BX2200 Steering Problem...Solved

[k8ny]

Well guys, we finally have a fix for the previously posted BX2200 steering response mystery that redneck and I complained about.
After no luck with my dealer trying to solve the steering problem with the BX, I decided to take matters into my own hand and called Kubota Technical Service in California.
A field engineering representative returned my call promptly and I had a great discussion with him regarding this problem. He recorded all the info (serial #'s, purchase date, dealer name and location etc.) then asked me to describe the problem. When I related to him that the steering would wander and when trying to regain control it would take between 3/4 and 1 1/2 turns for a response, he knew exactly what the problem was. There was a service bulletin issued on this problem last year and the culprit is the hydraulic steering cylinder which was manufactured by a firm that did not fully hone and polish the cylinder wall. This in turn caused an O-ring to fail and the pressure was not able to immediately build up to operate the hydraulics causing a delay in the steering response. The fix is for the dealer to replace the cylinder (obviously under warranty). They also notified my dealer and gave him the bulletin number. My dealer will be ordering the parts Monday. Hopefully it will be a minimum amount of down time for me.
I am very pleased with the Kubota Factory Service response and knowledge.

k8ny

 

[DaveNH]

You get the SB #?

 

[k8ny]

He didn't give the SB# to me Dave.

 

[JRP]

I found out real quick when I was aa auto mechanic that on mass produced items, statistics should be considered when troubleshooting a problem. I problem that happns to one car (or tractor) probably has/will happen to a few or many more of the same model. Concerning my post about M6800 popping out of second gear, I found another M6800 withing 5 serial numbers of mine that had the same problem. Possibly the same batch of parts. Kubota did an A+ job of fixing my problem.

Perhaps part of what I learned from your post is that Kubota could do a better job of training the dealer mechanics about how to access and use the technical help available.

JRPoux

 

[redneck]

I got my bota back today. The mechanic showed me the o-ring, and it had a big nick out of it. I wonder if my Bx is one of the ones with the bad cylinders. How can i find out? My dealer fixed mine with no hassell, they came and picked it up and i live an hour from them they would have brought it back , but i was in a hurry.---got my water line half way filled in . then it started to rain,, seems like it rained since i bought the thing------lol

 

[RoyJackson]

"I am very pleased with the Kubota Factory Service response and knowledge."

Why didn't your dealer contact the Service Rep?

 

[smthng2do]

I just want to make something clear. Not all the tech's are incapable of finding problems. I have been a Kubota Tech for 17 years. All of the current bulletins are listed on the Kubota "intranet". You may have spoken to the wrong person. If the service manager of this dealer was unable to help you, then he is directly responsible. When I get common problems, or problems I have not seen, especially on new equipment, the first thing I do is check the parts and service bulletins within the Kubota Bulletin Board. If I can't find my answer there, my next course of action is to contact my local rep. If I can't get in touch with him, I go to the next, and the next, until I get an answer that I find helpful. There is always an answer. I take great pride in my work as a Certified Kubota Tech, and I can't stand the thought that other dealers won't take the time to help their customers. Especially when they have paid thousands of dollars for a unit. I hope that you all understand that Kubota provides excellent training and support for their dealers, techs, and especially thier customers. All bulletins from 1995 to now are listed electronically for the dealers. All previous bulletins are listed on paper, but the dealer should have them. I hope that one bad apple doesn't ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[k8ny]

To: jrpoux, RoyJackson and smthng2do
Hey guys, here's the low down on my dealer. He's the owner, service manager and technician and we are in West Virginia. I have asked him for help on this the past few weeks but I don't really get a satisfactory response. Most of the time I have to leave him a message. At any rate, it's quite obvious that he HAS NOT checked the Service Bulletins so that's why I decided to call Kubota directly. I am not in any way bashing technicians as I was a tech and in tech service for 15 of my 21 years with Xerox Corp. By the way, the first thing I would do with problems I had not run into before and were difficult to resolve was to check the Service Bulletins.
To net it all out for me, it is a Dealer problem.
I'm just glad we got to the bottom of this one.

k8ny

 

[smthng2do]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Pks]

Could someone post the Kubota technical service contact number? I'd like to have it as a reference.

 

[ronjhall]

Pks
All phone numbers for <font color=orange>Kubota</font color=orange> are listed on rear cover of <font color=orange>Kubota</font color=orange> owners manuals.

 

[Intolerantrwj]

New to this Forum and found it while searching for a cure to exact same steering problem on my BX 2200. Boyertown, Pa dealer said he could find no problem ... I printed your Post and am going to stop by the dealer today with the info ... hopefully they will do it under warranty.

Thanks for the Heads-Up.

 

[thavil]

New to this Forum and found it while searching for a cure to exact same steering problem on my BX 2200. Boyertown, Pa dealer said he could find no problem ... I printed your Post and am going to stop by the dealer today with the info ... hopefully they will do it under warranty.

Thanks for the Heads-Up.

Very curious to hear back if your dealer honors a warranty claim on an issue that is at least 9 years old. Good luck!

 

[Tom_H]

Very curious to hear back if your dealer honors a warranty claim on an issue that is at least 9 years old. Good luck!

I agree it will be interesting, because it's more than a warranty claim. It has to do with a "statute of limitations" or expiration date of a recall, and whether Kubota listed that disclaimer when the recall was issued. Please let us know. Good Luck!!

 

[SPYDERLK]

New to this Forum and found it while searching for a cure to exact same steering problem on my BX 2200. Boyertown, Pa dealer said he could find no problem ... I printed your Post and am going to stop by the dealer today with the info ... hopefully they will do it under warranty.

Thanks for the Heads-Up.

Very curious to hear back if your dealer honors a warranty claim on an issue that is at least 9 years old. Good luck!

Yeah. My BX1500 wears out its o-ring every 600Hrs like clockwork. The new seal set they sell costs $30+ [which makes it a $100+ fix] and its just the $0 oring [or cyl finish] that causes it. Mine is on its 3rd change. :thumbdown:
larry

 

[eubie5]

i know this is an old thread, but does anyone know what happened with Intolerantrwj question. my bx1800 is starting to do this. just replaced all the fluids about a month ago. really not looking forward to taking tractor into the dealer, never had to do that. pretty impressive with a 17 year old tractor. how easy is it to just replace the entire cylinder?

 

[Intolerantrwj]

i know this is an old thread, but does anyone know what happened with Intolerantrwj question. my bx1800 is starting to do this. just replaced all the fluids about a month ago. really not looking forward to taking tractor into the dealer, never had to do that. pretty impressive with a 17 year old tractor. how easy is it to just replace the entire cylinder?

Hello eubie5, Received notification via email of your Post, I rarely get on Forum. I never had problem resolution with the Dealer, which tee'd me off, even tho the Recall had a Expiration ... I am the second owner, purchased at 250 hrs, so Kubota knew nothing of me. I still own the tractor, use it rarely, untill it stops steering .... I have since replaced it with a Green tractor. I'm told the problem with the Kubota steering can be the cylinder on steer axle .. OR .. at the steering head itself, not sure which is my issue.
Kubota has no idea how much my negative input in Tractor conversations has cost them ... like an Elephant, I never forget

 

[eubie5]

Hello eubie5, Received notification via email of your Post, I rarely get on Forum. I never had problem resolution with the Dealer, which tee'd me off, even tho the Recall had a Expiration ... I am the second owner, purchased at 250 hrs, so Kubota knew nothing of me. I still own the tractor, use it rarely, untill it stops steering .... I have since replaced it with a Green tractor. I'm told the problem with the Kubota steering can be the cylinder on steer axle .. OR .. at the steering head itself, not sure which is my issue.
Kubota has no idea how much my negative input in Tractor conversations has cost them ... like an Elephant, I never forget

Thanks for the reply

 

[dodge man]

My BX 2350 had the wandering steering problem. It痴 an O ring that fails and caused the problem. You can get a kit that includes all the seals. I fixed it my self. Took maybe 5 hours. Not a tough job.

 

[firebird93]

ive owned 5 kubota tractors over the years. ive had to replace the steering cylinder on 3. not that big of a deal. 2 were bx and one was a grand L. they will just get worse over time as the cylinder bypasses. steering cylinder fixed the problem.