the "standard system" and DVORAK the "metric system". Rat...

Anonymous Poster · Apr 9, 2001

Del the unregistered, yes I have and yes you are.

del · Apr 9, 2001

Actually I did register as "del", couldn't remember what I used for a password, didn't want to bother Muhammad, so I always posted as "del..." Between work and home I seem to have accumulated all kinds of passwords to exist, brain had no room for one more.

I've been consistent though in the name so someone always had a reference point, and put my email in a lot of my posts in case someone wanted to send a direct note to me.

And you are wrong about me being pessimistic,maybe right if you limit it to death and taxes, but that's about it. And "vindictive"? Nope. I've got enough turn-the-other-cheek stories to bore everyone to tears!

I do see some fault in the design of my Kubota L35, that being no "park-lock" feature for hill holding and a severe lack of braking.

Wonderfully, I have had some email from a great guy, Matt Snell of Snell Equipment, a Kubota dealer in upstate New York who has suggested some things to check on the brakes. Sent a great email, I'd sure be knocking on his door if I lived in the NE!

And as I've mentioned before there is no other tractor that would fill my bill then the L35, the loader, backhoe, tractor quality far outweighs any of my perceived deficiencies, BY FAR! And my BX? I'm looking forward to seeing what the hitch mods do to implement swapping, but other then that can't find fault with it, how can you find fault with something so loveable?

Oh I'd like a bigger engine, longer wheelbase for better ride, taller height for clearance...but I don't want to trade the BX for a B2710. I've got it! Hydraulic suspension for height adjustment, extendable wheelbase, like moving the 5th wheel back on a semi, and turbocharger as someone else suggested! Got to get a hold of Mark C I bet he could get it figured out for me!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

A pessimist wouldn't see the joy and benefit of this board, and the people on it,as I have relayed back many times. As others have said, this is a gold mine of knowledge for the new-to-tractors person and those that have a few years under the belt. If you're willing to learn and can see your mistakes with a light hearted attitude you can really improve. God knows I"ve tried to leave some humor here explaining some of my tractor pratfalls.

I mentioned a year or two? ago that this board was almost like bumping into one another at the feedstore, but we don't get to shake hands. The passage of info is the same though.

I can think of only one post I made when I was really po'd, that was when I was backing the L35 down a hill, unloaded, and went to stop and could not hold the thing in one place no matter how hard I jammed down on the pedal. (OK, time to go back uphill /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif)For a brand new tractor I found that unacceptable. Again though, through the graciousness of Matt Snell I have some things to look at to fix that.

Best Wishes /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

del the registered

a.k.a. del... (the unregistered)

oldcarparts@mygarage.com

Roy · Apr 9, 2001

Del, registered? Well, there goes another rural legend down the drain! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Roy

DaveNH · Apr 9, 2001

Trescrows writes "Call the rep. Tell him your problems. Find another dealer. I bet the rep will help you out. 

How does one go about finding who is the local rep?
Thanks in advance.

We're all in this together! (3)
Executive Yuppie Tractor Owner
[Advertise your business here]

GlueGuy · Apr 9, 2001

How does one go about finding who is the local rep?

Go to the Kubota web site and click on Dealers after you get past the welcome page. Type in your zip code. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The GlueGuy

DaveNH · Apr 9, 2001

GlueGuy.
I'm confused!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that knows me.

TresCrows mentions both dealers and then reps.
(I'm assuming here that he means, Factory Representatives.)

I thought that he was saying that there are two paths
to resolving problems. One way was with the dealer (which in my opinion was be the first avenue) and if not completely
satisfied you could then go to the local or regional rep.
(which, in another opinion of mine, would be the kiss of death for you and the dealer.)

Fortunately, I have not had a problem with my little BX.
Then again, I haven't used it very much, the golf courses
are still covered in snow./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We're all in this together! (3)
Executive Yuppie Tractor Owner
[Advertise your business here]