BX24 diff lock disaster ... How many others have had this problem?

[Carl Stevenson]

What would you, the dealer, say to Kubota? I'd like to know, because I may prompt them to approach Kubota about this problem.

 

[dfkrug]

I would like to see a photo of the the failed diff lock and how it is
designed. All the owner's manuals I have read say to engage only
when stationary, BUT I think that a design that has shear-able pins
is a disaster waiting to happen.

I was disappointed in the design on my JD 4300's diff lock, too, but
at least it did not result in big pieces breaking off to be caught
in the gears. It had a hard steel side that engaged with a soft steel
side that wore excessively (photo). Maybe that was intentional....

 

[Carl Stevenson]

To dfkrug:

I don't have pics yet, as it hasn't been torn down yet. I will take pics when I can.

 

[BotaBigot]

To the best of my knowledge, I did NOT step in the diff lock pedal with the wheels spinning. however the pin broke. All I'm saying is that if there was a bit of space in the bottom of the case, rather than a space smaller than the pin, the damage would not have been so catastrophic. To me, a somewhat minor, but predictable, failure that can't help but turn into a catastrophic failure is a design flaw.

Can't say your wheel(s) were spinning...may be metallurgical flaw...but wheelspin most likely cause. Perhaps you weren't looking @ spinning wheel when engaging. As for space in case...there actually may be. Issue is broken piece(s) getting past rotating gears on way to bottom...it's a crapshoot...

 

[crazyal]

When the diff lock is engaged there's lots of stress. Just turning on solid ground with plenty of weight on the rear tires can damage it.

 

[LBrown59]

My point is that if I'm the 5th customer of one small dealer to have this issue this year
1*(how many hundreds or thousands more across all of the dealers and all of their production?),
2*Kubota has a problem that needs to be fixed and I think that they should make it right with those of us who have suffered from their problem.

1*I never heard of such an issue till i read your post .
I seriously doubt that there are even dozzens of such cases let alone hundreds or thousands of them .
2*I don't think they do .

I haven't broken anything on my BX24 except the plastic tail lens couple times. I use the Diff lock alot, but I never used it constantly. When I get stuck, I would use the diff lock with aid of 4wd if I felt it needed it or know I only need traction on spinning rear. Its always for a moment, never more then 5 mins at a time. The only time I EVER used diff lock more then 5 mins was during a snowstorm when I had over 6 inches of really wet snow plowing and needed to punch through.
3*The only problem specific on the BX24 compared to other models I think is the reverse issue, maybe plastic body.
4*Sorry to say, I dont see many diff lock failures on BX's posted here on TBN, other then not underestanding how to engage the diff lock. You never stand on the diff lever, just let it ease/slip in.

3*That's all i ever heard about.
4*You shouldn't be sorry to say that.

 

[mzamatt]

For what its worth, I recently worked at a dealership for seven years.
I never had a bx come in with that problem. Mostly linkage, hst, stuff, but rarely.
The dealer really can't give you an accurate quote BEFORE tearing down. If they really
are having that many problems, the dealer needs to get ahold of their
service rep. They will definitely do something.

 

[bird1968]

To dfkrug:

I don't have pics yet, as it hasn't been torn down yet. I will take pics when I can.

This photo of my BX24 with the pin shear off, I was lucky the case was not damage.
I understand & agree with Carl, that extra internl case clearence would make it a improve design.
The BX is still an amazing machine, but small design improvement is always welcome.

Richard

 

[dfkrug]

I understand & agree with Carl, that extra internl case clearence would make it a improve design.
The BX is still an amazing machine, but small design improvement is always welcome.

I see 3 small pins of about 1/4" diameter, maybe 7/8" long. I wonder
why Kubota did not build the diff lock more like their bigger bros (no
pins to shear off).....

 

[Carl Stevenson]

I see 3 small pins of about 1/4" diameter, maybe 7/8" long. I wonder
why Kubota did not build the diff lock more like their bigger bros (no
pins to shear off).....

While a more robust diff lock (stronger than the pins) would be nice in general, my gripe right now is the way the diff lock pin failure seems doomed to cause a more catastrophic failure. (punching a hole in the case)

 

[Carl Stevenson]

While a more robust diff lock (stronger than the pins) would be nice in general, my gripe right now is the way the diff lock pin failure seems doomed to cause a more catastrophic failure. (punching a hole in the case)

I'd still very much like to hear from others who have experienced this failure. If you don't ant to post here, y can email me director at wk3c@wk3c.com

Thanks,
Cwrl

 

[GolfAddict]

Carl, sorry to hear about this experience you've had. I have not experienced this problem but I do appreciate you posting about it, as I think I have not been nearly as careful about engaging my lock as I should be. I certainly didn't realize it would be a somewhat fragile pin nor that if I broke the pin I could cause this kind of damage.

I use the locking capability regularly on a particular small area of my lawn where I need to mow a fairly steep section at an angle. On the way up and the way down I'll keep a gentle pressure on the locking lever with my heel. Often it will engage when the high rear wheel starts to loose a bit of traction. The lever will press down and "slip" into diff lock smoothly. So, of course, I am engaging the lock while the wheels are spinning... didn't realize what a no-no that can be. I am thinking I'll just use 4wd from now on.

A comment on this:
3*The only problem specific on the BX24 compared to other models I think is the reverse issue, maybe plastic body.

It's interesting - I've seen these also. I have had no issues (knock wood) with plastic cracking, and I actually like the plastic body for scratching it up reasons. The hard forward/reverse changes reminds me of operating a bobcat skidsteer. I kind of like the feeling of such a robust HST system.

My first Kubota, and I've been mostly extremely pleased. The only complaint I have (and may not be specific to this model) is the seating ergonomics. If you spend much time at all "in the saddle" it is very uncomfortable. Strange for such a quality product. Quite impressive engineering overall, but don't think they spend much of it on the seats.:laughing:

 

[samofsweden]

Had o-ring leaking hydraulic fluid. Sent to dealer for repair. A week later, more fluid dripping out. Now they say diff lock pin sheared off inside of lower case and punched a hole in lower case. They say repair will be about $3k. Mechanic at dealer says he's done 4 of the this year (it's a small dealer).

I'm thinking this may be a design flaw (for pin failure to cause such catastrophic damage.

If you've had this problem, please contact me. I want to know how common this is.

Carl

Carl sorry to hear this. I have had my BX24 4 years now, done 500 hours hard work with it and no problem so far....
As former speaker said Ive been very careful when engaging the diff lock.
Good luck.:thumbsup:

 

[slowzuki]

Good luck buddy. There are big components in a gearbox. You can't leave room for all of them. They aren't designed to break.

I'm not saying that diff lock pins should NEVER break. Nothing is unbreakable. My issue is with the design where, if it does break, it falls to the bottom of the case and gets pinched by the gear(s) and punches a hole in the case, resulting in a $3k repair bill!!!

Not having enough clearance to prevent that seems to me to be a design flaw. A broken pin should be able to sit in the bottom of the pan, rather than being pushed through the case, creating such extensive and expensive damage.

I would like to hear from everyone who has had this happen and investigate the possibility of getting some consideration from Kubota for the cost their design flaw has caused.

 

[Carl Stevenson]

Carl, sorry to hear about this experience you've had. I have not experienced this problem but I do appreciate you posting about it, as I think I have not been nearly as careful about engaging my lock as I should be. I certainly didn't realize it would be a somewhat fragile pin nor that if I broke the pin I could cause this kind of damage.

I use the locking capability regularly on a particular small area of my lawn where I need to mow a fairly steep section at an angle. On the way up and the way down I'll keep a gentle pressure on the locking lever with my heel. Often it will engage when the high rear wheel starts to loose a bit of traction. The lever will press down and "slip" into diff lock smoothly. So, of course, I am engaging the lock while the wheels are spinning... didn't realize what a no-no that can be. I am thinking I'll just use 4wd from now on.

A comment on this:
3*The only problem specific on the BX24 compared to other models I think is the reverse issue, maybe plastic body.

It's interesting - I've seen these also. I have had no issues (knock wood) with plastic cracking, and I actually like the plastic body for scratching it up reasons. The hard forward/reverse changes reminds me of operating a bobcat skidsteer. I kind of like the feeling of such a robust HST system.

My first Kubota, and I've been mostly extremely pleased. The only complaint I have (and may not be specific to this model) is the seating ergonomics. If you spend much time at all "in the saddle" it is very uncomfortable. Strange for such a quality product. Quite impressive engineering overall, but don't think they spend much of it on the seats.:laughing:

The plastic is "OK" ... Both of my rear fenders are cracked n the back, where the 3 point hit it ... Not enough clearance ther either, but that's cosmetic, not fu noting, like the rear case/diff pin issue.

I ever jammed it into diff lock while moving or spinning the wheels. Not surely the pins broke, but they did. All I'm saying is that if their pins break , that's one thing. To cause s uh a catwstrophic, predictable, failure is a "design flaw."


Carl

 

[BotaBigot]

...cause s uh a catwstrophic, predictable, failure is a "design flaw."

Design flaw or cost engineering, Kubota's not alone...many cars have "interference" engine w/timing belt rather than chain. Break belt on hiway and bye bye engine. This "flaw" was engineered. Chain lasted life of car. Belt "fix" is replace before breaks...

 

[aczlan]

Design flaw or cost engineering, Kubota's not alone...many cars have "interference" engine w/timing belt rather than chain. Break belt on hiway and bye bye engine. This "flaw" was engineered. Chain lasted life of car. Belt "fix" is replace before breaks...

And replace EVERYTHING in the belt path when replacing the belt. That way you don't lose a tensioner pulley and bend valves like my car did (on its way to get the timing belt replaced 30k miles before the due mileage).

Aaron Z

 

[ejnichol]

........ The only complaint I have (and may not be specific to this model) is the seating ergonomics. If you spend much time at all "in the saddle" it is very uncomfortable. Strange for such a quality product. Quite impressive engineering overall, but don't think they spend much of it on the seats.:laughing:

Did you get the replacement seat that was offered for free.?The original seat was awful. I got mine changed out under recall. The bx25 seat and later bx24 were much improved. The original tended to slide operator forward.

 

[GolfAddict]

Did you get the replacement seat that was offered for free.?The original seat was awful. I got mine changed out under recall. The bx25 seat and later bx24 were much improved. The original tended to slide operator forward.

I certainly did NOT get a replacement seat, and you've captured the symptom exactly. Man, on days when you spend a number of hours it becomes almost unbearable and I'm sore the next day. Got to look into the seat change. So happy to know this!! I've come to love this little thing, but it's become kind of a love/hate relationship just because of that.

Thought it was just a Kubota thing that people put up with...

 

[kdm0811]

Define "spinning"? I mean, if you are stopped, and the pins are not lined up with the mating holes, pressing on the pedal will not engage the components? However, if you maintain a light pressure on the pedal and move slowly (with the back wheels turning at different speeds) then it should eventually engage. Right?